Page 14 THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRiDAy, DECEmbER 16, 2022 BBB Scam Alert: Don’t fall for this online seller trick when buying handmade gifts W hen the holiday season rolls around, many shoppers turn to online seller platforms to find unique, handmade gifts for their friends and family. Scammers have taken note, and according to recent Better Business Bureau (BBB) Scam Tracker reports, they’re targeting shoppers with a notso-unique scam. These recent reports say that the scam is taking place on well-known and reputable websites, such as Etsy (a BBB Accredited Business). Scammers might use this same scam tactic on other platforms as well. How the scam works You’re browsing online when you fi nd a special gift or holiday decoration that you’d like to purchase. The photos seem professional, and everything looks normal… except for one thing. In the item description, you fi nd a message from the seller advising you not to make the purchase through the online sales platform where you have discovered it. Instead, the seller encourages you to purchase the item directly from their independent website, promising that you’ll get a hefty discount if you do. If you follow the link to a website outside the original sales platform and make a purchase, you’ll likely be disappointed when your card is charged, but the product never arrives. Unfortunately, that’s because the product probably never existed in the fi rst place. Worse yet, if you have fallen for this type of scam, your payment information will now be in the hands of unscrupulous characters. One consumer reported this experience: “When I checked out the listing, there was a message that looks like this: ‘DO NOT purchase from this store, visit our website to get 50% off .’ I fell for it and purchased a pair of shoes. I received a confirmation email for my purchase with a tracking number. When nothing arrived, I sent multiple messages inquiring about my order and when I could expect shipment. I received no response. I went back to the website to input my tracking order, and the website was no longer available.” How to avoid online shopping scams • Do business with reputable websites. In general, avoid going off-platform to buy from sellers that you discover online; it’s much safer to purchase through reputable websites that help specialty sellers connect with buyers. Legitimate websites like Etsy have specifi c policies in place to protect sellers and buyers. For example, at Etsy if an order isn’t delivered, you can open a case with Etsy, and you might get your money back. If a seller asks you directly to shop outside of a website where they listed products, think twice. Etsy states: “To avoid scams and fraud, all transactions must take place on the Etsy platform, through the Etsy checkout system.” • Research the seller. Read customer reviews while keeping an eye out for any reports of scams or dishonest behavior. If the seller doesn’t have any reviews yet, do a general online search of the seller’s name, the item and the word “scam” – just to be safe. • Protect your personal information. When making purchases online, be careful with sensitive personal details, such as your name, address and payment information. Read a website’s privacy and security policies to fi nd out how they use and protect your information (e.g., are they sharing it with third parties or using encryption?). Also, check the website’s terms and conditions of sale, including specifics about issues like delivery, refunds and restocking fees (which may be substantial). Decide whether you feel comfortable with these policies. If the website does not post easily accessible privacy and security policies and acceptable terms and conditions, consider it a red fl ag. •Shop with a credit card. Whenever possible, use your credit card to make online purchases. It is easier to dispute fraudulent charges, and you have a better chance of getting your money back if something goes wrong. Demands to wire funds or use gift cards for payment are a major sign that you should just walk away. For more information Review BBB’s tip on smart shopping online (https://www. bbb.org/article/tips/14040-bbbtip-smart-shopping-online) for additional advice. Another helpful article is the BBB Tip on the safe delivery of online purchases (https://www.bbb.org/article/news-releases/14276-bbbsafe-delivery-tips-for-holidayshipping). If you spot a scam while shopping online, report it at BBB.org/ ScamTracker. 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View all our listings at: CarpenitoRealEstate.com THE PRIMARY RESIDENCE, MARRIED COUPLES AND MASSHEALTH I n Massachusetts, as long as one spouse continues to live in the primary residence, the home will not be a countable asset for MassHealth eligibility purposes, regardless of its value. Furthermore, MassHealth cannot fi le a lien against the property as long as one spouse remains living in the home. Beginning in 2023, the maximum equity in a single person’s home can be up to $1,033,000. If the equity is over that amount, the home will be a countable asset for Medicaid eligibility. If one spouse becomes eligible for MassHealth and the home is owned jointly, the home should be transferred to the spouse who is still living at home. The at home spouse could then transfer the home to an irrevocable Trust in order to commence the five-year look back period in the event the at home spouse subsequently ends up transitioning to a nursing home. The Trust would also serve to avoid probate in the event the at home spouse dies. If the house is not transferred to such a Trust and the at home spouse unexpectedly dies without having changed title to the deed, then the house would revert back to the spouse in the nursing home only to be subject to the estate recovery lien by MassHealth upon that spouse’s death. Therefore, continued joint ownership in situations like this is not a viable long-term option when one spouse is in a nursing home. Transfers between spouses are not disqualifying transfers and, consequently, are not subject to the five-year look back period. The subsequent transfer to the irrevocable Trust should only be completed after the nursing home spouse is approved for MassHealth benefi ts. Otherwise, the transfer taking place prior to such approval would be considered a disqualifying transfer. The transfer of the home from the nursing home spouse to the at home spouse can even take place prior to MassHealth approval. That will have no effect on the MassHealth application. The at home spouse will still have the right to use, occupy and possess the home while it is being held in the irrevocable Trust. If the at home spouse were to die, the Trust terms would be followed and most likely the home would be distributed free of all Trusts to the children in equal shares. The children would receive a cost basis in the home equal to the fair market value of the home at the time of the at home spouse’s death. If the home were to be sold shortly thereafter, in all likelihood, no capital gains tax would be paid. No Massachusetts estate tax would be paid if the total value of the at home spouse’s estate is less than $1million. I’m still waiting for the Massachusetts legislature to at least increase the exemption to $2million. New Hampshire has no estate tax. Maine will be exempting up to $6million the start of the year. Connecticut’s current estate tax is not assessed until the estate is valued over 9.1million. Just a few examples. Joseph D. Cataldo is an Estate Planning/Elder Law Attorney, Certifi ed Public Accountant, Certifi ed Financial Planner, AICPA Personal Financial Specialist and holds a Master’s Degree in Taxation. Like us on Facebook advocate newspaper Facebook.com/Advocate.news.ma
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