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06/19/2013
With an estimated 136 million Americans going on at least one vacation this summer, safety and security precautions are a must. Proactive measures can help consumers keep their home safe from fire, carbon monoxide, and the threat of burglary while they are away.
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06/16/2013
Better Business Bureau of Central New England is alerting fans making purchases for the Boston Bruins Stanley Cup Finals to be cautious when buying tickets and other memorabilia online. Major sporting events always inspire scammers to capitalize on the scarcity of tickets and fans’ desire to purchase souvenirs or a favorite player’s jersey.
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06/14/2013
June 15, World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, is a day to spread knowledge about the span of elder abuse and to promote resources to address the issue. BBB of Central New England takes many calls annually regarding seniors being scammed or taken advantage of by deceptive business practices, many times financially. Financial elder abuse is a common type of elder abuse and it occurs when a seniors banking or financial information is exploited by a scammer. Many victims do not realize they are being taken advantage or, if they do, they are often too embarrassed to admit it. Sometimes the abuse is carried out by someone the victim knows. It can be difficult to identify, so it is important for family members and caretakers to pay close attention to their elderly loved ones and check into any suspicious behavior. BBB recommends to look for these signs:
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06/12/2013
Is Dad an adventure seeker? Is he up for the thrill of skydiving, whitewater rafting or other exciting adventures? How about golf lessons, a fishing trip, or a wilderness experience? With Father's Day on Sunday, June 16, Better Business Bureau is recommending that shoppers consider the fine print before purchasing high adventure activities or gift certificates for Dad.
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06/09/2013
Better Business Bureau of Central New England regularly receives reports of money transfer scams, but it seems that local businesses in our area are falling victim to another twist in this ever changing scheme. Typically, these scams involve a counterfeit check, but reports have been received of the scammer offering up credit card information instead. The credit card information is stolen, resulting in two unsuspecting victims being affected by this scam if it is fully carried through.
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06/05/2013
Phishing occurs when criminals pretending to be from well-known, legitimate businesses or organizations contact individuals and trick them into revealing personal information such as Social Security numbers, financial or other personal information through electronic communication. Our emails, text message and social media are all vulnerable to phishing attack and if you ever receive an offer or suspicious request from a well-known organization it is important to always research it before responding to the communication.
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06/02/2013
Going on vacation means you can kick back and relax, right? Sleeping in or easing up on schedules is fine, but Better Business Bureau of Central New England advises travelers to stay on guard against identity theft.
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05/29/2013
Do you have unclaimed property? If so, how would you know? Is it worth it to pay a service to help you identify unclaimed property?
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05/26/2013
Going green is all the rage these days. Sometimes going green can save you money and other times you just have to think of it as helping to save the environment a little bit at a time, with no monetary savings. Solar panel prices are starting to come down and more consumers are considering installing them on their homes or in their yards. In addition, more businesses are getting into the solar business because of the government subsidies that can be obtained.
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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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