"DIRECT CONNECTION" IS MADE BY MPT TO SERVE ALL OF OUR DIVERSE COMMUNITIES AND IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE GENEROUS SUORT OF OUR MEMBERS.

THANK YOU.

LIVE FROM MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION, THIS IS "DIRECT CONNECTION" WITH JEFF SALKIN.

>> Jeff: GOOD EVENING.

WELCOME TO YOUR "DIRECT CONNECTION."

COMING UP TONIGHT, CHOOSING URGENT CARE OR THE ER FOR TREATMENT.

WE WILL HAVE SOME EXPERT ADVICE.

BUT FIRST, THEY'RE BACK, THE HOLIDAY SCAMMERS.

JOINING US FOR TIPS ON AVOIDING RIPOFFS, YEAR ROUND IS ANGIE BARNETT, THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU OF GREATER MARYLAND.

ANGIE, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

I GUESS THERE'S A COUPLE OF THINGS GOING ON THIS TIME OF YEAR.

PEOPLE ARE SPENDING AND PEOPLE ARE IN A GOOD MOOD, AND THAT MAKES US EASY PREY FOR THE SCAMMERS SOMETIMES, DOESN'T IT?

ANGIE, CAN YOU HEAR ME?

IN THAT CASE, WE'LL BE BACK WITH ANGIE IN A FEW MINUTES.

REPORT.AKE A LOOK AT OUR MEDICAL AND JOINING US NOW TO TALK ABOUT YOUR HEALTH ARE DR. SCOTT BURGER, THE CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER FOR UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND URGENT CARE AND DR. JONATHAN WENDELL, EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT PHYSICIAN AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND BALTIMORE/WASHINGTON MEDICAL CENTER.

DOCTORS, THANK YOU BOTH FOR JOINING US.

WE WA TO HELP PEOPLE MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION WHEN IT'S TIME TO DECIDE WHERE TO GO FOR CARE THAT IS SOMEWHAT EMERGENT OR URGENT.

DECADE AGO YOU HAD A FAMILY DOCTOR.

IF THE DOCTOR WAS CLOSED 1 YOU WOULD EITHER WAIT OUR WANT TO THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT SOMEWHERE.

DR. BURGER, THAT WORLD HAS CHANGED.

>> Scott Burger: YEAH, IT'S OVER TWO DECADE AGO WHEN I WAS AN ER RESIDENT IN NEW YORK CITY WE USED HAVE TO A PLACE CALLED THE FAST TRACK WHICH WAS THE MODERN -- I WOULD SAY IT WAS THE PRECURSOR TO URGENT CARE NOW.

IT WAS A PLACE THAT SAW LOTS OF PATIENTS WHO WERE COMING IN WITH NON-EMERGENCY CONDITIONS THAT NEEDED CARE AND THEIR DOCTOR'S OFFICE WAS CLOSED OR THEY DIDN'T HAVE A DOCTOR TO BE ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF THEM.

>> Jeff: HOW BIG IS IT NOW?

>> Scott Burger: THE INDUSTRY HAS GROWN FROM A FEW THOUSAND TO CLOSE TO 10,000 URGENT CARE CLINICS ACROSS THE COUNTRY SO IT'S REALLY GROWN QUITE A BIT.

>> Jeff: YEAH, IT SEEMS LIKE THEY'RE CATCHING UP WITH STARBUCKS LOCATIONS, JUST ALL ER THE PLACE.

AND PEOPLE MAY NOT BE WELL PREPARED TO MAKE THE CHOICE, AND IF YOU HAVE AN URGENT SITUATION, YOU HAVE A NEW WEBSITE THAT HELPS PEOPLE TO FRY TO DECIDE WHAT TO DO.

IT CAN BE FOUND AT UMMS, UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND MEDICAL SYSTEM.ORG/ER.

THERE ARE SOME EXAMPLES ON THERE.

IF YOU'RE HAVING CHEST PAINS, YOU GO TO THE ER.

SOMEBODY IS SOMETHING STROKE SYMPTOMS YOU CAN TO THE ER.

BUT DR. WENDELL, SOME OF THESE THIENGS LICK A BROKEN BONE, THE DECISION IS STILL IN THE HANDS OF THE PATIENT.

WHAT DO YOUIST ADVISE?

>> Jonathan Wendell: I THINK IT GETS REALLY COMPLICATED AND CERTAINLY SIMPLE BROKEN BONES CAN OFTEN BE HANDLED AT THE LOCAL URGENT CARE WHERE THEY CAN SPLINT THE PATIENT AND ARRANGE FOR FOLLOW-UP.

