Current Events in March 2023

Luckily, being Irish may have staved off inflation for this year's St. Patrick's celebration. Party essentials are up, but only a wee bit more than they cost in 2022.

According to new data mined by Datasembly that took a long long at major brands at thousands of retailers across the country, the company’s analysts have determined that the cost of the St. Patrick’s Day basket in 2023 is $83.14 when compared with the 2022 cost of $80.82, an increase of 2.9%. 

It’s not the booze that’ll get you, either – it’s those darn potatoes and the corned beef. The largest price difference from 2022 is the price of russet potatoes with a 13.64% year-over-year (YOY) increase, followed by a 12.47% jump in corned beef prices. 

Currently, the alcohol category is experiencing very modest inflation and the most popular drink for St. Patrick’s Day celebrations, Guinness, is seeing a 3.9% year-over-year increase. Last year, a six-pack of Guinness cost $9.73 and this year, it will cost consumers $10.11. If you want to save some money on alcohol, your best bet is Irish Cream Liqueur which actually decreased in price by 1.75%.

Costs for 2023 St. Patrick’s Day Basket Items (courtesy of Datasembly)

Update on other grocery prices

Datasembly told ConsumerAffairs that the overall increase in grocery prices for February 2023 was 1.0% which is the highest we’ve seen since July 2022 when prices increased by 1.7%.  The increase was driven in large part by the Snacks/Cookies/Chips category which rose 4.4%, almost twice as high as any other category. 

The company said that spike was the largest increase it’s seen over the last three years and when it investigated the category further, it found that the subcategory driving this increase was Chips which increased almost 10% in February. 

The next largest category increase was Condiments/Sauces/Spices which increased 2.3%; Deli and Baking increased 1.1% and 1.4% respectively; Produce prices, however, decreased by 0.5%.

Over the course of the tax season, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has warned taxpayers of various tax-related scams that are floating around. With just over a month to go until the April 18 filing deadline, the risk of tax fraud and related scams is still ever-present. 

It’s more important than ever for taxpayers to be able to identify the various tax scams, as well as know what to do to protect themselves and their personal information during tax season. 

What do the scams look like? 

Earlier in the tax season, ConsumerAffairs highlighted a few of the biggest scams that pose a threat to taxpayers this time of year. 

One such scam has permeated social media and pushes the idea to taxpayers that falsifying their W2 documents is likely to yield tax returns as high as five figures. Scammers encourage the idea that manually filling out tax returns and filing electronically can help taxpayers secure higher refunds. 

Another tax-related scam involves scammers pretending to be representatives from the IRS to try to get personal information or money from taxpayers on the other end of the phone. In these instances, the agency urges taxpayers to hang up the phone and report the scam. 

“Phishing and scammers are always going to focus on what is top of mind for the public,” Steve Grobman, vice president and chief technology officer at McAfee, told ConsumerAffairs. “Whether it’s the pandemic, the job market, or tax season, we’re seeing bad actors take advantage of these moments for personal gain. 

“Right now, our threats team is seeing an uptick in tax-related scams with tens of thousands of people unknowingly clicking phishing links,” he continued. “This is not new for 2023. Every year, McAfee sees cybercriminals try to lure people with fake tax information that is disguised as reputable tax filing resources and support.” 

How to stay safe during tax season

Grobman, and fellow tax security expert David Putnam, head of Identity Protection Products for LifeLock, had more advice for ConsumerAffairs readers to stay safe in the face of scams this tax season. 

“It sounds simple, but the best way for consumers to protect themselves during tax season is to understand how the IRS works and the types of scams fraudsters use to take advantage of taxpayers,” Putnam said. “For example, IRS impersonation schemes are designed to trick people into believing the IRS has contacted them about their return or refund in order to send phishing links or gather personal information that can be used to steal your identity. It is important to know that the IRS communicates through traditional mail and will never contact you via email, phone, or text.” 

Below are Grobman’s best tips for staying safe during tax season: 

• “Look into purchasing a locking mailbox. Mail and porch theft are still prevalent, and it’s common for thieves to harvest personal and financial information by lifting it from your mailbox.

• Shred paper correspondence that contains personal or financial information, such as bills, medical documents, bank statements and so forth. 

