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A 29-year-old man has been arrested in Spring after authorities say he was communicating with a minor inappropriately online.

HOUSTON – Online dating has increased since the COVID-19 pandemic started and so has the risk of catfishing. Searching online (iStock)“A lot of times a simple search will reveal this photo elsewhere and their true identity. Tip 3: Get this person off the dating app and on to a virtual date or in-person date as soon as you can. Virtual dates are in, and the world is starting to open back up for in-person dates. Catfishers cancel dates all the time or virtual dates are conducted in a way where you can’t see them clearly.

Even though they look a little different, many people are starting to get their holiday shopping done. The FBI put out a list of tips that could help protect you from online scammers as you shop. Make sure the website is reputable before shopping or providing info like your credit card number. Be wary of social media posts (some posing as holiday promotions or contests) offering discounts, deals or free gifts cards/vouchers. Keep a close eye on your credit and bank statements to make sure no fraudulent charges are being made.

HOUSTON – With COVID-19, retailers and customers are pushing more “Black Friday” deals online this year. While GameStop offered an in-store deal that many shoppers said they had to get. GameStop is not the only retailer offering deals on Black Friday. “It’s kind of like on edge like everything is on edge people are on edge,” Perez said. Shopping experts say Black Friday is becoming Cyber November.

Before you click “add to cart” or “buy now,” you should always read customer reviews to see what others are saying about the products you want. If you fall for a fake review, you could be stuck with a dud of an item. Chandra Steele of PCMag says you have to dive deeper and really read the reviews. There are some browser extensions and websites that will scout out fake reviews for you. Fakespot looks at both the review and the reviewer, analyzing language, previous reviews, and purchase history to determine trustworthiness.

FRIENDSWOOD, Texas – Imagine getting angry phone calls from frustrated customers all over the country, accusing you of stealing from them. It’s happening to one Friendswood woman who discovered the hard way scammers had roped her into their crimes, posting her real address and cell phone number on their fake website. What’s unique about it, is it leaves one set of victims pointing fingers at another victim while the bad guys hide. That is when they found a phone number to call and an address, supposedly for the business. She also sent an email to an address on the website demanding the operators remove her phone number and address from the site.

Alief Independent School District Superintendent HD Chambers says school officials have decided to begin the school year online. Chambers said he doesn’t want any student to lose out on their education because of the pandemic but the thought of how to bring students and teachers back to the classroom safely keeps him up at night. What resources and support will the school district give parents? Right now Alief school officials are working hard to figure out how to bring back students in the safest way possible. The school district sent out a survey to parents back in June.