CERTAINLY IF IT'S A COMPLEX BROKEN BONE, MULTIPLE BROKEN BONES OR BONES STICKING OUT OF THE SKIN YOU KNOW THE FUN STUFF WE LIKE TO SEE IN THE EMERGENCY ROOM, THAT TT'S DEFINITELY THE PLACE TO COME IS THE EMERGENCY ROOM, NOT AN URGENT CARE FOR THINGS LIKE THAT.

>> Jeff: IS IT BETTER AS A GENERAL PRACTICE TO OVERREACT A LITTLE BIT?

IF SOMEBODY'S 50/50, EITHER I DON'T KNOW WHETHER TO GO IN OR WAIT UNTIL TOMORROW OR I DON'T KNOW WHETHER IT'S URGENT CARE OR THE ER, SHOULD YOU ERR ON THE SIDE OF OVERREACTING JUST BECAUSE IT'S THE SAFER THING TO DO?

>> Jonathan Wendell: I THI IT'S ALWAYS IMPORTANT TO GET EVALUATED.

THE OLD SAYING THAT WE SAY IS IF YOU'RE CONCERNED ABOUT IT, THEN WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT IT TOO.

YOU CERTAINLY NEED TO BE CHECK OUT.

I THINK THE WEBSITE PROVIDES A NICE LIST OF SOME THINGS THAT CAN HELP YOU SWAY YOU ONE WAY OR ANOTHER OF URGENT CARE OR EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT, BUT CERTAINLY IF YOU'RE CONCERNED, IF IT'S SEVERE SYMPTOMS OR THINGS THAT COULD BE DANGEROUS LIKE TROUBLE BREATHING OR CHESS PAINE, I WOULD SAY ERR ON THE SIDE OF THE CAUTION AND HEAD TO THEMERGENCY ROOM RATHER THAN URGENT CARE.

>> Jeff: DR. BURGER, FROM YOUR SIDE HOW OFTEN DOES SOMEBODY COME IN WITH CHEST PAINS AND IT DETERIORATES QUICKLY AND THEY'RE LEAVING THE URGENT CARE IN AN AMBULANCE TO TO GET EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT?

>> Scott Burger: FORTUNATELY IT DOES NOT HAPPEN THAT OFTEN.

I WOULD SAY THAT THE AMERICAN PUBLIC IS DOING A VERY GOOD JOB IN GENERAL OF WHAT I WOULD SAY IS AUTO TRIAGING THEMSELVES, MAKING SOME OF THOSE DECISIONS ABOUT WHERE THEY NEED TO GO FOR THEIR CARE.

SO IN GENERAL WE LOOK AT ABOUT 2% OF OUR PATIENTS WIND UP NEEDING TO BE REFERRED TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM FOR HIGHER LEVEL OF CARE, WHETHER IT'S THEY NEED DIAGNOSIS IMAGING AND TESTING THAT WE'RE NOT ABLE TO DO BUT THEY NEED TO HAVE IT THE SAME DAY, SAY, FOR EXAMPLE, SOMEBODY WHO MITT HAVE APPENDICITIS OR A PATIENT THAT YOU INDUSTRY DESCRIBED, SOMEBODY HAVING CHEST PAIN WHO NEEDS TO GO TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM AND HAVE A I EVALUATION BY THERE BENDEL AND HIS COLLEAGUES TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE NOT HAVING A HEART ATTACK, SOMETHING VERY YOU ARE DENTAL NEEDING MEDICAL ATTENTION.

>> Jeff: YOU USED A GOOD TV MEDICAL TERM TRIAGE.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

>> Scott Burger: I'LL DEFER TO DR. WENDELL BECAUSE THIS IS HIS WORLD ABOUTY TRIAGING.

>> Jonathan Wendell: RIGHT.

YOU'RE DEFERRING TO MY HIGH SCHOOL FRIENDS.

TRIAGE IS A WORD THAT MEANS TO SORT, AND WE HAVE VERY WELL-TRAINED EMERGENCY NURSES THAT SPECIALIZE IN THE ART OF TRIAGE.

I'M TRYING TRYING TO REALLY IDENTIFY THOSE PATIENTS THAT NEED THE MEMORABILIA CARE FIRST.

SO I THINK DR. BURGER IS EXACTLY RIGHT.

MOST PATIENTS CAN AUTO TRIAGE.

THEY CAN FIGURE OUT WHAT THEY NEED AS FAR AS URGENT CARE OR EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT.

CERTAINLY SOME PEOPLE THINK THAT, HEY, YOU KNOW I SHOULD PROBABLY G TO THE ED BUT I WITH AN TO BE SEEN FASTER SO I JUST GO TO URGENT CARE AND THEN THOSE ARE THE ONES THAT GET ULTIMATELY SENT TO THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT ANYWAY.

