This is a popular time of year for all kinds of fun-runs, and sadly, scammers count on people’s eagerness to participate and their willingness to help worthy causes. While many colour runs, obstacle courses, and mud runs promise fun, adventure, and a chance to help a charity, BBB warns of scammers setting up fake fun-runs, bilking participants out of money.
Sprint past fun-run scams with these BBB tips:
- Check the track record. Look online for additional information about the event before signing up. Read customer reviews from runners who have participated in previous races or events.
- Don’t be fooled by a well-designed website. Scammers can easily create an official-looking website. Look for misspellings or poor grammar, copied or stolen images and logos, which are signs you might be dealing with fraudsters.
- Check with the local venue. Contact the park or host venue directly to confirm that the event is on the calendar and organizers have gotten the correct permits.
- Pay with a credit card. Credit cards give you protection for charges disputed according to the terms of your financial institution. Never pay by wire or pre-paid money card.
- Understand terms and conditions. If the website says there are no refunds, buyer beware. It’s your responsibility to read the fine print before hitting “I agree” when making a purchase or registering for a race.
- Keep documentation of your order. After completing the online registration process, you should receive a confirmation receipt. Print out and keep a copy of the confirmation and any supporting documentation for future reference.
- Check out the charity. While the organizers of many runs are for-profit businesses, some may advertise a charitable partner. If race organizers claim a portion of the proceeds will go to charity, ask for more details. Contact the charity to make sure there’s a connection. In Canada, all charities must be registered with the Canada Revenue Agency.
For more tips you can trust, visit bbb.org.
