COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — April Fools’ Day is all fun and games until it’s not anymore.
The Better Business Bureau is warning people about potential scams on the pranking holiday.
“Trust your gut. If it’s too good to be true, it probably is,” said Jessica Hamlin, the Communications Director for the Better Business Bureau.
Hamlin said if those who aren’t careful could be left feeling like a fool because scammers often seize the holiday as an opportunity.
Hamlin said the trick can be a phone call or an email. She said people often fall victim when they are in a hurry and not doing research. She said they can even show up in a form that looks familiar.
“I personally have seen a lot of fun April Fools pranks coming from a lot of the brands that I follow and enjoy,” Hamlin said. “It’s very easy to impersonate that account, and basically it means information has been hacked and now your information is compromised.”
The BBB’s best advice: don’t click on emails from unknown senders, don’t disclose personal information and don’t feel pressured to move quickly. Hamlin also said to vet before buying.
“So, it’s a good idea to go to a resource like BBB.org to look at those reviews where every single review has been vetted and confirmed to come from a real, true person that has interacted with that company,” Hamlin said.
Hamlin said it’s also best to purchase using something traceable like a credit card instead of cash or Venmo. She said that way, if something does happen, people can get their money back and find out who the real fool is.