Estafas sobre el coronavirus y cómo evitarlas

Mujer usando una laptop junto a artículos de protección contra el covid

Un estudio señala un aumento de estafas sobre el coronavirus a nivel nacional, siendo California el estado más afectado

De acuerdo a un estudio realizado por el sitio SocialCatfish.com que toca el tema de las estafas sobre el coronavirus por estado, los cinco estados principales son California (10,938 quejas, un aumento del 110% desde marzo), Florida (7,244 quejas, un aumento del 124%), Nueva York (6,677 quejas un 134%), Texas (6,427 quejas un 122%) y Pensilvania (4,245 quejas , hasta 201%).

A nivel nacional, la Comisión Federal de Comercio (FTC) ha registrado 144.727 informes de fraude que costaron a las víctimas $93 millones, una pérdida media de $263 por persona. Las compras en línea ocupan el primer lugar en la mayoría de las quejas a nivel nacional acumulando 22,124 informes.

4 estafas comunes de compras en línea que puede evitar durante la crisis del coronavirus:

1. La estafa de los precios inflados: Algunos minoristas están marcando artículos esenciales como papel higiénico y desinfectante para manos a niveles exorbitantes. Esto es particularmente atroz con un desempleo récord, ya que las personas simplemente no pueden pagar $30 por papel higiénico. La ley de aumento de precios varía según el estado, pero en promedio es ilegal marcar un producto hasta un 10% o más durante una emergencia declarada. Amazon ha tenido que eliminar medio millón de artículos para la venta en su sitio web debido al aumento de precios y ha suspendido 6,000 cuentas.

Cómo evitarlo: si sospecha que es víctima de un aumento de precios, repórtelo al Departamento de Justicia en www.justice.gov/coronavirus. Actualmente, el mercado está abastecido a precios normales para artículos esenciales y es una buena idea planificar con anticipación una segunda o tercera ola.

2. La estafa de productos no entregados: Hay miles de sitios web que ofrecen productos esenciales, como cubrebocas y guantes que simplemente toman su información financiera y de pago, pero nunca le envían el producto y además se quedan con su información para futuras estafas.

Cómo evitarlo: compre productos de grandes empresas en las que confíe. Si se trata de una empresa más pequeña, investigue buscando en Google para ver las reseñas y si se han presentado quejas.

3. Envíos con límite de tiempo: Debido a esta estafa, los vendedores están obligados por ley a darle una fecha de envío estimada o enviarle sus productos dentro de los 30 días. Hay una excepción para los clientes que abrieron una cuenta de tarjeta de crédito para comprar un producto, lo que les da a los vendedores un plazo de 50 días para enviar su producto. Si hay un retraso en la fecha de envío esperada, la compañía a la que le compró el producto debe notificárselo.

4. Estafa de comestibles gratis: Los estafadores envían mensajes de texto a sus víctimas diciéndoles que acaban de ganar comestibles gratuitos de Costco con un valor de $130. Todo lo que los clientes deben hacer es proporcionar a los estafadores su información personal, y supuestamente recibirán comestibles gratuitos de Costco en su puerta.

Cómo evitarlo: actualmente no hay una cadena nacional de comestibles que ofrezca alimentos gratis. No dé su información personal.

U.S. home prices grew 5.5% in April despite pandemic

The U.S. region that includes Colorado saw the strongest growth, with a 6.8% annual gain, FHFA saysJune 24, 2020, 12:25 pm By Kathleen Howley

U.S. home prices gained 5.5% in April from a year earlier as low mortgage rates and a shortage of listings boosted competition for properties and kept values growing even amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

see full article here

O.C. Restaurants and Businesses Offering Goods and Pantry Staples

Photograph courtesy of Glasspar

From high-quality, raw proteins to artisan bread, keep your pantry stocked with goods from these local businesses.

➜ Selanne Steak Tavern
Laguna Beach
What: Pop-up mini market with items such as bacon, eggs, milk, produce, butchered-to-order prime meats, poultry, and seafood
How: Curbside pick-up
Order: 949-715-9881

➜ HendrixLaguna Niguel
What: Pop-up market noon-6 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, offering items such as portion-cut steaks, pork, lamb, and fish; rotisserie chickens; fresh produce and pantry items; batch cocktails and half-price bottles of wine; even household supplies such as paper towels, gloves, and bathroom tissue.
How: In-store or curbside pick-up
Order: 949-248-1912➜ GlassparDana Point
What: Fresh-caught, high-quality seafood including Alaskan halibut, salmon, tuna, shrimp, clams, scallops, and more
How: In-store pick-up
Order: 949-240-6243➜ Alta Baja MarketSanta Ana
What: Dressings, spreads, salsas, house-made soups, pozole, and pecan butter
How: Curbside pick-up
Order: 714-783-2252

