Better Business Bureau of Coastal Carolina warns of phony “BBB” scams
The Better Business Bureau of Coastal Carolina is warning that scammers are using the BBB’s name to target both consumers and local businesses. There are countless phone debt collection scams; however, scammers are using the BBB to make it appear as a legitimate call or email. The Better Business Bureau is a reputable organization that offers both businesses and consumers resources such as reviews, ratings and complaints, along with information that educates on how to choose a trustworthy business and how to recognize scams.
Businesses are aware that the BBB will occasionally call or email business owners. Scammers also know this. On the phone, in most cases, the person will sound professional and courteous. The email will look as if it is sent from a BBB office that details unsettled payments, demands immediate compliance and includes a link to a payment site that is not associated with BBB. In some cases, scammers will claim that they need to update a company’s contact information, address, and payment information. They then use that information to perpetrate fraud.
Consumers need to be aware that when receiving a call announcing that they are a sweepstakes winner for a large amount of money or a new car, etc., to be wary. After the congratulations are over, the con begins by asking for a credit card or bank account number to pay the taxes or shipping, etc. If questioned about the payment for the award, scammers may use the BBB name as a way to prove legitimacy. Almost 500,000 people reported the sweepstakes fraud to enforcement agencies in the U.S. and Canada in the past three years. Financial losses to this scam in 2017 totaled approximately $117 million.
“It’s important that our local businesses are aware that there are scammers who are spoofing BBBs to collect dues,” said Dr. John D’Ambrosio, President and CEO of the BBB of Coastal Carolina. “Please contact us if you receive a suspect email or call claiming to be the BBB. Check directly with us before you share any information and don’t click any links in the message. Remember, one false clink can infect a whole computer or a whole business.
“And for consumers, please know that a true sweepstakes doesn’t require purchases or payments up front for taxes or shipping. It is illegal for any company to require you to make a purchase or to spend money in order to play in a sweepstakes. This is one of a few crimes that you can refuse to participate in, by simply hanging up the phone, tossing a phony letter or deleting an email.”
While a BBB office may contact a business for a variety of reasons, you should never give personal or financial information over the phone during an unsolicited call from someone you do not know. A caller from a legitimate BBB office will not be offended if you tell them you want to contact them through a main, published number. End the call and call back through the number in your records or the number on the organization’s website.
It’s also important that the employees processing invoices or answering phone calls are aware of these scams. The BBB recommends that businesses create a process for inspecting invoices and always check that goods or services were both ordered and delivered before paying an invoice.
Finally, the BBB also recommends that you use the customer service phone number on the business card, on your statement or on the company’s website. Don’t click on any links in the email message. Be cautious even with email that looks familiar; it could be fake. Also, always use secure, traceable transactions when making payments for goods, services, taxes and debts. Do not pay by wire transfer, prepaid money card, gift card or other nontraditional payment methods.
Better Business Bureau of Coastal Carolina is a private not-for-profit organization that strives for a trustworthy marketplace by maintaining standards for truthful advertising, investigating and exposing fraud against consumers and businesses. For more than 100 years, the BBB has been helping people find businesses, brands and charities they can trust. In 2017, people turned to BBB more than 160 million times for BBB Business Profiles on more than 5.2 million businesses and charity reports on 11,000 charities. Information is available for free at www.bbb.org, 24 hours a day. BBB of Coastal Carolina covers the counties of Darlington, Dillon, Florence, Georgetown, Horry, Marion and Williamsburg in South Carolina and Bladen, Brunswick, Columbus, Cumberland, New Hanover, Pender, Robeson and Sampson in North Carolina.