Are you one of the victims of COVID-related fraud?
It will be many years before we have a full understanding of what COVID-19 cost us as a society. But as that information is incrementally collected and released, we’re starting to see the picture take shape. One of the most recent reports on the subject was issued by the Federal Trade Commission, which has estimated that consumers victimized by Covid-related fraud lost over $500 million.
See Relax Tax’s Debt Guide at relaxtax.com/debt
The numbers are devastating, especially because there is a strong sense that the self-reported losses pale in comparison to those that went unreported. The FTC acknowledges that the more-than 558,000 complaints it has received since the start of 2020 barely scratch the surface of how many consumers have been ripped off by online shopping scams, fraudulent travel websites and other schemes. Far more consumers have likely shrugged off the losses rather than go to the trouble of registering a complaint. But based on the complaints that were lodged (60% of which were specifically associated with fraud), the average theft per person amounted to about $370.
See this related post from Jonathan Katz: How To Return To Office After COVID
Everyone is returning to the office with their own various backgrounds and opinions on what has transpired and what will continue to transpire. The first thing that anyone needs to do when they are accepting people back in the office is to be clear on logistics.
It is heartbreaking to realize that fraud continues and thrives in the midst of a global pandemic, and yet this frequently happens in the midst of a tragedy. As citizens have struggled to avoid sickness and deal with isolation and job loss, unethical opportunists have set up fake online shopping and sites and found ways to rob individuals of their government stimulus checks. Even more have tried to take advantage of consumer demand: according to a Consumer Federation report, price-gouging of toilet paper, hand sanitizer, and face masks —items that were in short supply and desperately needed — was the most frequently-lodged complaint to state and local consumer agencies. Others reported issues with lack of refunds related to event cancellations, school and childcare closures. Illegal evictions were also common.
See this related post John DePaola: Millennial buying habits during the pandemic
Pandemic is having a huge impact on the entire world and in this video, John is giving an insight in terms of millennial buyers. They represent the largest percentage of the workforce and that’s the main reason for giving them attention.
Of the 53,000 scams reported to the FTC, the lion’s share was about online shopping fraud, with approximately 16% indicating that as they spent more time indoors and online, they were tricked by “opportunistic websites” that advertised the availability of in-demand items, then never delivered. Consumers filed complaints about sites selling clothing, electronics, hand sanitizer, and pets, but the biggest losses were to sites that refused to issue refunds cancelled vacations and travel. Ironically, the Better Business Bureau is reporting that now that travel has resumed, new scams have arisen offering fake airline tickets and other travel accommodations.
If you have questions or concerns, please contact our office at 551-249-1040 for assistance.
Do you have some questions? Dennis Harabin at Relax Tax can answer them!
Recommended Readings:
- How To Return To Office After COVID
- Discover Identity Theft Protection
- Getting your office or school ready to reopen
- How is the pandemic impacting college education?