➜ Whitestone
Dana Point
What: Pantry items such as eggs, milk, bread, chicken breasts, and more
How: In-store pick-up
Order: 949-489-8911➜ Arc Butcher & BakerNewport Beach
What: Select items such as eggs, milk, sliced meats, and dry goods
How: Delivery in the Lido area
Order: 949-877-0190➜ Haven Craft Kitchen + BarOrange
What: Select items such as cage-free eggs, bread, sustainable seafood, and raw meats
How: Curbside pick-up
Order: Online at toastab.com

➜ Lido Bottle Works
Newport Beach
What: Chef Amy’s Quarantine Kit (items change daily), $45
How: Pick-up
Order: 949-529-2784

➜ The Ecology Center
San Juan Capistrano
What: Farm Share: Resilience Box which comes with staple items from vegetables to fruit and add-on items such as honey, bread, and olive oil (currently sold out but stay tuned for updates)
How: Curbside pick-up
Order: Online at shop.theecologycenter.org

➜ Selanne Steak Tavern
Laguna Beach
What: Butchered-to-order meats, poultry, and seafood as well as milk, eggs, and produce
How: Curbside pick-up
Order:  949-715-9881

➜ Old Brea Chop House
Brea
What: Vacuum-sealed 12-ounce bone-in filets ($36) and 22-ounce bone-in ribeye ($57)
How: Curbside pick-up and delivery
Order: 714-592-3122

➜ The Winery Restaurant & Wine BarTustin
What: Select cuts of meat (based on availability)
How: Curbside pick-up and delivery (soon through Postmates and Grubhub)
Order: 714-258-7600

➜ Portola Coffee RoastersOrange, Costa Mesa, Huntington Beach, and Tustin
What: Straus milk (half gallon) and milk alternatives (based on availability)
How: Free shipping
Order: Online at portolacoffee.com

➜ OC Baking CompanyOrange
What: Artisan bread
How: Pick-up (bring cash and your own bags), Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

➜ NormsMultiple O.C. locations
What: Care package including 2.5 dozen eggs, bacon, sausage, hash browns, sliced fruit, biscuits, and toilet paper ($35), as well as a salad add-on
How: Pick-up

➜ Rye GoodsCosta Mesa
What: Artisan bread; organic produce boxes available every Saturday
How: Pick-up
Order: Online at ryegoods.com by Sunday for pick-up on Tuesday; pre-order produce boxes

➜ Rialto CafeFullerton
What: Eggs, bread, strawberries, tomatoes, and coffee, sourdough bread, tortillas, and more
How: Pick-up
Order: 714-525-5111

➜ Lazy Dog
 Brea, Irvine, and Orange
What: Pantry home essentials package which includes items such as milk, eggs, butter, chicken, and toilet paper ($40)
How: Curbside pick-up
Order: Order online at lazydogrestaurants.com

➜ Golden Road Pub 
 Huntington Beach
What: Vegetables, bread, paper goods, meats and dairy/non-dairy products
How: Curbside pick-up and drive-thru
Order: Order online at sked.link/goldenroadpubhb

New Homes Coming to the Housing Market This Year

Ezra Bailey

The number of building permits issued for single-family homes is the best indicator of how many newly built homes will begin to come to market over the next few months. According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau and U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development Residential Construction Report, the number of building permits issued in January was 1,551,000. This is a 9.2% increase from December.

How will this impact buyers?

New inventory means more options. Lawrence Yun, Chief Economist at the National Association of Realtors (NAR),explained how this is good news for the housing market – especially for those looking to buy:

“More construction will mean more housing inventory for consumers in the later months of this year…Spring months could still be quite tough for buyers since it takes time to convert housing starts into actual housing completions.”

How will this impact sellers?

More inventory means more competition. Yun continues to say:

“As trade-up buyers move into these newly completed homes in the near future, their existing homes will be released onto the market.”

Today, because of the tremendous lack of inventory, a seller can potentially anticipate:

  1. great sale price on their house as buyers engage in potential bidding wars.
  2. quick sale as buyers have little inventory to choose from.
  3. Fewer hassles as buyers want to smoothly secure a contract.

Bottom Line

If you’re considering selling your house, you’ll want to list sooner rather than later. This way, you’ll get ahead of this new competition coming to market and ensure the most attention toward your listing and the best price for your house.

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