Page 6 THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2023 BBB Scam Alert: Top Valentine’s Day Scams T CRAFT FAIR and FLEA MARKET Indoor Craft Fair and Flea Market Knights of Columbus Council 1829 57 Appleton Street, Saugus MA, 01906 Saturday, February 18, 2023 9AM - 3PM Snow date, February 25 Vendors / Table $25 Refreshments * Cash Bar * Raffles To reserve a table or more info please call Paul Giannetta 978-239-1392 For Advertising with Results, call he Adv cate Ne spapers call The Advocate Newspapers at 781-286-8500 or Info@advocatenews.net his Valentine’s Day is shaping up to be big, according to projections by the National Retail Federation, which suggests that consumer spending will reach nearly $26 billion. As you prepare to celebrate, there are few common scams that you need to be aware of. Whether you’re hoping to spark a new relationship or buying gifts for loved ones, beware of these scams regularly reported to the Better Business Bureau (BBB). Impostor websites: From fake jewelry sellers to online dating sites, consumers should always be on the alert for impostor websites. Scammers can easily lift offi cial photos, sale promotions and logos directly from the website for a popular jewelry brand. With professional graphics and unbeatable prices, scammers build an attractive website that looks eerily like the real thing. Similar methods might be used 425r Broadway, Saugus Located adjacent to Kohls Plaza Route 1 South in Saugus at the intersection of Walnut St. We are on MBTA Bus Route 429 781-231-1111 We are a Skating Rink with Bowling Alleys, Arcade and two TV’s where the ball games are always on! PUBLIC SKATING SCHEDULE 12-8 p.m. Sunday Monday Tuesday $9.00 Price includes Roller Skates Rollerblades/inline skates $3.00 additional cost Private Parties 7:30-11 p.m. $10.00 Price includes Roller Skates Adult Night 18+ Only Wednesday Thursday Friday Everyone must pay admission after 6 p.m. Private Parties Private Parties 4-11 p.m. Saturday 12-11 p.m. $9.00 $9.00 Everyone must pay admission after 6 p.m. Sorry No Checks - ATM on site Roller skate rentals included in all prices Inline Skate Rentals $3.00 additional BIRTHDAY & PRIVATE PARTIES AVAILABLE www.roller-world.com N to build fake online dating platforms, which are often used to steal personal data and credit card information. For more tips to spot fake websites, read BBB’s guide to smart shopping online (https://www.bbb.org/article/ tips/14040-bbb-tip-smart-shopping-online). Red fl ags: Products are available at extreme discounts; the seller requests customers pay with cash transfer apps or cryptocurrency; customer service is unreachable. Romance scams: Romance scammers often target vulnerable people who have experienced a recent breakup or other hardship. They take advantage of that heartbreak to establish a connection and gain sympathy. Once they’ve gotten their victim on the hook with a sad story, they begin pursuing their true goal: money. Falling victim to a romance scam can be particularly devastating. Victims can lose thousands of dollars, and they’re often left feeling heartbroken and betrayed because they really believed they’d found a good partner. Read more about romance scams (https://www.bbb.org/article/scams/17012-bbb-tip-romance-scams) for safe online dating advice. Red flags: The relationship moves very fast; you never meet in person; they ask for money. Wrong number scam: Responding to a text message from someone who messaged the wrong number might seem harmless. In fact, it might even seem like the polite thing to do, if they say they’re looking to reconnect with a potential match. However, the text message is bait to lure you into a conversation. If you keep chatting, they eventually try to get your personal information by directing you to sign up for an adult site. Learn more about wrong number texts and scam bots (https://www. bbb.org/article/scams/26053-bbbscam-alert-wrong-number-textmessage-could-be-a-scam-bot). Red fl ags: The messages don’t stop; the sender directs you to sign up for a website; they try to get your personal information. Fake florist scam: Ordering fl owers for Valentine’s Day? Don’t procrastinate or you might end up falling for a scam. BBB has received many reports of shoppers who thought they were ordering fl owers from an online fl orist... but either got nothing at all or a disappointing arrangement. Don’t let phony fl orists ruin Valentine’s Day. Red fl ags: The business has no reviews or bad reviews (always check BBB.org!); you can’t fi nd a return policy or satisfaction guarantee; the deal is “too good to be true.” What to do if you encounter a scam: If you encounter a suspected romance scam, cut off all contact with the perpetrator by blocking their accounts and phone number. Then, report your experience to BBB.org/ScamTracker. Dating site users should also report suspicious activity to the platform, so they can take action against the scammers account. For more information about romance scams, visit BBB.org/romance and BBB.org/Valentine. ‘Tech Neck’ Prompts Rapid Rise in Neck Lift Procedures ew York, NY, February 6, 2023 — Smartphones, tablets and laptops have transformed the way people communicate and do business, but these tech tools have also given rise to new physical condition known as “tech neck,” and the pain is real. “Tech neck is the new carpal tunnel syndrome, a repetitive use injury that can lead not only to headaches, neck and shoulder pain, and tingling in the hands, but also deep wrinkles,” cautions top New York City plastic surgeon Dr. Richard Westreich. Deep, horizontal lines in the neck and double chins are the cosmetic consequences of keeping the head tilted downward for long periods of time, Dr. Westreich further explains. Fortunately, cosmetic surgeons have solutions to some of these problems. Dr. Westreich suggests bundling more than one procedure in a surgical appointment — a neck lift along with a facelift and blepharoplasty, for example. This approach can save money and time for cosmetic surgery patients. Whatever procedure a person is considering, due diligence is the best defense against potential post-op problems, Dr. Westreich cautioned. “My best advice to people is to go back to the mindset before the Zoom boom,” he said, explaining that virtual consults have streamlined the process and tightened the timeline between concept and completion. “Don’t rush into something just because it’s easy or convenient.” Popular procedures include breast augmentation, liposuction, rhinoplasty, eyelid surgery and facelifts. Less invasive procedures like Botox injections are skyrocketing. If you’re considering any cosmetic procedure, these safety tips from Dr. Westreich can improve your chances of a better outcome: Tip 1: Make sure any doctor you schedule through a virtual visit allows you to cancel AFTER an in-person meeting for surgery. There is no substitute for face to face. Tip 2: Your health doesn’t belong in the bargain bin. Tip 3: Medical tourism can be dangerous. Laws may diff er; regulations may diff er; problems with after care may arise. Tip 4: Understand informed consent. Ask for examples of not only the good outcomes but also the potential bad ones. Ask for data specific to the procedure and the doctor performing it (complication rates, death rates). Tip 5: Surgery belongs in accredited operating rooms. Ask to see accreditation certifi cate (AAA, AAAA, JCAHO). Tip 6: Make sure the board certifi cation of a doctor makes sense for the procedure they are performing. Tip 7: If signifi cant issues arise after a procedure (surgery or offi ce injection), seek a second opinion on management. More on Dr. Richard Westreich Dr. Richard Westreich graduated Magna Cum Laude with a B.A. in Biological Basis of Behavior, Neuroscience concentration in 1995 from the University of Pennsylvania. He completed his medical school training at the New York University School of Medicine in 1999 with an M.D. and Honors in Cell Biology Research. Dr. Westreich then did his post-graduate training in Facial Plastic Surgery and Otolaryngology at the prestigious Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. He can be seen regularly on several national news programs, including ABC, CBS, FOX and Newsmax.
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