Stay Alert – Baby Formula Scams Exploit Shortage

Scammers have sunk to a new low to make money — exploiting the shortage of baby formula and desperation of parents and caregivers.

These criminals may make fake websites or profiles on social media using the product images and logos of household-name formula brands to deceive people into paying steep prices for formula that never arrives.

Don't get swept up in "formula frenzy." Before you order from an unfamiliar online store, follow this advice to help avoid a scam:

• Do your research. Check out the company or product by typing its name in a search engine with terms like "review," "complaint," or "scam." See what other people say about it.
  
  
• Consider how you pay. Credit cards often give you the strongest protections, and you can sometimes get your money back if you ordered something but didn't get it. Remember, anyone who demands payment by gift card, money transfer, or cryptocurrency is a scammer.
  
  
• Know your rights. When you shop online, sellers are supposed to ship your order within the time stated in their ads, or within 30 days if the ads don't give a time. If a seller can't ship within the promised time, it has to give you a revised shipping date, with the chance to either cancel your order for a full refund or accept the new shipping date.

If you suspect a scam, you can report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. These reports help the FTC and its law enforcement partners stop scammers.