• Lock your smartphones, tablets, and computers with a PIN or password.

• Install comprehensive security solutions on your devices. This will safeguard you in several ways, such as email filters that will protect you from phishing attacks, features that will warn you of sketchy links and downloads, plus further protection for your identity and privacy — in addition to providing overall protection from viruses, malware, and other cyberattacks.”

More tips

Similarly, Putnam shared his best tips for taxpayers to stay safe during tax season: 

• “One of the best ways to avoid IRS scammers looking to steal your refund is by filing your taxes as early as possible. The sooner you submit your tax return, the less likely it will be that someone else can file a fraudulent return in your name. 

• An Identity Protection Personal Identification Number or IP PIN adds a layer of security by assigning a unique PIN to your data. Much like the security code on a credit card, thieves would need this additional number to file a false return in your name. You can get your IP PIN by logging onto the Get an IP PIN tool offered by the IRS. You will have to verify your identity to do this.

• Keep your information private and safe. Following basic cyber safety measures can help protect your personal information from savvy cybercriminals. Install security software on your devices, avoid public Wi-Fi, and use a virtual private network if possible when doing any transactions regarding your finances.

• While the safest way to file is directly through the IRS, it is important to always use a reputable service to file your taxes. Hackers become very good at mimicking major tax prep companies through phishing emails, and ghost preparation services posing as legitimate businesses prey on unknowing taxpayers by stealing returns.”

Don’t expect to see grandma and gramps much this year. After dropping from nearly 50% of all travelers in 2019 to 16% in COVID-ridden 2020, people aged 60-plus seem to be buying up all the trips they can.

According to statistics from travel insurance marketplace Squaremouth.com, the share of seniors hitting the road has risen by 125% and now account for the largest travel demographic for the first time since the start of the pandemic – double those 50-59 and nearly double those 35-49.

And with that, what those consumers want from a travel insurance policy is changing, too. Not only do the insurance companies have to address health issues that COVID-19 may have created, but older travelers are looking for assurances that their trip insurance will cover everything that’s especially important to them. 

Topping the list these days are more searches by seniors for policies with medical coverage. Seniors remain the most concerned demographic when it comes to contracting COVID-19 while traveling, despite a 21% drop in searches for COVID-related coverage over the past year.

What things are other seniors looking for in their travel insurance?

ConsumerAffairs asked Squaremouth’s analysts to dig into its study a little deeper to find out specifically what seniors are looking for in travel insurance so their demographic peers could have a better idea of what to look for.

The biggest increase in the types of searches is for Cruise insurance – up 76% year over year. Logging a 45% uptick from 2022 are popular medical-related benefits – Emergency Medical, Medical Evac, Pre-Existing Condition and Primary Medical. Next on the checklist of coverages is a 20% increase in searches for Travel Delays -- which, in a situation like Southwest's recent cancellation downfall, may have covered some parts of a person's trip.

Overall, Squaremouth’s total searches break out like this for seniors:

• Contracting COVID-19: 30.18%
• Emergency Medical: 17.50%
• Medical Evacuation: 13.90%
• Trip Interruption: 13.73%
• Cancel for Any Reason: 11.36%
• Pre-Existing Condition Coverage: 8.92%
• Primary Medical: 8.55%
• Travel Delay: 8.32%
• Quarantine Coverage: 6.29%
• Cruise: 6.28%

Sensing that consumers may forgo a traditional Easter dinner to save money that inflation is otherwise eating up, Walmart is offering ingredients for an entire Easter meal for less than $100.

The company did the same last Thanksgiving and says it was such a hit that it’s doing it again. Starting with the cornerstone of every Easter occasion – eggs – the big box retailer said that instead of cutting the prices on eggs, it’s going to lower the cost of other Easter food traditions instead. 

When ConsumerAffairs took a look at Walmart’s Easter deals, it certainly had everything covered. There are essentials of ham, green beans, pie, and 17 fixings in between appetizers and dessert: including pineapple slices, salad dressings, mayo, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, corn, and Cool Whip. 

“At Walmart, our purpose is to help customers save money and live better. We’re committed to keeping prices low, so families can spend less time worrying about the cost of coming together and more time celebrating with their loved ones,” John Laney, Walmart's executive vice president, of Food, said.

