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02/09/2012
Love is in the air and you’ve most likely been exposed to an advertisement recently about buying Valentine treats or finding your own Mr. or Ms. Right. Since more and more people are turning to the Internet for special offers and to find love, the Better Business Bureau is warning consumers about posers – business and people pretending to be something or someone they’re not.
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01/27/2012
Better Business Bureau is warning consumers about a new twist in the ongoing BBB phishing scam. Consumers now are reporting receiving phone calls – in addition to emails being sent to businesses – all from scammers claiming to be from BBB.
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01/24/2012
With the Super Bowl just around the corner, the Better Business Bureau is warning consumers to be on alert for knock-off team jerseys, counterfeit memorabilia and phony game tickets.
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01/18/2012
Buffalo winters can be unpredictable, but your snow removal service shouldn’t be. Every year, BBB serving Upstate New York receives complaints from homeowners and businesses alike that were left to dig themselves out of their driveways when their snow removal services failed to show up or, in some cases, abruptly went out of business. Although snow falls have been very low so far, the complaints are beginning to crop up.
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01/09/2012
Better Business Bureau investigates thousands of scams every year, from the latest gimmicks to schemes as old as the hills. Our new Scam Source (www.bbb.org/scam) is a comprehensive resource on scam investigations from BBBs around the country, with tips from BBB, law enforcement and others. You can sign up to receive our Scam Alerts by email, and you can also be a scam detective yourself by reporting scams you’ve discovered by clicking here or writing to info@upstatenybbb.org.
BBB has divided scams up into major categories and picked the top scam within each, plus our Scam of the Year.
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01/04/2012
A new year is a great time to resolve to be a smarter, safer consumer. The Better Business Bureau has 10 resolutions that can help consumers fight scammers, prevent identity theft and save money in 2012.
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12/20/2011
Most of the emails carry the famous BBB torch logo and come with the subject line “Complaint from your customers.” The emails have a link or an attachment containing malicious phishing malware that steals information, often with devastating results.
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12/19/2011
Tis the season for giving, but what happens if the gift you’ve given or received needs to be returned or exchanged? The Better Business Bureau reminds consumers to know their rights regarding returns, refunds and exchanges.
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12/15/2011
Many charities are very creative when it come to fund raising and more and more of them are also using technology to help their worthy cause - leaving consumers with several different ways to offer their support to help them thrive in a competitive marketplace. Whether you’re giving money, your time, used items or canned goods, BBB's Wise Giving Alliance reminds donors that how you give is just as important as what you give.
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12/07/2011
The BBB system is reporting numerous calls from companies who have received a compliant notification that links to a non-BBB website. This is a phishing scam and not legitimate email from the BBB.
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12/07/2011
As shopping days dwindle, gift cards become a very attractive and easy option. You can buy them physically or virtually, email them and print them or send them through Facebook. There’s no doubt gift cards are popular with holiday shoppers and gift receivers as well. An estimated $27 billion will be spent according to the National Retail Federation on cards that will stack up satisfaction this holiday shopping season. The Better Business Bureau warns shoppers this particular gift can also be a gift for scammers too, so before you buy one, there are some important warning signs to watch out for.
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11/23/2011
Cyber Monday, the Monday after Thanksgiving, has officially replaced Black Friday as the most popular day to shop for the holidays. Shopping online means avoiding the crowds, but it also opens up the buyer to attacks from scammers and hackers.
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11/14/2011
It’s time to start planning your Black Friday, that special day after Thanksgiving when retailers gear up to offer their best. Better Business Bureau past experience tells us that all deals are not created equal and the fine print is often the most important thing. Before you head out the door for a block buster and get caught up in the frenzy, the BBB offers the following tip sheet to help you save time and money.
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11/10/2011
While the countdown to the holidays has begun there’s still plenty of time to consider those layaway plans being offered at many retail outlets. The current economy has left many shoppers on a budget and searching for more affordable methods of paying for their holiday gifts. Many families will turn to alternate forms of payment to make ends meet, but before you take the dive into a layaway plan, the Better Business Bureau has advice on how to best use this payment plan in lieu of credit cards.
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11/09/2011
Poised to take advantage this Veterans Day, scammers will be lurking trying to swindle our past and present military personnel. The Better Business Bureau is warning about various offers designed to target veterans and the armed forces.
“Our Veterans have protected us and we should do all we can to protect them from bad deals and phony offers,” said David Polino, Better Business Bureau President. “Anyone of us could become a scam victim, but veterans and military families are targets for crooks who prey on their military service.”
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