CHICO >> So right off the bat I’m going to say Fourth of July is over, let’s stop with the fireworks regardless of legality.

They’re dangerous, they start fires and they can be triggering to some veterans as well as pets. It’s cool for a night but let’s leave it at that.

But now onto my second point and the whole reason for this column: don’t get scammed trying to buy fireworks. Every year around Independence Day, fake websites and spammers start pretending to hawk fireworks for cheap, especially “on clearance” after the holiday. And if I had to guess based on what I know about scammers, these are only going to be bolstered by the tragedy in Esparto.

Products will run the gamut of sparklers to the big ones that shine in the sky and all for way cheaper than market value. Then you go to check out, or in the case of online marketplaces, ask for a payment method, things get sketchy.

Scammers prefer less conventional methods of payment like cryptocurrency and gift cards but sometimes will work through Zelle or Venmo. You’ll also notice that they lack a clear way of contacting them. That’s on purpose. Once they have your money, they want to disappear as quickly as possible.

On a side note, you also might find unlicensed roadside fireworks stands. Be extra weary of these as they might not adhere to local law, leaving you with a product that is very illegal.

Now, going back to my first point, let’s save the fireworks for next year’s Independence Day, but also keep in mind that there are plenty of grifters out there trying to sell you nothing.

Stay safe out there, folks.

Scam of the Week generally runs every Tuesday. Readers are welcome to contact reporter Jake Hutchison to report scams and potential scams they have come in contact with by calling 828-1329 or via email at jhutchison@chicoer.com.