“To ensure our customers can do just that, we’re continuing to invest in the moments that matter this year by offering a Walmart-curated Easter meal and Easter basket at last year’s price.”

Not just green beans, either

The promotion is a double-headed deal, too. On top of grocery staples, Walmart is offering an assortment of Easter basket must-haves at last year’s prices.

“With the savings, you can easily assemble an Easter basket packed to the brim with decorative grass, a Hershey’s Milk Chocolate Bunny, Reese’s Eggs, toys and more, perfect for the little ones,” Laney said.

The new prices are available now both online and in-store and the orders are also available for curbside pickup and delivery. They’ll be good until April 15.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that it will roll out mobile contactless payment options for SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) recipients in five states: Massachusetts, Illinois, Oklahoma, Louisiana, and Missouri. 

“Today’s announcement represents another step forward for the future of SNAP and the many ways our programs are embracing modern and innovative ideas to improve nutrition security,” said Stacy Dean, USDA undersecretary for food, nutrition, and consumer services. “Digital wallets are changing the way we pay for everything, including groceries. 

“We want to ensure SNAP leverages the latest technology to improve access to benefits, reduce fraud, and provide a better overall experience for the families we serve.” 

Modernizing the process

One of the primary goals of enabling mobile payments for SNAP is to update its technological presence. For the states that are getting involved with this new payment option, this is yet another way that these services are innovating for consumers. 

In addition, Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) has taken steps to make SNAP benefits more technologically advanced, including online shopping platforms for both major grocery stores and local and rural grocers. 

Shoppers still have a choice

The USDA explained that there is a lot going on behind the scenes to make this new payment option possible. The agency has to work closely with the states involved, as well as digital wallet providers, EBT processors, and stores, to make this happen. 

Consumers in these five states can expect to see the mobile SNAP payment option rolled out within the next few years. However, it will still be up to participants whether or not they want to pay with their physical EBT card or their digital wallet. Additionally, individual retailers will also have the choice of whether or not they’ll transition to accepting digital payments. 

Rather than carrying a SNAP card, which can be susceptible to various scams and fraud attempts, the mobile option will help keep payments secure and ensure that consumers are able to get healthy food for themselves and their families. 

“Our Administration is committed to centering equity in all that we do,” said Massachusetts Governor Maura Healy. “Allowing households to buy groceries using SNAP benefits through their mobile device not only creates a more dignified and secure checkout experience but also provides low-income families access to the same purchasing technologies as other customers.” 

Consumers paid more for food and shelter last month but the cost of heating homes fell sharply. The Labor Department’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased by 0.4% after a 0.5% rise in January.

Natural gas prices plunged 8% last month but are still 14% higher than 12 months ago. The cost of fuel oil dropped 7.9% while remaining 9.2% higher than a year ago.

The cost of electricity rose last month, but not by much. Electric bills were 0.5% higher than in January but consumers are paying 12.9% more for electricity than in February 2022.

Motorists also saw another small increase in prices at the pump. The cost of gasoline was up 1% over January but compared to 12 months ago, gas prices were down 1.2%.

Food costs rose 0.4% in February, perhaps causing consumers the most inflationary pain. It was still cheaper to eat at home last month. The price of food purchased at a store and consumed at home rose 0.3% while food consumed at bars, restaurants and convenience stores rose 0.4%. Overall food costs were 9.5% higher than a year ago.

High cost of shelter

There was also little relief for people renting an apartment or buying a home. Shelter costs rose 0.8%, slightly more than in January. 

Used car prices continued to fall last month, registering a 2.8% decline, and were 13% cheaper than a year ago. New vehicle prices continued to rise as dealers continued to mark up cars and trucks over the sticker price.

Taking everything into consideration, consumer prices are 6% higher than they were a year ago, well off their peak last June.

Ticketing for the summer concert season is starting to turn up the volume.

With 1980s acts like Madonna and Duran Duran returning to the stage, Beyonce cashing in on her Grammy haul, and Guns ‘n Roses trying to wrap up a three-year tour, music fans are biting at the bit to be part of the scene.

Problem is, ticket prices have never been higher. When ConsumerAffairs looked at StubHub, Ticketmaster, and other ticket platforms, people were asking as much as $134 for nosebleed tickets to see Beyonce, and anyone who wants to be down front to see Springsteen is looking at a price tag of more than $450 a seat.

