3 Things Michigan Parents Can Do To Avoid Online Baby Formula Scams

Parents in Michigan and across the country are being warned by the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to watch out for baby formula scams that target new moms and dads online.

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Why Are Scammers Targeting People That Need Baby Formula?

Currently, in the U.S. there's a major baby formula shortage because of supply chain issues. An Abbott Laboratories factory in Sturgis, Michigan was shut down earlier this year when a deadly bacteria was detected near production lines.

Abbott Laboratories Chairman and CEO Robert B. Ford said:

Our number one priority is getting infants and families the high-quality formulas they need, and this is a major step toward re-opening our Sturgis facility so we can ease the nationwide formula shortage. We look forward to working with the FDA to quickly and safely re-open the facility," "We know millions of parents and caregivers depend on us and we're deeply sorry that our voluntary recall worsened the nationwide formula shortage. We will work hard to re-earn the trust that moms, dads and caregivers have placed in our formulas for more than 50 years.

 

When Will Baby Formula Be Back On Store Shelves?

Now that Abbot Laboratories and The Food and Drug Admisntartion have reached a deal to open up the facility production could start as soon as two weeks. Parents could expect to find the baby formula they so desperately need in six to eight weeks after production resumes

The BBB Warns About Online Baby Formula Scams

The BBB says that the scammers post an ad or social media group posts they have baby formula available. The buyer contacts the seller via chat or direct message, showing photos of the cans available. The buyer makes a payment through a peer-to-peer platform such as Paypal or Venmo but the baby formula never comes. 

How To Spot A Potential Baby Formula Scam Online

On the BBB website, they share things to do and look out for when trying to buy baby formula online so you don't get scammed.

• Positive reviews on the website that have been copied from honest sites or created by scammers. Be aware, that some review websites claim to be independent but are funded by scammers. Check BBB.org.
• No indication of a brick-and-mortar address or the address shows on a Google map as a parking lot, residence, or unrelated business than what is listed on the website.
• Misspellings, grammatical errors, or other descriptive languages that are inconsistent with the product. 
• The seller advertises on a social media site and is communicative until the payment is made. Once the payment clears, they are unreachable.

Check The Website To Make Sure The Seller Is Legit

Visit  BBB.org  to check a business’s rating and BBB accreditation status. Impostors have been known to copy the BBB seal. If it is real, clicking on the seal will lead to the company’s BBB profile on BBB.org - check the domain of the URL.

You can also do an internet search with the company name and the word “scam.” This may locate other complaints about the site.  

Make a note of the website where the order is placed. Take a screenshot of the item ordered, in case the website disappears, or a different item is received in the mail than what was advertised.  

Credit cards often provide more protection against fraud than other payment methods.  

Think before you click. Be especially cautious about email solicitations and online ads on social media sites.

You can more information about baby formula scams and what to look out for by clicking here