Click here to view this email in your browser.
masthead
BBB The Newsline
November 2012 ChrisColeman
Chris Coleman
President

Tis' The Season for Holiday Scams - Don't Let Them Take You for a Swindling Sleigh Ride

Looking forward to the holidays? So are the scammers. As many begin to make their holiday gift list and charity donations, unscrupulous scammers are gearing up to deck the halls with their tried and true holiday scams. With Christmas only about 6 weeks away, the Better Business Bureau is warning holiday shoppers and donors to know the red flags and to be on their guard for this season's holiday scams.
[FULL STORY]

Presidents Message: BBB Hosts Area Events

The Stoney Creek Inn of Johnston was the site for the BBB's Benefits 101 seminar on October 29, 2012. I was pleased to make a power point presentation that was viewed by over 40 attendees. Our in house computer whiz, Kevin Arens, was on hand to help businesses understand some of the features of our system and learn how to apply the proper BBB logo to their websites. The group was treated to lunch and an Accreditation discount door prize was awarded. Our operations staff were also on hand giving our members an opportunity to put a face with a name. We were all treated to special entertainment provided by long time Accredited Business owner, magician Ben Ulin of Ben Ulin Productions. Thanks to all of those taking the time to attend who, hopefully, left with a better understanding of the BBB and their Accreditation!
[FULL STORY]

Scam Alert:
BBB Partners with Western Union to Introduce BBB Scam Stopper


Better Business Bureau and Western Union has launched BBB Scam Stopper, an education campaign to help consumers in the United States and Canada avoid common scams that con artists use to commit consumer fraud.

"Western Union devotes extensive resources to stopping fraud," says Shelley Bernhardt, the company's Director of Consumer Protection. "Our agents are trained to intervene if they suspect a customer is the victim of a scam. Through our partnership with BBB, we aim to give consumers the information and resources they need to protect themselves and help stop fraud before it gets that far."
[FULL STORY]

Tips for Consumers: 'Miracle' Health Claims - Add a Dose of Skepticism

Whether they're looking for a short cut to losing weight or a cure for a serious ailment, consumers may be spending billions of dollars a year on unproven, fraudulently marketed, often useless health-related products, devices and treatments. Why? Because health fraud trades on false hope. It promises quick cures and easy solutions to a variety of problems, from obesity to cancer and AIDS. But consumers who fall for fraudulent "cure-all" products don't find help or better health. Instead, they find themselves cheated out of their money, their time, and maybe even their health. Fraudulently marketed health products can keep people from seeking and getting treatment from their own healthcare professional. Some products can cause serious harm, and many are expensive because health insurance rarely covers unapproved treatments.
[FULL STORY]

New Members
[FULL STORY]

Anniversaries
[FULL STORY]

2013 BBB Integrity Awards: Nominate A Company

The nomination deadline is less then a month away! Please give some thought to nominating a company, even your own company, for this special honor. We are looking for companies of superior character that consistently exceed marketplace standards for trust in their relationships with customers, employees, suppliers, industry peers and the communities in which they do business.

To nominate a company from our BBB service area visit our website, www.iowa.bbb.org. All companies nominated will be required to complete a formal application and undergo the judging process. Nomination deadline is December 14, 2012.

Announcements:

QC Area BBB Presents: Lunch and Learn
The Trust Factor: Hiring and Building Trustworthy Employees
Date: December 4, 2012
Time: 11:45 am - 1:00 pm
Place: Bettendorf Public Library, 2950 Learning Campus Drive, Bettendorf, IA
Speaker: Lisa Charnitz, Charnitz Consulting-Human Resources Professional

Please join us for a free luncheon event with an educational opportunity and networking with other Accredited Businesses. Also included will be a demonstration on how to "claim" your Business Review on the BBB website. For more information contact Patt Englander at 563-355-1705.

Nomination Deadline
The deadline for nominating a company or not-for-profit organization for the 2013 BBB Integrity Awards is December 14, 2012. To nominate a company for the award, please click on the link below. You may also print the form and fax or mail it to us. For more information contact the BBB at 1-800-222-1600. Nominate A Company.

Save the Date
Integrity Awards - Des Moines - April 10, 2013
Integrity Awards - Quad Cities - April 25, 2013

BACK TO TOP

'Tis The Season
President's Column
Scam Alert
BBB Tip
New Members
Anniversaries
Integrity Awards
Announcements
www.desmoines.bbb.org
For Consumers
For Businesses
Find An Accredited Business
Check Out A Business
Or Charity

Forward-to-a-Friend




Published by WinM@il
1-866-Win-Mail