And that’s now – in March. As summer dates get closer, it’s a toss-up as to prices.

Artists whose tours aren’t the money machine they thought they’d be might be cutting prices and artists who are hot could see third-party sellers jacking their ticket prices way up.

There’s also the problem of trust. After Ticketmaster was called in before Congress for botching ticketing for Taylor Swift’s tour, music lovers have a right to be skeptical and concerned, especially about the new wave of “dynamic pricing.”

Until this mess gets corrected, consumers have to take care of themselves

For the moment, ticket prices aren’t coming down and those exorbitant fees aren’t walking off the stage, either. But when the main concert promoter or venue’s tickets are sold out and the only way to buy one is the secondary market, ticket buyers need to protect themselves.

ConsumerAffairs went straight to several secondary ticketing companies to get their best suggestions for a positive experience and here’s what we found. 

Don’t pay cash and never, ever buy tickets on social media! VividSeats’ Julia Young said that doing business that way leaves a ticket buyer without any protection. “More importantly, check for Third Party Confirmation and make sure the site is a member of the National Association of Ticket Brokers (NATB),” she said.

If a site says you have to enter your credit card information to see the price of a ticket, get out of there! “If a site doesn’t want to show you either an all-in price from the start inclusive of service and other fees, or at least have a toggle to allow you to view the ticket price with estimated fees included, that’s a sign that they don’t want you to be able to comparison shop with competing marketplaces,” Sean Burns at TicketNetwork advises. “That strategy signifies they are betting on the fact that you are committed to purchasing from them by the time you see the final price, even if it’s higher than the same tickets elsewhere.”

There is no “ideal” time to buy. Brett Goldberg, co-founder and co-CEO of 11-year-old TickPick, told ConsumerAffairs that like everything else, there’s an algorithm at play in the event ticket world and there are several factors that go into the "best time" to buy. For instance, the number of tickets available, the matchup, day of week, etc. all play a factor in the price.

“If you are comfortable with the price point, then we encourage you to purchase the tickets. If you wait until the last minute then it is encouraged that you are in a location with good internet connection to ensure you receive your tickets asap if the event is quickly approaching,” he said.

Goldberg also suggests trying to look on both a ticket seller’s website and its app because sometimes the percentage of service fees can differ on the same marketplace depending on which one you’re on.

Read reviews. Not all ticket buyers have the same experiences with ticket sellers. At ConsumerAffairs, some sellers get 5-star reviews, some get 1-star. If you’re considering using a certain company, it would be smart to see what other consumers think of them. If there’s a consistent problem with customer service, then you may be better off somewhere else. 

Most pandemic-era supply chain issues have been resolved and inventory levels have risen, but many new car dealers continue to sell cars and trucks for thousands of dollars above the manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP).

A new report from iSeeCars.com found the average new car continues to be priced 8.8% above the sticker price. But that’s just the average. When iSeeCars identified the 10 models priced the most above MSRP, the gap surged to as much as 27%.

“There’s no denying it – new cars are expensive,” said Karl Brauer, executive analyst at iSeeCars. “The manufacturers keep raising their prices and then the dealers raise them again, to the point where the average new car is priced above $45,000.” 

Priciest models

If you are in the market for a new car, it may be helpful to know which models are, in some people’s minds, overpriced. According to the study, these are the cars that are priced the most above the sticker price:

1. Genesis GV70   +27.5%
2. Jeep Wrangler   +23.9%
3. Mercedes-Benz GLB   +22.9%
4. Porsche Taycan    +22.7%
5. Jeep Wrangler Unlimited  +21.9%
6. Cadillac CT4-V  +21.1%
7. Genesis GV80  +21%
8. Porsche Macan  +20.6%
9. Cadillac CT5  +20.3%
10. Lexus RH 350H  +20.3%

The news is not all bad for car shoppers. The study suggests the average sticker prices appear to have either peaked or plateaued in January, with prices dipping slightly last month.

At the same time, dealer markups above MSRP hit a high back in July and have been on the decline since. In July, sale prices were 10% above the sticker prices. Now, it’s 8.8%. So for consumers, the trend is moving in the right direction.

