The Better Business Bureau advises consumers to be wary of scams related to the upcoming solar eclipse on April 8.
BBB spokesperson Sydney Waters shared tips for avoiding these schemes.
"For lodging, we're going to have a huge influx of people in Southern Illinois and Southeast Missouri. We saw lots of AirBnB and lodging scams in 2017. The other thing we're seeing is the counterfeit glasses, which is so unfortunate because that's what protects your eyes in the solar eclipse."
The BBB suggests following NASA's guidance for safe eclipse viewing, and verifying that rental properties exist. Don't pay a stranger on a cash transfer app, and be skeptical if an owner is unresponsive or fails to provide an address or phone number for the rental. Be wary if glasses say "NASA-approved", as the organization does not endorse solar viewers. A list of real solar glass manufacturers can be found on NASA's website or on the BBB web page.
WSIU's Brad Palmer has more with Waters on how to avoid eclipse-related scams.
