Cannabis scams to watch out for and tips to stay protected

The cannabis industry is seeing more and more demographics than ever before. Those with ailments or ailments and the elderly are more likely to turn to cannabis. These particular demographics, particularly those new to the cannabis scene, can easily be targeted for scams. That’s not to say those who know their cannabis aren’t targets too. Snake Oil Vendors are on the hunt, they are smarter than you think and they have technology on their side to fool you. They also constantly change their MO. With the increasing sales and popularity of cannabis and the convenience of buying online, this is every scammer’s dream. Here are some scams to watch out for and some helpful tips to stay safe when looking for cannabis.

Cannabis Scam 101: Shady Online Sales and Sketchy Websites

The most common cannabis scams to watch out for in any industry these days are online scams. The problem is that anyone can fabricate or impersonate a website. It is your responsibility to use due diligence to ensure that the websites you are on are legitimate. Don’t give your financial information to anyone you’re not sure about, and don’t waste your money. You should also make sure that anything you buy from the supplier is from a reputable source, especially as this is what you will be smoking, consuming or ingesting. Check these clues for legitimacy:

• Correct spelling and grammar;
• Test for broken links, especially those that claim to point to a social media page and to the checkout page
• Make sure the currency is in CND or US Dollars and not foreign currency or cryptocurrency
• Make sure taxes are included and see if there’s a discount compared to the normal purchase price (if it seems too good to be true, it probably is).
• If there is an address on the website, check it on google maps to make sure it is a real business and not a residential building.
• If possible, use a credit card for online purchases as you are better protected against fraud

investment fraud

Cannabis investment scams are definitely something to watch out for. When it comes to stock market scams, one hears the typical promises of high returns with little or no risk. They’ll promise you heaven and also point out that there’s some sort of time factor, like “you need to get in now”. Some common sense is an important factor here and do your research, try to be as knowledgeable on the subject as possible, especially if you are passing a lot of money or potential lifesavings. Be on the lookout for unlicensed sellers, guaranteed returns, and signs of excessive hype. Check the background, registration, and license status of people recommending marijuana-related investments.

who can you trust

Pay attention to customer reviews because if there is a company that shipped a bad product or if someone got scammed by a certain fake profile or website, someone will talk about it. The cannabis community looks out for each other.

footnote(s)