THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2023 Page 15 BBB Scam Alert: When shopping online, watch for phony “discreet shipping” fees P eak shipping season is here, and con artists are capitalizing on it. In a new scam reported to the Better Business Bureau (BBB) Scam Tracker, phony ecommerce websites hit shoppers with a bill for “discreet shipping.” This extra fee allegedly pays for special packaging or stamps, but it’s a trick to get online shopping scam victims to hand over more money. Here’s how to recognize the signs of this scam. How the scam works: You order something online and pay for the product and shipping. However, before the item can be delivered, the vendor contacts you. They claim you must pay an extra fee for “discreet shipping.” What even is discreet shipping? Well, it depends on the scam. BBB Scam Tracker has gotten multiple reports from consumers who purchased diet pills, vaping products, ammunition, CBD edibles, or other similar products. Other times, scammers charge a “discreet shipping” fee when a shopper marks their online purchase as a gift. In another twist, scammers tell shoppers they must pay for “discreet package stamps” to prevent their packages from passing through customs. One consumer explained the scam: “I purchased some cigars, and the company… gave me a website and tracking number. But then, I received messages from the shipping company wanting money (supposedly refundable) for insurance on the SCHOOL | FROM Page 1 operated," recalled Ferrante, an accountant with a local fi nancial services business. Ferrante served as the chairman of the School Committee's Ways and Means during his 18 years on the committee. At the last School Committee meeting, Schools Supt. Diane Kelly said she appreciated having a School Committee who care about what's happening for Revere children. "I think I'm blessed to have a whole committee who's like that but Michael you are 100 percent in this for the kids," Kelly told Ferrante. Ferrante said he was grateful for the chance to work with the community and help solve problems for students and families. "You can't solve everyone's issues, but you try and do what you can," he said. Tye found her life's work as a student teacher at Garfi eld. "I delivery. After that, they requested more money for a type of delivery the sender described as discreet. They won’t cancel the order, refund the money I paid, or deliver the package without getting more money from me.” Unfortunately for this shopper, the package and the cigars probably never existed in the fi rst place. Scammers usually ask for payment through a digital payment app, such as Zelle or CashApp. If you use an app to pay, you probably won’t be able to recover your funds when you realize the business is a sham. How to avoid shipping scams • Buy from reputable shops. If you purchase something online, research before giving the vendor your full trust. Ensuring a working phone number and address on a professional-looking website is a good place to start. • Understand how different payment methods work. Diff erent payment types come with different rights and responsibilities. For example, you might be able to contest fraudulent charges on your credit card, but money sent through digital payment apps works more like cash. Once you’ve sent the funds, they are gone for good. Only use safe payment methods that come with protections when shopping online. • Check the seller’s reviews and ratings. These exist on varhave been so lucky to spend my life in a world that was always young," she said adding it was the openness, energy, world views and the combination of innocence and knowledge of students that kept her in her various roles of teacher, superintendent, president of the Teachers' Association and school committee member. Tye and Ferrante agree that Revere Schools are in a good place. "Kids are graduating and going on to top-notch schools," said Ferrante who admitted guiding the school district was, at times, "a tough grind." Tye suggested that the reputation of Revere schools is partially responsible for the city's growth. "We have an excellent reputation," she said. "There are any number of stories of people who came to Revere for a better life for their kids, that's the way it's always been in Revere." As they look ahead, Tye and ious platforms, but authentic, verifi ed reviews can also be accessed from a company’s BBB Profi le. When reading reviews, look for positive or negative trends and note how the company responds. • Check for a secure website. Look for the “https://” URL structure in the company’s web address and the padlock symbol in the address bar. These verify you’ve got a secure connection and encryption of your data. For more information on website security, go to www.bbb.org/all/ bbbi/digital-iq/bbb-secure. For more information: Read BBB’s article on five ways to avoid delivery scams to learn how to protect yourself from shipping scams at https://www. bbb.org/article/scams/16460scam-alert-fake-text-deliveryscam. Check out BBB’s online shopping HQ for more resources; https://www.bbb.org/all/online-shopping. Get informed about shipping fraud by visiting FedEx’s website at https://www.fedex.com/ en-us/report-fraud.html, the U.S Postal Service at https://www. uspis.gov/report and the UPS’s online resource center at https:// www.ups.com/us/en/support/ shipping-support/legal-termsconditions/fi ght-fraud.page If you spot a shipping scam, make a report. Visit BBB Scam Tracker to share your experience and help others learn how to spot a scam at https://www. bbb.org/ScamTracker Ferrante have concerns about the new high school project on the existing site. Ferrante fears the cost of building on the existing site will be "astronomical," and he hopes the new city council changes direction. Tye feels it will be a mistake to jam the new school into the current space. She also worries that it's short sighted to fail to plan to reuse the existing high school building as a new middle school which will be needed soon. "It will cause us more problems in the future," she said adding city offi cials are not "listening to the kids of the future." The high school is the number 1 priority of the School Committee and I'm cautiously optimistic," said Ferrante. "I think (Wonderland) is the better of the two sites but that's just me." Both Tye and Ferrante said they will miss the committee but they will be watching and listening. "These 22 years went by so 1. On Dec. 29, 1937, what European Free State became a country? 2. “Have a nice day!” appeared below what 1970s yellow design? 3. On Dec. 30, 1986, what country’s government announced that electronic sensors would replace canaries for detecting carbon monoxide in coal mines? 4. How are Ceylon, Persia and Siam similar? 5. The Collins Dictionary stated what is the “most notable word of 2023”: AI, IQ or NFT? 6. The fi rst public reception was held at the White House on Jan. 1 in what year: 1789, 1801 or 1855? 7. On Dec. 31, 2007, what construction project in the USA (estimated at $3 billion) was completed at approximately $22 billion (including interest)? 8. What mammal has the thickest fur: bear, Bernese Mountain dog or sea otter? 9. In September 2023, whose 1972 NBA Finals Los Angeles Lakers jersey was auctioned for $4.9 million? 10. On Jan. 1, 1971, what product was banned from Answers American TV? 11. Where is Gotham City? 12. Merriam-Webster Dictionary’s word of the year is what: deepfake, authentic or coronation? 13. In what poem would you fi nd “And we’ll tak a cup o’ kindness yet”? 14. On Jan. 2, 1974,, during an OPEC embargo, President Richard Nixon signed a bill to lower the maximum speed limit to what: 55, 65 or 75 mph? 15. What is a PV cell? 16. What music player is called a bubbler? 17. On Jan. 3, 1938, President Franklin D. Roosevelt founded the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis, which was later called what? 18. How many bridges connect Manhattan Island: 10, 16 or 21? 19. According to Guinness World Records, in 2023 who had the single biggest loss of net worth in history (about $200 billion)? 20. January 4 is National Trivia Day; the fi rst book on the subject of trivia was published in what decade: 1950s, 1960s or 1980s? quickly,' said Tye who is looking forward to more time with family, and time to read a stack of books she's been saving. "There are people I want to see and places I want to go," she said. "I suspect I'll never have a boring day." Ferrante also looks forward to more time with family and friends and watching Revere schools continue to grow and thrive. But as they looked back on their time on the Revere School Committee, both Tye and Ferrante stressed repeatedly it was always about the kids. 1. Ireland 2. Smiley face 3. England’s 4. They are former names of countries (Sri Lanka, Iran and Thailand, respectively) 5. AI (artifi cial intelligence) 6. 1801 (It became an annual tradition through 1932.) 7. The Big Dig 8. Sea otter 9. Wilt Chamberlain’s 10. CIgarettes 11. It is a comic book city; in 1807 author Washington Irving nicknamed NYC “Gotham” after a Nottinghamshire, England, village that was, according to legend, inhabited by fools. 12. Authentic 13. “Auld Lang Syne” by Robert Burns 14. 55 mph 15. Photovoltaic (produce electricity from sunlight) 16. The 1946 Model 1015 Jukebox 17. March of Dimes (Radio listeners were encouraged to donate by sending dimes to the White House.) 18. 21 19. Elon Musk 20. 1960s (1966 – “Trivia” – authored by two Columbia University students)
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