Don't be blinded by solar eclipse scams. Here's how Ohioans can spot them

It turns out some of those solar eclipse specials may actually be too good to be true.

The April 8 solar eclipse's path will run through a large swath of Ohio, and while the once-in-a-generation event will bring with it unique activities and offerings, consumer watchdogs are warning Ohioans to beware of con artists looking to take advantage of the excitement.

Eclipse scammers will attempt to play on a person's natural "fear of missing out," or FOMO, said John Breyault, who helps to run Fraud.org as vice president of public policy, telecommunications and fraud at the National Consumers League.

"The eclipse has all the ingredients of an event that scammers will seek to profit off of," Breyault said. "It is a one-time event, so there is some urgency to it, and eclipse scammers are preying on FOMO."

To watch the eclipse, Ohioans will need a special pair of glasses to make sure they don't damage their eyes. But during the last eclipse in 2017, the market was flooded with questionable shades, said Rick Fienberg, project manager for the solar eclipse task force of the American Astronomical Society (AAS), a Washington, D.C.-based organization that promotes scientific education and research.

Read More: Solar Eclipse weather: What the Farmer's Almanac predicts for Ohio during the rare event

At least one complaint regarding fake glasses was filed with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) in 2017. The person filing the complaint wrote that he or she spent more than $500 on eclipse glasses that were made in China and didn't appear to meet safety requirements.

Eclipse glasses must meet the "SO 12312-2 international standard" for looking directly at the sun, said Fienberg. Looking directly at the sun without the proper eyewear can severely damage a person's eyes, Fienberg warned.

He suggested people stick to reputable businesses and verified sellers instead of buying from unknown entities on platforms such as Etsy, Amazon or Facebook.

While it's difficult to know whether a pair of glasses has been properly tested, Fienberg said it's not worth anyone hurting their eyes. Just looking directly at the sun for a "fraction of a second" could damage an eclipse watcher's retinas, Fienberg said.

"These are your eyes we're talking about," Fienberg said. "Maybe you don't want to give your money to some guy who just bought a bunch of eclipse glasses from China ... Maybe you want to buy from people who support that kind of stuff and don't want to hoodwink anybody."

For merchandise, scammers will often use less-secure methods of payment for merchandise, such as Venmo or other applications that move money almost instantaneously, Breyault said. Most legitimate websites, Breyault said, will allow buyers to use a credit card to pay.

Another warning sign that buyers should watch out for is if a retailer of glasses claims their specks are somehow "approved by NASA." The civilian space agency does not sign off on any of the eyewear, Fienberg said.

Luckily, the astronomical society has published a list of vendors selling proper eyewear and it includes common retail stores like Kroger, Meijer and Walmart. To make the society's list, all vendors have provided documentation that their glasses are tried and true and manufacturers have confirmed they supplied glasses to the retailer, Fienberg said.

Locally, the Columbus Metropolitan Library will be giving away free solar eclipse glasses beginning March 18. The glasses will be available as long as supplies last at all 23 library locations. There will be a limit of four pairs of glasses per family.

COSI in downtown Columbus is also selling packs of solar eclipse glasses, according to the museum's website. Various bundles of glasses are available for sale at COSI starting at 30 pairs for $75 all the way up to 1,000 pairs for $2,500.

Read More: Total solar eclipse in Ohio in 2024: Public events and camping options for the big day

Another scam that Ohioans may see popping up in the weeks ahead are websites offering to book reservations for campgrounds, rental homes or even entire vacation travel plans for the eclipse, said Breyault.

One complaint was filed with the BBB in the run-up to the Aug. 21, 2017, eclipse regarding a potentially fraudulent website offering to book users a spot at a campground for the event, according to the agency. Ohioans looking to find a campground or park can consider one of 28 locations listed in the eclipse's path of totality, which includes nearby Alum Creek State Park, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.

When booking a trip or a stay away from home, it's always good to make sure you're working with an experienced travel agent, said Kara Hitchens, spokeswoman for AAA. Even if Ohioans don't want to use a travel agent, Hitchens suggested they do a little digging before booking a trip or place to stay.

"Check your sources," Hitchens said. "If you go to a website, make sure it's a secure website ... Check out their 'about us' page and contact information and make sure they're legitimate."

Travel scams in particular, Breyault said, tend to pop up on social media. Most scams that Breyault said Fraud.org hears of were first discovered by victims on social media.

To double-check whether a trip or merchandise is what people are looking for, Breyault suggested they first check with the BBB.

If that doesn't turn up any results, Breyault said consumers should do a quick Google search for the name of what they're considering buying along with the word "scam" to see if any troubling search results pop up. Google's reverse image search tool can also help buyers figure out whether what they're looking at is real or just a picture ripped from another retailer or website.

If central Ohioans do fall victim to solar eclipse scam, they shouldn't feel ashamed, Breyault said. Instead, they should try to prevent the scammer from succeeding again, he said.

"These scammers are professionals criminals. This is what they do all day, every day," Breyault said. "If you or someone you know is a victim of this crime, encourage them to report it. Fraud somehow has this stigma that comes with it, but that's what scammers count on to keep getting away with it."

mfilby@dispatch.com

@MaxFilby

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Don't be blinded by solar eclipse scams. Here's how you can spot them