Consumer watchdogs say to look out for eclipse ‘scams’ [Video]

AUSTIN, Texas (KXAN) — Millions will be looking to the sky Monday for the total solar eclipse, but watchdogs said the stars are also aligning for scams that typically shadow massive events.

Industry experts say they are seeing the usual suspects – like fraudulent lodging and travel deals – mixed in with some relatively newer issues, such as false QR codes. And then there’s a particularly unique scheme that could hurt more than your pocketbook: fake eclipse glasses.

This eclipse event has “all the elements” that lead to a spike in misleading schemes, said John Breyault, vice president of public policy, telecommunications and fraud at the National Consumers League.

“There’s some urgency to it, right?” Breyault said. “It’s a time-limited event, once it’s done, it’s done. So, scammers latch on to that urgency to try and get people to do things that they may not otherwise do, if they took the time to think …