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  Geebo 9:00 am on December 1, 2020 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: fake websites, Playstation 5 ( 2 ), retail ( 49 ), Scams ( 1,553 ), video games ( 3 ), Xbox Series X   

  Video game consoles are the new scam item 

  

  The hot new items this holiday season are the latest generation of video game consoles, the Playstation 5 and the Xbox Series X. The consoles were released last month and due to the pandemic and scalpers, the consoles have been in short supply. The demand has gotten so high that some scalpers have even been robbed when trying to sell an overpriced unit. While we can’t tell you how to get your hands on one of the new consoles, we can tell you how not to get scammed if you’re looking to buy one this holiday season.

  The main way to prevent yourself from being scammed is sticking with known retailers, both online and brick and mortar. While you’re searching online for a console, you may start to see ads for websites advertising the new consoles from retailers you’ve never heard of. Before clicking on that ad, research the retailer. Do a web search of the retailer’s name with the word ‘scam’ and see what comes up. If you try to use one of these scam sites, you could potentially end up providing scammers with your credit or debit card information.

  If you’re the type that has no reservations about dealing with scalpers, stick with sites like eBay that offer some kind of purchase protection. If you’re lucky enough to find one of the consoles on a classifieds site, make the exchange at your local police department. Also, inspect the box before buying as some scammers will put things like bricks and phone books in the box to make it seem heavy.

  The best advice we can give you is to just keep periodically checking with known retailers. You may just get lucky with your perseverance. However, if for some reason you’re not able to get a console this holiday season, keep in mind that there really aren’t any must-have games for either console yet.

   

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  Geebo 8:00 am on September 2, 2020 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: fake websites, laptops ( 4 ), Scams ( 1,553 )   

  Fake websites are scamming laptop shoppers 

  

  Back when pandemic panic was at its peak, scammers didn’t hesitate to start fleecing people when it came to the online sales of masks, gloves, and toilet paper. In several cases, scammers set up phony websites claiming to sell these items only to steal your money and send you nothing. Now, the scammers are back with the same tactic except for a different product.

  Laptop computers have been in short supply for some time. With new people now working from home the supply was already limited. Now, add to that the fact that many students either have started or will start school shortly. In many cases, these students will need laptops to take to and from class. Not every school can provide a laptop to students and not every family can afford a new laptop.

  Scammers are aware of this and have started to set up fake websites that claim to sell laptops at bargain prices. A man from the Cincinnati area recently lost $125 to one of these legitimate-looking websites. The phony computer store gave an address of a Staples office supply store that has no connection with the scammers.

  If you’re in the market for a new laptop, stick to the well-known retailers such as Amazon or Best Buy just to name a few. However, you can also shop at the manufacturer’s website. Companies like Lenovo and Dell are constantly having sales and often have discounts for students. There are budget laptops you can buy for around $200 but keep in mind they may be slower than the average laptop and not have as much storage but for writing web browsing they would be just fine.

  If you decided to go the used laptop route there are plenty of options for you. eBay is a great place to find a laptop that may be a few years old but still delivers the performance a student may need. We recommend not buying a laptop made before 2011 but your experience may vary. You can also look to see if there is a computer recycling center in your area or check your local thrift shops. Your local computer repair store may also have a selection of used laptops for sale. You’ll probably want to avoid Craigslist considering how problematic their platform is.