SO IF YOU'RE THINKING, HEY, I SHOULD PROBABLY GO TO THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT, YOU'RE PROBABLY RIGHT, YOU SHOULD COME TO THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT.

>> Jeff: WHAT CAN THE DIFFERENT FACILITIES DO THAT MAYBE THE OTHERS CAN'T?

YOU THINK THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT HAS A CT MACHINE.

URGENT CARE, YOU PROBABLY HAVE AN X-RAY.

GIVE ME SOME EXAMPLES LIKE THAT.

WERVELINGS.

>> Scott Burger: IN THE URGENT CARE WE'RE SET UP FOR QUICK TESTING AND I MEAN TREATMENT SO WE'RE ABLE TO DO A POINT OF CARE TESTING, SO WE'RE ABLE TO SCHECK 23 A CHILD HAS STREP THROAT,HE FLU OR SOMEBODY HAS COVID, A URINARY TRACT INFECTION.

AS YOU MENTION WRENCHING THIN WE'RE ABLE TO DO LIKE X-RAYS SO WE CAN DIAGNOSE A MINOR BROKEN BONE, LOOK FOR PNEUMONIA, DO THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

OUR SERVICES ARE REALLY LOOKING FOR THINGS THAT WE CAN TAKE CARE OF AND TREAT TO GO HOME.

I'LL BLET DR. WENDELL KIND OF OUTLINE THE FULL SCOPE OF THE EMERGENCY ROOM.

WE COULD BE HERE ALL DAY, EVERYBODY THEY COULD DO.

>> Jonathan Wendell: I THINK DR. BURGER IS EXACTLY RIGHT.

THE BIGG DIFFERENCE IS CAPABILITIES, AND WE FRANK LIVE A LOT MORE RESOURCES AT HAND IN THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT.

WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO MORE ADVANCED BLOOD TESTING THAT THEY JUST CAN'T DO IN URGENT CARE, SUCH AS TESTING FOR HEART ENZYMES AND HEART ATTACKS, HESSING FOR LIVER ENZYMES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

TESTING FOR LIVER ENZYMES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

AS FAR AS THE DIAGNOSTIC IMAGING WE HAVE ULTRASOUND AND CAT AND AN AND ON A LIMITED BASIS MRI MACHINES AS WELL AS ACCESS TO SOME SPECIALIST LEVEL CARE THAT CERTAINLY URGENT CARE DOESN'T HAVE READILY AT THEIR FINGERTIPS.

>> Jeff: RELATED QUESTION TO WHERE TO GO IS HOW TO GET THERE, AND DR. WENDELL, WITH A BACKGROUND IN EMS, YOU KNOW THIS FROM BOTH SIDES.

WHEN DO YOU TAKE YOURSELF TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM?

WHEN DO YOU CALL 911?

>> Jonathan Wendell: LOOK, IT'S QUITE SIMPLE.

WE DON'T WANT A SECOND EMERGENCY, AND IF YOUR CONDITION IS GOING TO AFFECT YOUR DRIVING OR POOTENTIALY AFFECT YOUR DRIVING, WE DON'T WANT YOU TO DO IT.

SO IF YOU'RE HAVING SEVERE CHEST PAIN OR TROUBLE BREATHING, THE LAST THING I NEED YOU TO DO IS PASS OUT LIND THE WHEEL AND BECOME A MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT AS WELL, SO THOSE ARE GOOD TIMES TO PICK UP THE PHONE AND CALL 911.

WE HAVE VERY WELL-TRAINED EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIANS AS WELL AS PARAMEDICS THAT CAN PROVIDE A GREAT EVALUATION AS WELL AS TESTING AND SUPPORTIVE CARE, UTILIZE THOSE SERVICES.

I DON'T WANT ANOTHER CAR ACCIDENT.

>> Jeff: LET'S TALKBOUT THE CURRENT ENVIRONMENT A LITTLE BIT.

WE KNOW WE HAD A BIT OF A POST THANKSGIVING BOUNCE IN THE NUMBER OF COVID CASES.

WE KNOW IT'S A BAD FLU YEAR, WHICH WE HAVEN'T SEEN FOR A WHIL WHAT ARE YOU BOTH SEEING IN YOUR RESPECTIVE OPERATIONS?

>> Jonathan Wendell: YEAH, I'D LIKE TO SAY THAT WE'RE POPULAR BUT THE SHORT ANSWER IS IT'S JUST BUSY.

