Fighting Fraud

The escalating conflict in Ukraine is hitting home for many Northeast Ohio residents who have close ties to the eastern European country. Better Business Bureau® certainly encourages generosity to help the people in Ukraine but cautions donors to avoid questionable appeals by keeping the following tips in mind... ...

Scammers imitating third-party payment processors, such as PayPal, Venmo, and Cash App, are causing headaches for local consumers. These third-party payment processors are the second-most popular payment method for scammers. Reports to BBB in 2021 show that 30% of these scams resulted in a financial loss. ...

Con artists are using phony “wrong number” texts to lure victims into conversation and falling for a scam. In this scam, you receive a text from someone you don’t know asking about a date. If you reply, even with a polite, “Sorry, wrong number,” the stranger responds anyway. If you continue to engage with the stranger (really a chatbot), it tries to trick you into registering for dating or adult websites. ...

If you're motivated this New Year to lose some weight, make sure you don't also lose your money by falling into a weight-loss scam. Guard against being deceived by products that don't work as advertised, cause unwanted side effects, or trap you into paying hidden monthly subscription fees.  ...

Better Business Bureau® Serving Greater Cleveland (BBB®) has released its Top Ten Scams of 2021. While COVID-19 related scams did not make the Top 10 List this time, the influences of the pandemic affected the proliferation and types of scams BBB saw in 2021. Be on your guard in 2022! ...

You do your best. But once the holidays are over, you may discover you got your children or grandchildren the wrong toy as a gift. Or you may need to return the “ugly” sweater your family gifted you. Though most retailers do offer refunds and exchanges, policies can vary from one store to another. Make sure your returns and exchanges go smoothly this holiday by following these tips. ...

Most consumers do part of their holiday shopping online, and that creates plenty of opportunities for scammers to compromise personal information and steal money from online shoppers. Protect yourself with these tips. ...

The final quarter of the year sees the highest rate of donations to charitable organizations. There are many things to consider before you donate, such as the legitimacy of a charity. Scammers often take advantage of these moments of vulnerability to deceive donors. ...