BUFFALO, N.Y. — Just as the April 8 solar eclipse is getting closer, so are ways to perhaps scam people who want to experience "totality."
We've been telling you it could get very crowded on April 8 Eclipse Day with all the traffic and out-of-town visitors coming here to Western New York for the path of this celestial event.
And with places like Niagara Falls getting top viewing billing in some national media, the Better Business Bureau of Upstate New York is warning that if someone has family or friends looking for a place to stay, they should be careful with their lodging arrangements.
We know most of the hotels are all booked up so some unscrupulous people may look to offer rental properties.
Katarina Schmieder of the BBB Upstate said be wary of supposedly really great rental deals.
"If people are booking a rental or a hotel, they (should) book directly through the rental company or the hotel themselves," Schmieder said.
Schmieder said otherwise be aware of fake rental listings out there on the web.
"They'll take images from a trusted source and then post them as their own, so you might be looking at a property that isn't actually being rented, or rented by the person who says they're renting it," Schmieder said. "So do a reverse image search and make sure the physical address actually exists, and it is what the seller says it is."
Then for all us, we should also watch out for the online paid venue events. Most are genuine but Schmieder advises, "Before you book an event or purchase a ticket to something, you want to make sure that you're familiar with who is hosting the event and make sure that it's actually happening, or that it's being put on by a legitimate event company. You know we would always encourage people to read reviews first."
Finally for those online eclipse merchandise offerings, especially check any eclipse glasses you're ordering from a vendor. Schmieder says check the website of the American Astronomical Society first to make sure with their information for certified safety glasses, and always use a credit card to buy, in case something is fraudulent.
As Schmieder noted: "Just because we haven't heard of any scams yet doesn't mean that they aren't out there, and it doesn't mean that they aren't coming."
You can also report any scams you encounter or check for them with the Better Business Bureau website.