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Scam Alert:
BBB Offers 10 Resolutions For A Safe, Scam-Free New Year
A new year, a fresh start. If you're like many, your list of resolutions probably includes one or more of the following: get fit, eat healthy, lose weight, read more, etc. There is no time like a new year to resolve to be a smarter, safer consumer. The Better Business Bureau (BBB) has 10 suggested resolutions to help you fight scammers, prevent identity theft and save money in 2011. You will notice that there are some common threads several of these have with our lead article on Top Scams of 2011. "Consumers can help themselves survive the economic pinch by creating a budget, researching businesses before buying and learning to recognize red flags of common scams," said Chris Coleman, President, BBB serving Greater Iowa, Quad Cities and Siouxland Region.
"The BBB is a great resource for consumers to use, with a 24/7 website and customer service specialists available by telephone during business hours," Coleman said. The suggested resolutions are:
- Be skeptical of "job offers" that promise easy money. Unemployment in the nation is high and scammers are targeting the large pool of job hunters. Beware of any job offer, work-at-home scheme or business opportunity that promises big money for little work and no experience.
- Always check a business out with the BBB before you buy. Nearly 400,000 businesses meet BBB standards and are qualified to use an Accredited Business seal on their websites and at business locations. Visit www.bbb.org to find BBB Reliability Reports for nearly 4 million businesses across North America.
- Always read the fine print–especially with "free" trial offers. Thousands of consumers complained to the BBB this year after signing up for a "free" trial offer online that resulted in repeated charges to their credit or debit cards, sometimes amounting to hundreds of dollars every month. Read the terms and conditions of any "free" trial offer before handing over credit or debit card numbers.
- Keep your computer safe. If you haven't already done so, install anti-virus software on your computer and check regularly for software and operating system updates and patches. Don't open attachments or click on links in e-mails unless you can confirm the e-mail came from someone you trust.
- Never wire money to someone you don't know. Many scams require that the victim wire money back to the scammers. Scammers know that tracking money sent via MoneyGram or Western Union is extremely difficult. Once you've wired the money, it's nearly impossible to get it back.
- Fight identity theft. Shred paper documents that include sensitive financial data and dispose of computers, cell phones and digital data safely. The BBB offers tips and checklists on what to shred, and hosts annual Secure Your ID events nationwide to help you stay safe.
- Ask the BBB for help. File a complaint with your BBB if you have a disagreement with a business or have been ripped off by a scammer.
- Create a budget and stick to it. Setting a budget can help you stay afloat in 2011.
- Fight fake check fraud. Thanks to advances in printing technology, scammers have the ability to create professional-looking phony checks. Educate yourself on the common types of check fraud and be extremely wary of checks that come with claims that you've won the lottery, are eligible for a government grant or have landed a job as a secret shopper.
- Get everything in writing. Don't just take a company's word for it. Get every verbal agreement in writing to limit miscommunication and misunderstandings between what you expect and what the business delivers.
The old adage, "if it seems too good to be true, it probably is" remains as true today as it has throughout our history. Consumers can learn how to protect themselves or find reviews of businesses or charities by calling our 24 access number, 800-222-1600 or by going online to www.bbb.org.
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