How to keep yourself safe from scams during April 8's eclipse

DES MOINES, Iowa — On Monday, the United States will have a one in 20 year opportunity - to watch the Great American Eclipse. 

While our area won’t be in the path of totality, or the 115-mile wide stretch of land where the sun is completely covered by the moon, we’ll still get about 84% coverage in Des Moines.

While the moon and sun are perfectly aligning for this eclipse to happen, the conditions are looking just right for a scam, too.  

If you're heading out of Des Moines to see that 100% coverage, many hotels and Airbnb's in the path of totality are booked, so expect to pay higher prices for vacancies you find.  

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If you do find a last-minute deal, be careful. Some of the places to stay on listing sites may be fakes.  

But don't worry — there are ways to make sure your bed for the night is legit.

Remember this advice from the Iowa Better Business Bureau: Once you pick your spot, double check that you can’t find the same listing in other communities. Scammers often post duplicates in multiple areas. 

Also, if you're looking on places like Airbnb or Facebook Marketplace, check how long the seller has been a member. Not having many friends or followers can be another red flag.

“Even on the good sites, sometimes there’s some fake listings so do your homework. But at least the legitimate websites, the names we all know, they’ll help you get your money back and there’s always a refund policy," Iowa BBB President Chris Coleman said.

He suggests paying with a credit card since they can be traced and your credit company will help if you get scammed.  

Coleman advises not to pay with gift cards or Venmo anyone you don't know. 

RELATED: Can I take a picture of the solar eclipse with my phone? Here's everything to know.

Another thing that can be spoofed? Special eclipse glasses. To figure out whether or not they're real, check if they have a seal of approval from the International Standards Organization — that means they meet their safety standards.

But even those seals can be faked so, if you want to be extra safe, the American Astronomical Society has a list of safe vendors you can shop from. 

To take away some of that confusion, Iowa BBB recommends buying glasses from businesses you trust and those with a BBB accreditation seal.  

"If you're using an old welder mask, everybody thinks that's a way to look at it quickly," Coleman said. "There's almost none that work."