“The difference between dealer pricing and MSRP should continue to fall as the supply chain improves, though getting back to MSRP for most models may not happen this year," said Bauer.

Some models sell for less than MSRP

While many popular models are selling above the sticker price,  buyers are able to find new cars that are going for less than the MSRP. Brauer says the study identified at least four models where dealers are actually dealing.

“Chevrolet recently halted production of the Silverado, suggesting supply for this full-size truck is in the unique post-pandemic status of outstripping demand,” said Brauer. Other models priced right at MSRP include the Volkswagen Arteon, Cadillac Lyriq, and the Infiniti QX80.”

Brauer notes the Lyriq is a newly introduced electric SUV, so it’s surprising to see it priced right at MSRP. A popular full-size pickup, the GMC Sierra 1500, is selling just slightly above the sticker price.

Don’t say we didn’t tell you. McDonald’s is making good on its promise to get serious about chicken.

The company just announced that it’s bringing out the “McCrispy” chicken sandwich. Serious enough that it’s trademarked the name, too.

“This crispy, juicy, tender sandwich is a special kind of delicious—with our crispy chicken filet made with all-white meat, crinkle-cut pickles and buttered potato roll—did we mention it comes in Deluxe and Spicy too?” is the company’s pitch. 

When ConsumerAffairs searched for its availability, we found that it’s already available in some U.S. markets with plans to go nationwide on March 13. 

The regular version is priced at $4.59 with the spicy version a dime more at $4.69. The deluxe version with lettuce, Roma tomatoes, and mayo is $4.99.

If you want to make your McCrispy a meal, those prices go up to $8.38, $8.48 and $8.88, respectively. The only caveat we found on the McDonald’s app is that the sandwiches are not available after midnight.

“Crispy’ish” things may well be around for a while for McDonald’s fans. ConsumerAffairs also noticed a feature upgrade for McD’s crispy products on its app.

It was pushing Crispy Chicken McMuffins, Crispy Chicken McGriddles, and Crispy Chicken Biscuits, as well, and NRN reports that a Bacon Ranch McCrispy is on the schedule too, but will only be available for a limited time.

The Colonel's attempting to raise the roof on his hen house, too

As things go in the fast food industry, there’s a lot of copycatting. If chicken is your thing, who knows how far this one-upmanship will go, but McDonald’s chicken competition isn’t taking this skirmish sitting down.

After a decade, KFC recently announced the return of its KFC Double Down Sandwich – but it’s a get it before it’s gone thing, only lasting until the first week of April.

Another limited engagement at KFC is the “premium” Bacon & Cheese Chicken Sandwich – a double-breaded, extra crispy, 100% white meat filet, a slice of cheese, two pieces of hickory-smoked bacon, mayo and pickles at participating restaurants for a limited time.

Popeye’s is focusing on Lent right now, and giving its all to new seafood items. But once Easter is over, it’s possible it may reenter the game with a new chicken sandwich to compete with the others.

In its latest report, the U.S. Labor Department found there are nearly two job openings for every unemployed American. But that doesn’t count the thousands of fake jobs scammers offer their victims every day.

With fake job offers, scammers hope to steal both money and personal information. As we close out National Consumer Protection Week, here are some ways to tell real jobs from fake job scams.

When considering a job posting, be sensitive to red flags – things that just don’t seem right. They can include email addresses from Gmail or other personal email accounts not affiliated with a company.

Fake job offers may include a much higher salary than similar jobs pay. As you read the posting, look for misspelled words and grammatical mistakes.

Legitimate employers will ask for sensitive information, such as Social Security numbers and bank account information, but only after you are pretty far along in the hiring process. When a job poster seeks that information up front, they’re probably a scammer.

Credible online presence

Scammers can be good at presenting a credible online presence. They may set up an onboard portal, where they ask for all kinds of information. They may even agree to a virtual job interview instead of emailed questions. That means job applicants need to remain cautious and alert.

If the job offer is from a company you have heard of, that doesn’t mean it’s real. Scammers often pose as large, well-known firms.

Instead of applying by clicking on a link in the job posting, contact the company directly by finding its real website. Companies with job openings normally post them on their website as well as using job boards.

Never heard of the company? Then search its name with the word “scam” or “fraud.” You may find warnings from others who have been targeted.

