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05/22/2013
Memorial Day is a time to honor those who serve and remember those who have died in war. But sadly, it has also become a key opportunity for scammers to target those who are serving or have served their nation, especially elderly veterans. As Memorial Day approaches, the Better Business Bureau of Central New England urges consumers and donors to be aware of scammers that feed off the military.
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05/19/2013
Rising temperatures and changes in the weather can lead to pests invading your home. BBB advises consumers to carefully check out pest control companies before signing up for a service.
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05/17/2013
May is National Moving Month, which kicks off the busiest time of year for Americans changing residencies. It also means unlicensed movers and dishonest scammers are waiting to take advantage of unwary consumers
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05/15/2013
Better Business Bureau of Central New England is urging the public to beware of lottery and sweepstakes scams that are on the rise in the area. The scam can have variations, but usually, victims will receive a notice stating they have won a large amount of money. When a victim attempts to claim the prize the scammer gathers personal information and convinces a victim to wire money to cover taxes and fees, in return they promise to send the award. The scammers, usually very well-spoken and intelligent, start out by asking for small amounts of money, but as the scammer gains your trust they will begin to ask for more and more money for additional costs, promising you will make it all back with your winnings. Many victims give in, often times not taking into full consideration their financial status because they are expecting their winnings. A prize will never come and victims lose all the money they wired to the scammer, most times amounting in thousands of dollars. This deceptive act is
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05/12/2013
Green Dot MoneyPak cards are becoming increasingly more popular in the prepaid debit card market… and among scammers. The cards are reloadable debit cards, available all across the United States at retail stores including Wal-Mart, Walgreens and CVS. Some use the cards as an alternative to having a bank account and although this may be useful, they lack the same security policies banks and credit card companies offer. Scammers have recognized this vulnerability and have no problem exploiting it. Scam artists have wised-up to the fact that more and more consumers are becoming skeptical of wire transfers and Green Dot MoneyPak cards are becoming the replacement. A consumer can load the card by paying cash at the store and use it like a debit or credit card, amounts spent are deducted and the balance remains on the card. Consumer can reload the card simply by adding more cash at a store. Every card has a scratch-of 14 digit security code, like an account number, that should not be shared
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05/08/2013
Mother’s Day is one of the biggest holidays for gifts, cards, flowers and candy. If you’re showing your love with flowers this year, make sure they are on-time and just right.
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05/05/2013
Craigslist scams are abundant and frequently reported to BBB. The scams can take a variety of routes, from apartment scams, where the scammer poses as the seller offering a good deal on an apartment, to fake check scams, where the scammer poses as a consumer looking to purchase goods and sends a fake check and lots of other scams in between. The craigslist website has warnings on many of its pages that urge buyers and sellers to be cautious of scams and to use your judgment if you are unsure about a post or a potential buyer.
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05/01/2013
A domain name is simple, its your.com address, like a virtual phone number for your web site. It helps give your business a memorable address to connect consumers and web surfers to your site and it’s important to keep the name consistent for return visitors. Businesses must remember that domain name registrations expire and renewal is vital in keeping the website running and keeping the name attached to your business. But, what probably doesn’t cross your mind are scammers waiting for unsuspecting businesses to let the registration lapse. They wait for the domain to expire and then swoop in, steal the domain and hold it for ransom forcing you to pay large sums of money to get it back. It may not sound like it, but this is real and can happen to you if you’re not careful.
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04/29/2013
At least one poorly-conceived charity scam has already emerged in the wake of the explosions at the finish line of the Boston Marathon yesterday, and more are likely. BBB Wise Giving Alliance (“Alliance”), the national charity monitoring arm of the Better Business Bureau, and BBB Serving Eastern Massachusetts, Maine, Rhode Island and Vermont (“BBB Boston”) cautions donors about potential red flags concerning tragedy-related philanthropy.
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04/28/2013
If moving to a new home is on your agenda for this summer, Better Business Bureau has tips that will help you find a reliable mover and avoid scams that can turn your move into a nightmare.
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04/24/2013
Summer is just around the corner and now is the time to start planning your summertime activities. According to the American Camp Association, there are more than 12,000 day and resident camps nationwide. When looking for the appropriate one for your child, Better Business Bureau recommends parents do their research to ensure they find a camp that is both financially fit for their pocketbook and fundamentally right for their child.
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04/21/2013
In our tech-savvy world, everything is readily accessible and convenient…even banking. Gone are the days of waiting in line at the bank or even waiting for your computer to boot up. Now you can access your bank account from anywhere in the world via your smart phone or tablet.
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04/19/2013
Identity theft is an enormous problem, but there are a number of steps you can take to secure your personal information.
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04/14/2013
April is National Pest Management Month, according to the National Pest Management Association (NPMA). Every year, Better Business Bureau receives many complaints against pest control services for a variety of issues including service problems and customer service tactics.
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04/10/2013
With baseball season now in full swing, be sure your tickets are the real deal. Buying on the secondary market can be useful for non-season ticket holders, occasional fans, or those making a last-minute decision to head to the ball park. But how do you know if the tickets are real?
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