THE -- IN ADDITION TO THE NORMAL THINGS THAT WE SEE, HEART ATTACKS AND STROKES AND THE BROKEN BONES, WE'RE SEEING A WHOLE BUNCH INFLUENZA WHICH IS UNFORTUNATE, AND WE HAVE STAFF THAT HAS REALLY WEATHERED THE STORM OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, AND THE VOLUMES THAT ARE COMING IN NOW IS QUITE, QUITE -- QUITE BUSY AND A LOT OF WORK.

SO COVID AND INFLUENZA, LUCKILY RSV IS GOING DOWN A LITTLE BIT, BUT ALL ARE STILL PRETTY BUSY.

>> Jeff: DR. BURGER?

>> Scott Burger: SIMILAR.

WE'VE BEEN VERY BUSY.

IT'S NOT BEEN DOLLARS INTA LAST WINTER, BUT THERE'S CERTAINLY BEEN A SIGNIFICANT SPIKE OVER THE PAST TWO TO THREE WEEKS AND I THINK WE'RE ALL BRACING FOR WHAT'S GOING TO COME AFTER THE HOLIDAYS OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS.

BUT IN ADDITION TO ALL THE COVID-RELATED VISITS THAT THAT WE WERE SEEING LAST WINTER, IT'S THAT COMBINATION OF ALL THE OTHER VIRAL RESPIRATORY ILLNESSES, AND THEN PEOPLE ARE JUST MORE ACTIVE.

SO FOR US, YOU KNOW, WE'RE SEEING MORE OF THE MUSCULOEXCEL MUSCULOSKELETAL TYPE INJURIES THAT MAYBE PEOPLE DIDN'T HAVE IN PREVIOUS YEARS BECAUSE THEIR KIDS WEREN'T PLAYING SPORTS LAST SEASON AND NOW THEY'RE OUT ABOUT AND DOING THOSE SORTS OF THINGS SO WE'RE SEEING THAT TOO.

AS DR. WENDELL SAID, WE'VE GOT AN AMAZING TEAM STAFFING THE CENTERS.

THEY'VE GONE REALLY THICK CALLUSES IN TERMS BEING ABLE TO WORK LONG HOURS AND SKI LOTS OF PEOPLE, BUT IT'S -- IT'S A STRAIN ON EVERYBODY ACROSS HEALTH CARE SYSTEMS.

>> Jeff: BEFORE WE GO, GIVE US A LITTLE BIT OF ADVICE FOR VIEWERS WHO, CHRISTMAS DAYS AWAY, NEW YEAR'S PLANS OUT THERE, HOW DO WE ALL STAY SAFE?

>> Scott Burger: MY ADVICE FIRST AND MORE FOREMOST IS TO BE VACCINATED BOTH BEANS COVID AND THE FLU.

I AM ESPECIALLY, WHEN I'M OUT IN PUBLIC WINE WEARING A MASK AT THIS POINT IN TIME BECAUSE I DO WANT TO SEE MY ELDERLY PIRNTS LATER ON THIS WEEK -- PARENT AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE SAFE.

I WOULD SUGGEST THAT BEFORE YOU GO TO FAMILY, ANY SORT OF GATHERING THAT YOU'RE TESTING FOR COVID IN ADVANCE WITH THE HOME TEST TO AT LEAST MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE NOT IN THAT PRE-SYMPTOMATIC PHASE WHERE YOU COULD BE SHEDDING AND EXPOSING OTHERS TO THE VIRUS.

THOSE WOULD BE MY BIGGEST POINTS OF EMPHASIS FOR FOLKS IN HOW I'M LIVING MY LIFE.

>> Jonathan Wendell: YEAH, I WOULD ECHO WHAT DR. BURGER SAID.

I THINK NOW IS THE TIME TO REALLY BE SMART AND BE SAFE.

EVERYTHING THAT WE DO IS A CALCULATED DECISION AND A RISK/BENEFIT DECISION, AND CERTAINLY IN THOSE BUSY SITUATIONS, IN CROWDED PLACES, I'M IN A MASK AS WELL AS IS MY FAMILY, JUST AS WE SAID, THERE'S A WHOLE BUNCH OF RESPIRATORY VIRUSES GOING AROUND AND THE MASKS ARE PRETTY GOOD WITH HELPING US WITH THAT.

VACCINATING IS AN EXCELLENT POINT.

AND WHAT I WOULD ALSO SAY IS THAT IF YOU'RE SICK, JUST STAY HOME.

THERE'S NO REASON TO SPREAD ANY THESE ILLNESSES FURTHER, BE IT COVID ON INFLUENZA OR RSV OR ONE OF THE OTHER 100 MISERABLE RESPIRATORY VIRUSES THAT ARE GOING AROUND RIGHT NOW.