Not so fast

If a company makes the hiring decision too quickly, that can be another sign of a scam. That’s especially true if they follow up with unreasonable requests, such as asking the applicant to pay for equipment or sending the applicant a large check to deposit in their bank account, using it to buy supplies, and returning what’s left.

In every case, the check is a clever counterfeit that isn’t discovered by the bank until a week or so later. At that time, the bank will demand that you replace the money you have withdrawn.

Just because the job posting appears on a legitimate site doesn’t mean it’s real. Most job sites don’t vet every job posting. Unfortunately, it’s up to the applicant to identify the bad actors. And there are plenty of them.

Consumer advocates estimate 14 million people are targeted by fake job scams each year. Losses are estimated to approach $2 billion.

Tax season is full of deadlines, and now the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is reminding retired taxpayers of another upcoming one: April 1. 

The agency explained that this is the final day for retirees – particularly those who turned 72 during 2022 – to start receiving payments, or required minimum distributions, from their 401(k), Individual Retirement Agreements (IRAs), or other workplace retirement programs. 

What are required minimum distributions? 

For retirees with certain retirement programs, that money can’t sit in those accounts indefinitely. This is where required minimum distributions (RMDs) come in. 

RMDs are withdrawals that retirees must make from their retirement programs on a yearly basis. While retirees are free to take out more than the minimum requirements, these withdrawals must be included in their taxable income when they file taxes for the year. 

The exact amount of the RMDs will vary from person to person. However, the IRS has several resources available on their website to help taxpayers determine how much they should be withdrawing each year. 

What accounts fall under this rule?

So, which accounts are subject to the RMD rules? Below is the full list: 

• Traditional IRAs

• 401(k) plans

• 457(b) plans

• SEP IRAs

• 403(b) plans

• SIMPLE IRAs

• Roth IRA beneficiaries

• Profit sharing plans

• Other defined contribution plans 

The IRS explained that while these withdrawals typically must happen before the end of the year, for those who turned 72 years old in 2022, the final deadline is April 1, 2023. However, those who take their first withdrawal by April 1 must then make their second withdrawal by December 31, 2023. 

These rules are set to change slightly by the end of this year, though. When it comes time to file 2023 taxes, retirees will be able to wait until they turn 73 to start taking out RMDs. 

More tax resources for seniors

Throughout tax season, the IRS has shared resources that seniors can utilize as they prepare to file their taxes. 

For senior taxpayers who have questions about their retirement plans or pensions, they can reach out to Tax Counseling for the Elderly. This program can help guide taxpayers through the filing process, and clear up any confusion about the filing process. 

IRS’ Free File tool is specifically for those who have made under $73,000 in 2022, and it allows taxpayers to file their federal returns – and some state returns – for free. 

Is technology a blessing or a curse? Yes.

If you use a smart phone, PC, tablet or any of the myriad devices now available, that may well be your answer.

The upside is fairly obvious: the ability to shop, pay bills and access information without ever getting off your backside.

The downside: there's always somebody out there trying to pick your pocket -- without getting off his backside.

This National Consumer Protection Week would seem to be a good time to take a look at the pitfalls and what you can do to protect yourself.

Let's review

Email scams

Scammers use email to try to steal your passwords, account numbers, or Social Security numbers -- a tactic known as phishing.

They'll often tell a story to trick you into clicking on a link or opening an attachment, send something that looks like it’s from a company you know or trust, like a bank or a credit card or utility company.

Once they have your information they may be able to access your email, bank, or other accounts or sell your information to other scammers. Scammers launch thousands of phishing attacks like these every day — and they’re often successful.

Spam calls

You answer your phone and several seconds later hear a recording instead of a live person: It's a robocall probably trying to sell you something -- or worse.

These can take many forms such as government impersonators, someone asking for personal information, or instructing recipients to wire money or pay with a gift card.

Among the scariest for senior citizens are callers claiming to be from the Social Security Administration, threatening to take certain actions including arrest, legal action or suspending your Social Security number because you don’t agree to pay money immediately.

These are easy to figure out if you keep in mind that Social Security employees will only contact you if you have requested a call or are doing business with the agency, and will never threaten you for information or promise benefits in exchange for information.

