When scams wrap themselves in the flag

CHICO >> Ah, Independence Day, the reason for the season and the remembrance of the war we won that I bring up any time someone tries to talk to me about the British royal family.

And while it's packed with traditions like going to watch fireworks, having family barbecues and taking in the summer weather, it's unfortunately become like most holidays where the same scams appear in new costumes.

Our friends over on the east coast at Cornell University at one point had to put out a warning notice to its faculty and students about Independence Day scams dressed up in American flags and faux patriotism as a temporary means to cast a wide net and take advantage of the holiday.

Now most of these scams are the same ones we've seen before, like buying and selling scams or plane ticket scams, but they suddenly have an off-brand, over-thetop American connotation. Some scammers might shift their pitch to something like offering free American flags … only asking for the target to pay for shipping costs. Others might claim to have major Fourth of July sales and coupons and all you have to do is supply basic information.

Declare your freedom from scams like this by thinking critically about any unsolicited emails, texts or phone calls you might receive from someone peddling fundraising for fighting terrorists or handing out small flags to schoolkids.

As always, stay safe out there and never give out your personal information to strangers. And if anyone tries to give you juicy gossip about the royal family, remember, we won that war and have absolutely no obligation to hear it.

Scam of the Week generally runs Tuesdays. Readers are welcome to contact reporter Jake Hutchison to report scams and potential scams they have come in contact with by calling 828-1329 or via email at jhutchison@chicoer.com.