Scams of Olympic Proportions

With the Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro in full swing, it’s hard to miss the new record attempts, medals and hype. And when there’s hype, scammers are likely to be riding on its coattails.

Better Business Bureau (BBB) warns consumers to be on the alert for several types of scams as the games continue.

Phishing. Be skeptical of unsolicited emails that appear to be from Olympic organizations but are actually designed to steal your personal information. A tech blog reports that scammers are registering domains that include terms such as “Rio” or “Rio2016.” Some have even gone so far as to purchase security certificates that make them look more legitimate.

Never give personal financial or identifying information to someone you don’t know. Before you enter your credit card information into any website, check for “https” in the URL for the page where you enter payment information.

Don’t click on links or attachments in unsolicited emails. Doing so could expose your computer to viruses or other malware.

Lottery scams. Some scammers apparently have sent fake emails saying recipients have won the Olympic lottery or another contest where the grand prize is a trip to Brazil to attend the games. But if you didn’t enter such a lottery, there’s no way you could win. If the lottery isn’t based in the United States, it’s illegal for Americans to win.

Counterfeit merchandise. Fake jerseys or other items are a persistent problem with any major event. In 2014, eBay listed thousands of items for “Sochi 2014,” many of which were clearly fraudulent.

If you want authentic merchandise, visit the official Olympic site, Team USA’s site or look for an authorized Olympic seal or tag if you’re buying items in a store. Pay with a credit card, in case you want to challenge the charge.

If you suspect you’re the victim of fraud or a scam, report the information to BBB Scam Tracker. BBB uses the information to track fraud, to inform others and to work with law enforcement to attempt to thwart scammers.

If you think your credit has been compromised, check your credit report at annualcreditreport.com. If you spot unfamiliar accounts or incorrect mailing addresses, notify the card issuer and ask the credit reporting agency to remove those accounts from your report.

For more advice on fighting fraud and managing personal finances, visit bbb.org or call 573-803-3190.