Consumers urged to watch out for scams related to oil spill

Monday, June 14, 2010

As the nation follows news of the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, so do scammers. The Federal Trade Commission has issued an alert urging consumers and businesses to watch out for con artists trying to take advantage of the oil spill in the gulf and to report their experiences to federal and state authorities.

In a new consumer alert, FTC Warns of Oil Spill Scams, the agency said scammers will likely use emails, websites, door-to-door collections, flyers, mailings and telephone calls to solicit money by claiming they’re raising money for environmental causes or offering fraudulent services related to the oil spill. In reality, many could be trying to get inside consumers’ homes or get access to their personal information.

The consumer alert advises consumers to check with the Better Business Bureau to get information on businesses and charities, and offers tips on how to avoid these scams.