Fighting Fraud
By Better Business Bureau Serving Greater Cleveland
As springtime progresses, there’s a familiar urge to open the windows and let the fresh air in. We call it spring cleaning for our homes, but here at Better Business Bureau® (BBB®) we think your bank account deserves a little bit of that sunshine, too.
Since April is National Financial Literacy Month, it’s the perfect time to “dust off” your records and make sure your hard-earned savings are tucked away safely. You’ve worked a lifetime for what you have. Let’s make sure it stays protected.
Here is your 2026 checklist for a thorough financial spring cleaning:
1. Clear Out the “Cobwebs” in Your Credit Report
When was the last time you took a good look at your credit report? Your credit report is your best defense against identity theft, it’s the place where you’ll catch a fraudster who has tried to open a credit card in your name. Think of checking for errors or unfamiliar accounts as checking the foundation of your home. It is much easier to fix a small crack now than to deal with a total collapse later. To get started, you are entitled to a free credit report from each of the three major bureaus, Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. However, be careful not to fall for “free” sites that ask for a credit card number or a monthly subscription fee.
2. Prune Those “Winter Overgrowth” Subscriptions
During the colder months, it is all too easy to sign up for a new streaming service to catch a specific show or click “yes” on a free trial for a delivery service. By the time April rolls around, those “free” trials have often quietly matured into monthly drains on your retirement fund. To stop the leak, sit down with your bank and credit card statements from the last three months and scan specifically for recurring charges, even the small ones like $10 or $15 that are easy to overlook. The BBB encourages you to stay vigilant. If you see a charge you don’t recognize, do not ignore it. Scammers frequently use “micro-transactions” to test the waters and see if you are paying attention before they attempt a much larger theft. If you find a service you no longer use or didn’t intend to keep, cancel it immediately to keep your budget as tidy as your flower beds.
3. Shred the “Clutter” (and Protect Your PII)
We all have that “junk drawer” or a stack of mail that’s grown a bit too tall over the winter. However, paper clutter isn’t just a household eyesore; it is a goldmine for “dumpster divers” looking to steal your Personally Identifiable Information. To clear out the danger, start by gathering up old bank statements, expired credit cards, and medical bills that are more than a year old. But, you should certainly hang onto your tax records for seven years. Just be sure you don’t simply toss these documents into the kitchen trash, where they can be easily retrieved.
If you’ve been the victim of a scam on social media, report it to the BBB Scam Tracker. Your report helps us build consumer awareness and reduce the effectiveness of scammers’ favorite tactics. Have additional questions? Reach out to your BBB at 216.241.7678 or [email protected].