In those cases, the call is fraudulent.

Texting scams

You won a sweepstakes you didn't enter; you can get free stuff just for filling out a survey; you need to pay a certain amount to get your package delivered -- a package you had no idea was coming.

These are all examples of “smishing,” a scam that uses text messages that look like they’re from well-known names like USPS, Costco, or The Home Depot and others. Hold on there: they’re from impersonators.

What to do

The big question here with all this garbage rolling in is, “how do I protect myself?"

If you get an unexpected text or email, do not click on the link.

An email with an unfamiliar address? Delete.

Do not make payments you do not owe or purchase gift cards because you've been told to or asked to.

Consumer education is the key to keeping yourself safe.

Roopa Ramaiya of Feedzai, which bills itself as a leader in fighting financial crime with artificial intelligence (AI), says it's important to know that fraudsters play on fear and anxiety.

"Your bank or legitimate merchant is never going to scare you or pressure you into taking an action," she says. "If an email, text, or call you receive from someone purporting to be from your financial institution plays on your fears or anxiety, take a step back.”

Your best bet is to disengage from the communication, Ramaiya adds, and “contact your financial institution at a known and published number or go into the branch or store. Take the time to confirm the legitimacy of the communication."

Meta – owners of Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram – is writing a big check to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) to launch Take It Down, a platform to help tweens and teens remove naked or sexual photos and videos of themselves completely from the web.

On board to help, besides Facebook and Instagram, is Yubo, a social networking app that took off during the pandemic thanks to quarantined teenagers.

There are also two unexpected participants that come from the online XXX world -- OnlyFans, a service thought to be used primarily by sex workers who produce pornography, and the pornography website Pornhub.

Social media's back against the wall

After mounting public pressure and parental outrage, Snapchat, TikTok, Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram have all taken action lately to help reduce sextortion and pornography and provide more parental controls. 

But Twitter? Nope. According to its policy, anyone on Twitter “can share graphic content and consensually produced adult nudity and sexual behavior content within your tweets, provided that you mark this media as sensitive.”

That’s playing with fire, contends Yaron Litwin, chief marketing officer at Canopy, a platform designed to keep kids safe online and give parents some solace. He told ConsumerAffairs that this type of content is not always marketed accordingly, potentially exposing children to inappropriate content. 

“On most social media apps, children are not supposed to have an account or use platforms without parental supervision until they turn 13 – but enforcing these guidelines while maintaining user privacy has presented a major issue for tech companies,” he said. 

How Take It Down works

The service isn’t a single-click button you can push and instantly have sexual images of minors taken off the internet. But the center says it’s at least one step and that one step in the right direction is better than none.

When ConsumerAffairs did a walk-thru of Take It Down, it was pretty simple. The only organizational thing you have to do is find any images and videos that include nude, partially nude or sexually explicit content.

The steps work like this:

First, you need to verify that the images include nudity and if they were shared online.

A person whose sexually-explicit image is on the internet selects the image or video that they want removed from their device and clicks on “Get Started“. Images and videos remain on the person’s device and are not uploaded.

For each image or video, Take It Down will then generate a “hash” – a digital fingerprint – that can be used to identify an exact copy of that image or video. NCMEC adds the hash to a secure list it maintains and will only share it with participating online platforms that have agreed to use that list to scan their public or unencrypted sites and apps for the hashes of a person’s explicit content.

If an online platform detects an image or video on its public or unencrypted service that matches a hash value, that’s where it can take action to limit the spread of the explicit content.

Parents still need to clean up their side of the street

Until the day when all of those images are gone and never to be found again online, Litwin echoed the public safety alert the FBI recently sent out regarding sextortion.

“The best protection against online threats like this for kids and teens is honest and open parental communication. Parents should talk with their children and provide examples of online communication and behavior that could be a concern,” he suggested. 

“In addition, having clear family rules  in place regarding online responsibility and the sharing of personal photos is crucial.”

Naturally, he said that Canopy is a solution – primarily because of its anti-sexting feature that alerts a parent when an explicit image is sent or received – but added it’s not the only one out there that can help parents manage and monitor their child’s online behavior.

“There are many incredible tools parents can employ to help them facilitate these conversations and implement safe internet practices at home,” he said.