The United States is currently facing a shortage of baby formula, and this dilemma has forced a lot of parents to look for ways to secure supplies to feed their babies.
Sadly, the desperation of parents has now become a target for scammers looking to exploit that distress.
Scammers Target Parents Looking for Baby Formula
A warning from the Federal Trade Commission or FTC states that scammers have started to swarm the shortage of baby formula for their own illicit profit, going online and tricking desperate parents and caregivers into paying steep prices for orders that never arrive.
The FTC said that thieves are now exploiting the high demand for baby formula have "sunk to new lows," according to Click on Detroit.
The agency warns that schemes may create fake websites or fake profiles on social media accounts using product images and logos of famous baby formula brands to make their victims think that they are purchasing the products from the companies' official websites.
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The agency's alert marks the latest in a fast-growing groundswell of similar cautions: seven states around the United States are now advising parents to stay vigilant amid the formula problem.
Local Government Sends Alert
Josh Stein, the North Carolina Attorney General, said on June 1 that parents of babies in North California are struggling to feed their children during the current formula shortage, and scammers are taking advantage of this crisis to steal money.
Robert J. Rodriguez, the New York Secretary of State, said in an alert that parents are now feeling the pressure of shortage and are now finding themselves to find alternative solutions but, in the end, could end up being scammed by thieves online.
Rodriguez added that it is important that parents and guardians are aware of scams and they know how to spot illegitimate online sales.
John M. Formella, the Attorney General of New Hampshire, said in an alert on June 1 that scammers who are taking advantage of the crisis in a manner that violates the law will be held accountable.
Formella cautioned against buying baby formula from untrusted or unfamiliar online sources and that families should research any online retailers that claim to be offering formula for sale through the Better Business Bureau.
The Better Business Bureau told CNBC that it has already started fielding complaints from parents who have been the victim of formula scams online, and they released their own warning.
Sandra Guile, a spokesperson for the Better Business Bureau, said that scammers would claim to sell the baby formula, and they are asking victims to pay using a PayPal or Venmo or a cash app-type of system.
Once the money is sent, the order is placed, but they never end up getting the product, according to The Washington Post.
Authorities say that scammers can appear legitimate by posting ads or commenting on reputable social media groups offering to sell baby formula, then disappear once they get the payment.
Parents nationwide are confronted by barren grocery shelves and limits on how much they can purchase at one time.
Parents who are seeking to purchase formula online are advised to research more about the seller before sending payment.
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Written by Sophie Webster