>> Jeff: DR. WENDELL, DR. BURGER, GENTLEM, THANKS FOR YOUR TIME.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS.

I HOPE YOU'RE NOT VERY BUSY.

>> Jonathan Wendell: THANK YOU VERY MUCH BUNCHT THANK YOU.

>> Jeff: NOW APPROXIMATELY 13 MINUTES AGO WHEN WE STARTED THIS TELEVISION PROGRAM, WE WERE INTRODUCING ONE OF OUR FAVORITE PEOPLE ANGIE BARN EVIDENT BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU OF GREATER MARYLAND, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, POOF, I COULD SEE IT IN THE CORNER OF MY EYE ON A SEPARATE SCREEN, ANGIE, THAT YOU GUYS, THE INTERNET WAS CUT-OFF FOR NON-PAYMENT OR SOMETHING BANCHT YEAH, THAT'S A GOOD ONE.

WELL, I GUESS SANTA CLAUS IS TELLING ME -- GIVING ME A HIDDEN MESSAGE THERE.

MAYBE THAT'S IT.

>> Jeff: MAYBE YOU USED YOUR DATA A LOT ON ALL THE ONLINE SHOPPING YOU'VE BEEN DOING.

>> Angie Barnett: THAT'S IT.

NOT THAT I'VE BEEN DOING IT.

IT'S ALL THE ONLINE SHOPPING SADDAM HUSSEIN THAT EVERYBODY HAS BEEN REPORTING.

HOW ABOUT THAT?

>> Jeff: EXCELLENT.

THAT GETS US INTO SCAM SEASON, THE REASON WE WANTED TO TALK, AND IT' WEIRD THAT THE HOLIDAY SEASON WOULD BE SCAM SEASON, BUT IT SORT OF MAKE SENSE.

PEOPLE MR. A GENEROUS MOOD.

PEOPLE ARE SPENDING, A LOT OF COMMERCE GOING ON.

AND MAYBE WE'RE IN A LITTLE BIT MORE CHARITABLE MOOD, MAYBE LET OUR GUARDS DOWN A LITTLE BIT.

WHAT ARE YOU SEEING THIS YEAR?

BANCHT AND I'M GOING TO.

>> Angie Barnett: AND I'M GOING TO ADD TO YOUR LIST THAT ALSO PEOPLE ARE SHOPPING MORE ONLINE.

THEY ARE DOING SO MUCH OF THEIR ENGAGEMENT AS CONSUMERS ONLINE, WHETHER THEY FIND SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS, TEXT MESSAGES, BUT WE ARE DOING THAT AND WE'RE MORE SUSCEPTIBLE TO SCAMS BECAUSE THINK ABOUT WHEN YOU WERE ON SOCIAL MEDIA, JEFF, YOU ARE SCROLLING THROUGH, USUALLY AT A FAST PACE, AND SO ONLINE SHOPPING HAS BECOME OUR NUMBER ONE SCAM YET AGAIN AND HAS BEEN CONSISTENTLY SINCE COVID.

>> Jeff: WHAT ARE THE ELEMENTS OF IT?

I MEAN, IF I GO BUY SMOG A REPUTABLE WEBSITE, WHAT'S MY RISK?

>> Angie Barnett: AND YOUR RISKS ARE ACTUALLY PRETTY HIGH IF YOU'RE NOT DILIGENT AND YOU'RE NOT REALLY PAYING ATTENTION TO WHAT YOU'RE -- WHAT LENGTH YOU'RE GOING TO, HOW YOU GOT THERE, AND THE INFORMATION THERE.

SO YOU REALLY HIT UPON THE BOTTOM LINE.

FAKE WEBSITES ARE SET UP BY SCAM ARTISTS, AND THEY ARE DESIGNED TO DO ONE OF TWO THINGS, ACTUALLY GET YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION, POSING YOU AT RIGGS OF IDENTITY THEFT OR SIMPLY TO GET YOUR CREDIT CARD INFORMATION.

SO THEY WILL -- IF WE USE OUR BROWSER, AND LET'S SAY FROM AIR TRAVEL AND WE PUT IN "CHEAPEST FLIGHTS TO," OH, I WAP TO GET A PUP I FOR MY FAMILY AND I PUT IN MY WEB BROWSE ARE "FRENCH BULLDOGS," WHEN I DO, THINGS LIKE THAT AS OPPOSED TO GOING DIRECTLY TO A STORE OR A SHOPPING SHIITE THAT I'M FAMILIAR WITH, WHEN I'M DOING THAT SEARCH, SCAM ARTISTS ARE REALLY PREYING UPON YOU BY POSTING WEBSITES.

