Buyer Beware: Scams Are on the Rise, Say California Officials

Employment Development Department paperwork in Irvine, Calif., on April 2, 2021. John Fredricks/The Epoch Times

From online dating deceptions to merchandise fraud, officials in California say they’re seeing an increase in scams during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

“We saw particularly pernicious fraud from unscrupulous individuals or businesses seeking to take advantage of people,” a San Mateo District Attorney’s Office spokesperson told The Epoch Times. “Consumers who would otherwise shop in person have turned to online sellers to purchase necessities.”