The new year can bring a fresh, new start. Unfortunately, it's also a fresh game for scammers to try their best tricks to con you into forking over your hard-earned cash. The Better Business Bureau (BBB) knows every unscrupulous trick in the book and they've got these tips for all consumers to be more aware and better prepared against scammers.
In addition to eating healthy and living life to the fullest this 2016, keep these tips from the BBB as part of your New Year's Resolution to avoid getting conned, prevent identity theft, and identify trustworthy businesses and charities from those who are just out to suck your bank account dry.
First of all, the BBB keeps a list of nearly 400,000 businesses and charities in the U.S. that meet their minimum standard to display the Accredited Business Seal on their websites and on-site locations. In addition to that, they also keep a list of BBB Business Reviews for more than 5 million companies all over North America. Before parting with your money with a new company, check out the updated list at bbb.org.
Update your antivirus software often and regularly. Never open email attachments or click on links from unknown senders or even from known contacts that look questionable. It just takes one phone call or text message to verify if a trusted contact really sent you an attachment or not.
Read the fine print. Whether it is on paper or on screen, some companies like to sneak in some nitty-gritty details into their offers that most people won't even glance at before clicking "I Agree." The BBB reports that many of their complaints come from customers who sign up for a free trial or a promo offer then suddenly see charges in their credit card for up to hundreds of dollars for months afterwards.
Get everything in writing. In this day and age, verbal agreements are difficult to remember. Therefore, writing all contracts on paper and signing them will make things easier for both parties and prevent any misunderstanding in the long run.
"Consumers can save themselves from fraud if they know the red flags of common scams, research businesses before they buy and get every contract in writing," said BBB President and CEO Michelle L. Corey.
Be skeptical of anyone who calls claiming to be from the Internal Revenue Service. The IRS will initially contact you via snail mail if you have taxes or penalties due and they will never threaten to arrest or sue you if you don't send money ASAP.
Never wire money to someone you don't know. Money wire services such as Western Union, MoneyGram and Green Dot MoneyPak are favorites of scammers as they are extremely difficult to track. Chances are, once you wire that cash, you'll never see it again.
Fight identity theft. Shred all documents that contain your financial information and details such as your name, addresses, and the like. Also wipe out and dispose of all your old computers, laptops and mobile phones that contain a wealth of information that can be used to steal your identity.
The BBB is one of your best friends out to protect you against fraud and scams. File a complaint with them when you encounter an unscrupulous business or get duped by a scammer. Also check in with their annual Secure Your ID events to keep yourself in the know.