THEY ACTUALLY WILL PAY TO BOOST THESE FAKE WEBSITES, BUT THEY'LL DRIVE TO YOU A LOOK-ALIKE WEBSITE, AND YOU'RE RISK IS YOU GIVE -- YOUR RISK IS YOU GIVE INFORMATION, YOUR CREDIT CARD.

YOU NEVER GET THE ITEMED ITEM YOU WERE COUNTING.

AND IF THAT WAS A SPECIAL ITEM FOR SOMEBODY IMPORTANT IN YOUR LIFE.

OR YOU GET COUNTERFEIT ITEMS OR, AGAIN, YOU GIVE SO MUCH INFORMATION YOU'RE AT RISK OF IDENTITY THEFT.

>> Jeff: THIS MIGHT BE A GOOD TIME TO REVIEW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN USING A DEBIT CARD AND USING A CREDIT CARD.

YOUR ADVICE ON THAT.

>> Angie Barnett: ALWAYS USE A CREDIT CARD, ABSOLUTELY.

YOU HAVE MORE RECOURSE SHOULD YOU FINE YOURSELF IN THE HANDS OF A SCAMMER.

CREDIT CARD COMPANIES, YOU CAN DISPUTE THAT CHARGE AND THEY WILL INVESTIGATE AND TRY TO PURSUE THIS.

SO YOU ALWAYS WANT TO USE A CREDIT CARD.

THINGS YOU WA TO LOOK FOR WHEN YOU'RE SHOPPING ONLINE, FIRST OF ALL, GO TO YOUR BROWSER AND MAKE SURE -- AND LET ME USE A BIG BOX AND SAY YOU'RE LOOKING AT MACY'S OR SOME TYPE OF STORE.

LOOK AT THE BROWSER AND MAKE SURE THE NAME MACY'S IS IN IT.

IT'S SPELLED CORRECTLY, AND IT'S NOT A BUNCH OF TECHNICAL TERMS GOOBL GOBBLEY GOOK BECAUSE IF IT IS THAT TELLS YOU'RE AT A FAKE WEBSITE.

NUMBER TWO, LOOK FOR THE PADLOCK WHEN YOU GO TO CHECK OUT, ENSURE YOU'RE FINDING THAT FEATURE OF A LOCKED PADLOCK.

AND ENSURE THAT THE BROWSER SAYS HTTPS, INDICATING AN END ENCRYPTED WEBSITE YOU.

WANT TO LOOK A WEBSITES FOR PRIVACY POLICIES, TERMS AND CONDITIONS, CONTACT INFORMATION, AND MAKE SURE THAT THE SPELLING IS CORRECT, GRAMMAR IS CORRECT, ALL THE INDICATORS OF A PROFESSIONAL WEBSITE FROM A STORE YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH.

>> Jeff: LET'S GO TO THE PHONES.

AL GAIN COUNTY.

THIS IS LISA.

LISA, THANK YOU FOR CALLING.

GO AHEAD.

>> Speaker: I THINK.

THANKS FOR SPEAKING MY CALL.

DO I A LOT OF SHOPPING OFF MY CELL PHONE, AND I HAVE BEEN GETTING AN IMMENSE AMOUNT OF IMESSAGES OR MESSAGING TEXTS OF WHICH I DELETE, BUT YOU CAN'T REALLY REPORT THEM FROM EVERY CELL PHONE CARRIER.

HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH THAT?

>> Jeff: LISA, LET ME INTERRUPT.

THESE ARE -- THESE ARE SCAMS Y FEEL LIKE?

>> Speaker: YES.

YES, I DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN ANY SURVEYS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

IT'S LIKE, HERE, LET'S GIVE YOU A NEW WEBSITE.

LET'S SELL YOU A NEW TRINKET.

>> Jeff: THANKS FOR THE CALL.

ANGIE?

>> Angie Barnett: SO APPRECIATE IT BECAUSE YOU REALLY HIT ON ONE THING THAT IS IMPORTANT.

OUR CELL PHONES NOW ARE MINI COMPUTERS.

THINK OF THEM AS COMPUTERS.

SO YOU WA TO PROTECT, JUST LIKE SHE'S SAYING, SHE DELETES THOSE MESSAGES.

YOU CAN AND YOUR CARRIER VARY BUT YOU CAN DO SOME BLOCKING FROM YOUR CARRIERS.

YOU WOULD WANT TO GO DIRECTLY TO THAT CARRIER AND LOOK ONLINE AND SEE HOW YOU CAN BLOCK NUMBERS, AND THEY DO HAVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOU TO REPORT THINGS.

I ALSO PAY A VERY SMALL FEE AND I THINK IT'S $1.99 PER MONTH FOR A SERVICE THAT HELPS BLOCK CALLS, SO I GET LESS AND LESS OF THOSE, BUT WHAT ONE OF THE THINGS IS IF YOU ENGAGE IN A LOT OF SHOPPING, YOU ARE GOING TO GET A LOT OF SOLITATIONS BECAUSE THE ONLINE SHOPPING EVEN ON OUR PHONE DOES HAVE CKIES, THEY DO SELL YOUR INFORMATION TO OTHER MARKETING FIRMS OR AGENCIES, SO THEY ARE REACHING OUT.

SO IT'S -- AND IT'S REALLY HARD NOW TO DIFFERENTIATE BETWEEN SCAMS AND THEN JUST SOLICITATION BECAUSE YOUR INFORMATION GOT SOLD BY A MARKETING COMPANY.

>> Jeff: ANGIE, IT WAS THE OUT-OF-STOCK SCAM?

>> Angie Barnett: AND AND THAT'S BASICALLY DESIGNED TO -- WHEN WE ARE ONLINE SHOPPING AND WE GET A NOTICE THAT I ORDERED AN ITEM AND I RECEIVED A NOTICE AND SAY IT'S OUT OF STOCK, THEY MAY BE DRIVING YOU TO DO ONE OF TWO THINGS: SELECT ANOTHER ITEM AND YET GIVE A CREDIT CARD NUMBER AGAIN OR THEY MAY BE DRIVING YOU TO -- DIVERTING TO YOU ANOTHER WEBSITE OR A SECONDARY WEBSITE ASKING YOU TO REPURCHASE THERE.

SO IN BOTH CASES, IF THAT OUT-OF-STOCK NOTICE IS FROM A SCAMMER, YOU PROBABLY ARE GETTING HIT WITH A DOUBLE WHAMMY, TWO TIMES IN WHICH YOU ARE GIVING YOUR CREDIT CARD INFORMATION.

SO IF YOU RECEIVE THAT OUT-OF-STOCK NOTICE, DON'T RELY ON THE EMAIL OR THE TEXT MESSAGE.

GO DIRECTLY TO USING A BROWSER SEARCH.

FIND THAT PLACE, THAT TRACKING NUMBER, THAT CONFIRMATION EMAIL THAT YOU WERE GIVEN, AND CALL THEM DIRECTLY AND ASK, IS INDEED THIS OUT OF STOCK?

SCAMMERS ARE ACTUALLY DOING -- CASTING THAT WIDE NET, SPENDING SCAM TEXT MESSAGES LIKE YOUR PACKAGE IS BEING DELIVERED, THE MISSED DELIVERY CLICK HERE.

SO YOU'RE GETTING A LOT OF ENTICEMENT TO CLICK HERE OR FORWARD MESSAGES, ALL OF WHICH CAN CREATE MALWARE IN YOUR COMPUTER.

>> Jeff: JUST A MINE FIELD OUT THERE ON EVERY LEVEL.

IT KEEPS YOU GUYS IN BUSINESS, BUT IT'S JUST INCREDIBLY SCOURGING DISCOURAGING PI FEEL LIKE I WANT TO GET BACK IN THE CAR AND GO TO THE MALL WITH CASH LIKE THE OLD DAYS.

>> Angie Barnett: SHOPPING LOCALLY BRICK-AND-MORTAR IS NEVER A BAD IDEA.

PUT JUST TO QUICKLY MENTION, I WANT TO REMIND EVERYBODY WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THESE ONLINE SCAMS, BUT SO MUCH OF THE ONLINE SHOPPING SCAMS ARE PERPETUATED THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA ADS.

I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT AS I'M SCROLLING THROUGH FACEBOOK, I SEE THESE PHOTOS THAT ARE VERY ENTICING.

I ACTUALLY SEE ADS THAT IF I BUY THIS PRODUCT, A PORTION OF THE MONEY THAT I PAY WILL GO TO A GOOD CAUSE.

THEY'RE ALL VERY EMOTIONAL.

AND SO IF WE JUST CLICK ON AN AD AND START SHOPPING, WE DON'T COMPOIF THAT BUSINESS IS LEGITIMATE OR NOT.

WE DON'T KNOW IF THAT BUSINESS IS LEGITIMATE OR NOT.

AND SO MANY OF OUR SOCIAL MEDIA ADS ARE NEW BUSINESSES.

SO IT'S A GOOD KAYE WAY TO INTRODUCE A NEW BUSINESS YOU THE TO YOU BUT YOU HAVE YOU ALWAYS HAVE TO VERIFY IS THIS A LEGITIMATE BUSINESS SO.

REALLY BE CAUTIOUS IF YOU'RE SHOPPING FROM ADS THAT YOU GET THROUGH SOCIALEDIA PLATFORMS.

>> Jeff: WELL, AND THAT BRINGS ME TO AN EMAIL I GOT JUST YESTERDAY FROM SSA..GOV, THE SOCIAL SECURITY SECURITY ADMINISTRATION.

NOW, THAT'S WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE IN THE EMAIL BROWSER AND YOU'RE NEVER 100% SURE.

BUT THIS WAS I BELIEVE A LEGITIMATE MESSAGE FROM SOCIAL SECURITY URGING PEOPLE TO BE VIGILANT, BASICALLY SUGGESTING THAT PEOPLE ARE GOING TO GET SCAMY PHONE CALLS SAYING THAT IN ORDER TO GET THE BIG COST OF LIVING IREASE THAT STARTS IN THE NEW YEAR, YOU'VE GOT TO GIVE THEM SOME INFORMATION OR SOMEING, AND THE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO FALL FOR THAT.

THEIR POINT WAS THAT SOCIAL SECURITY WILL NEVER ASK FOR PERSONAL INFORMATION VIA EMAIL OR A TEXT OR A PHONE CALL.

>> Angie Barnett: THANK YOU, JEFF, FOR BRINGING THAT UP.

THAT IS SUCH A GOOD ONE.

NOW, WE CALL THOSE IMPOSTER SCAMS.

IT'S WHEN AN ENTITY THAT WE CONSIDER TO BE AN AUTHORITY, LIKE IRS, SOCIAL SECURITY, MEDICAID, MEDICARE, ANY OF THOSE, WHEN THEY SINNED EMAILS -- SEND YOU eMAILS, TEXT MESSAGES AND THEY'RE ASKING FOR A CALL TO ACTION.

A, WE TRUST AUTHORITY.

WE'RE USED TO, B, RESPONDING IMMEDIATELY, CREATING THAT SENSE OF URGENCY.

SCAMMERS WILL PURPORT TO BE FROM SOCIAL SECURITY AND THEY WILL CREATE NOT ONLY A SENSE URGENCY BUT A THREAT.

YOU WILL LOSE YOUR BENEFITS IF YOU DO NOT RESPOND.

AND ALL THEY'RE WANTING TO DO IS GET YOU TO ENGAGE WITH THAT SCAMMER AND GIVE THEM YOUR PERSONAL IDENTIFYING INFORMATION.

>> Jeff: LET'S GRAB A QUICK PHONE CALL FROM GEORGE IN ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY.

GEORGE, GO AHEAD.

>> Speaker: THANK YOU.

I JUST WANTED TO MENTION I HATE THOSE PICTURES WHERE THEY -- THE COMPANY SAYS A PORTION WILL GO TO NON-PROFITS.

A PORTION COULD BE ONE CENT ON $100 SALE.

>> Jeff: THAT WOULD BE TRUE.

EXACTLY.

>> Angie Barnett: VERY GOOD POINT.

>> Jeff: ANGIE, WHAT DO PEOPLE DO, EVERYBODY HAS A WELL-DEVELOPED SNIFFER AT THIS POINT.

YOU SEE SOMETHING, DOESN'T FEEL RIGHT TO YOU.

WHERE DO YOU CHECK IT OUT?

>> Angie Barnett: WELL, THE FIRST THING, WHERE DO YOU CHECK IT OUT?

NOW, I'M ALWAYS GOING TO OFFER BBB IS HERE TO SUPPORT.

WE HAVE A PERSON WHO ANSWERS THE PHONE DURING THE NORMAL BUSINESS HOURS.

MICHAEL DOES NOTHING BUT SPEAK TO PEOPLE AND SAY, YOU KNOW, I THINK THIS COULD BE A SCAM OR, SEND US THE INFORMATION AND WE WILL DISSECT.

IT SO THAT'S ALWAYS GREAT.

BUT I'M ALWAYS GOING TO SAY GO STRAIGHT TO THE SOURCE.

IF YOU THINK AGAIN SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION OR ONLINE PRODUCT FROM, USE -- IN THE OLD DAYS WE WOULD HAVE SAID THE PHONE BOOK, BUT US USE YOUR BROWSER AND ACTUALLY SPHOIMPT LEGITIMATE COMPANY.

>> Jeff: ANGIE WE HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE BUT THAT'S GREAT ADVICE ON HOW TO GO DIRECTLY TO THE SOURCE TO FIND OUT FOR SURE.

THANKS, EVERYBODY FOR WATCHING "DIRECT CONNECTION" PF HAPPY HOLIDAYS AND HAV A GOOD NIGHT.

CLOSED CAPTIONING HAS BEEN