Job seekers beware: avoid potential ID theft from online want ads

Posted on May 8, 2013 by

With jobs in short supply, spotting an online help wanted in your field might appear to be just what the doctor ordered. However, BBB suggests consumers use caution when responding to such ads, especially if a prospective employer asks for your Social Security number or driver’s license number. The employer shouldn’t need that information until you are actually offered the job.

A consumer recently contacted our BBB about an ad for a company he found on Craigslist. The consumer said he responded to the ad and was sent an application that asked for his Social Security and Drivers License numbers, which is a red flag unless you know the company.

BBB suggests that you avoid providing a SSN on a job application until you have a verifiable job offer from a company you trust. Doing otherwise could put you ad risk of identity theft.
Before taking a chance with your personal information, check out the company. Go to trusted websites like bbb.org or snopes.com. Google this company’s name and the word “scam,” “fraud,” “rip-off” or “government action.” Go to domain name registries and search for the company. Check with your Secretary of State and other business licensing entities.

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BBB recycling event protects personal data, keeps 5.5 tons of electronics out of landfills

Posted on May 7, 2013 by

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Many of Central Texans now have more space in their closets following the Better Business Bureau’s free data destruction and electronics recycling event, held Saturday, May 4 at Dell’s Round Rock campus.

Global Environmental Services (GES) recycled old computers, monitors, printers, circuit boards, fax machines, hard drives and laptops. BBB also took in old cell phones. BBB employees chipped in as volunteers and Cintas shredded paper documents.

GES collected a total of 11,095 pounds of material, including the following:
Desktop computers: 3,025 pounds
Misc. Electronics: 5,998 pounds
CRT Monitors: 1,817 pounds
Televisions: 217 pounds
Cardboard: 38 pounds

BBB held the event to help consumers avoid identity theft, which is a growing problem in the United States. A Federal Trade Commission Consumer Sentinel Network report showed that there were 369,132 complaints filed in 2012 relating to identity theft, which is more than double the number of complaints filed a decade earlier.

In addition to protecting consumers’ private information, the free event helped protect the environment by reducing the amount of material destined for local landfills.

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Show Mom what a smart shopper you are!

Posted on May 6, 2013 by

This year, be a smarter and savvier consumer by doing your research at BBB. You can find Accredited Businesses at checkbbb.org. Pay with a credit card, so if flowers or gifts arrive late or damaged you can dispute the charges. Ask about their refund policy, and make sure you give them your number. Sometimes, dinner reservations need to be confirmed or delivery drivers need extra directions.

For more tips, visit centraltx.bbb.org or find us on Facebook. Facebook.com/YourBBB

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Cameroon puppy adoption scam could chew up your savings

Posted on May 3, 2013 by

stephanie's puppyYour BBB recently received a report of a suspicious ad on Craigslist. The seller was advertising dogs to be shipped to the Midland/Odessa area, but the consumer was asked to wire $160.98 to Douala, Cameroon via Western Union. Serious red flag, right off the bat.

If the consumer had sent the money, it could have meant a loss of just $160.98. If they were trusting enough, or a big enough dog lover, it could have cost much more.

A scam is making the rounds that involves ads for puppies, exotic animals, or other pets. The scammer typically advertises the animal at a discount, but asks for an upfront payment to cover shipping.

If the consumer pays the shipping fee, the scammer will then find other ways to get money: The puppy is quarantined at an airport and being mistreated and won’t be released without a fee, the puppy is being held by customs and won’t be released without a fee, a new kind of insurance is now required, etc.

Scammers are sometimes able to extract hundreds of dollars from consumers before they finally get suspicious and stop sending money.

BBB advises consumers to beware of wiring money for any purpose. Wiring money is a legitimate way to transfer money, but if you wire money to someone who isn’t trustworthy, it’s gone forever.

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Want to have a smooth move? BBB offers tips for National Moving Month

Posted on May 1, 2013 by

May is said to be the busiest time of the year for Americans to move into a new home, and Better Business Bureau wants to remind consumers to do their homework first before hiring a mover during National Moving Month.

In 2012, Better Business Bureau received 11,167 complaints against movers nationwide. Most complaints alleged damaged or lost goods or final prices being in excess of original estimates.

According to the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles, all household goods and motor carriers (movers) operating within Texas are required to have an active certificate of motor carrier registration and abide by the motor carrier rules and regulations. Regulations include a written proposal or estimate that shows a guaranteed price or a “not to exceed” maximum amount for the move and a final copy upon completion indicating total charges.

If you’re planning to hire a mover, BBB recommends consumers follow these steps:

  • Plan ahead. Consumers should start planning their move at least six to eight weeks before their targeted moving date in order to have enough time to research and hire a trustworthy mover.
  • Do your research. Go to bbb.org and utilize BBB’s Member Pages to find a BBB Accredited Business or go to protectmymove.gov to find federally licensed and registered moving companies.
  • Compare prices. Get at least three quotes from three different companies and be sure to provide each business with a list of your inventory in order to get the best price comparisons. Utilize BBB’s Request a Quote program to directly connect with BBB Accredited Businesses.
  • Take inventory. Consumers should make an inventory to go over with their mover before packing begins. Make sure all copies are legible and that all items are numbered, listed and described correctly to avoid confusion.
  • Verify insurance. Ask what type of insurance the moving company carries and how it plans to resolve things if there is any damage to your items. Consumers should also ask their mover for proof of workers compensation coverage and call the insurance company to verify the coverage.
  • Know who to contact. If a consumer feels he or she is a victim of a moving scam, in addition to contacting BBB, he or she should file a complaint with the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles if their move was within the state of Texas. If the move is across state lines, complaints can be made to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
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BBB offers tips to prepare for prom and graduation

Posted on April 29, 2013 by

Graduation and the prom are important rites of passage for high school seniors. Start preparing now to make sure your student’s experience is a special one, without unexpected snags or disappointments. Above are some tips from your BBB to help make things run as smoothly as possible.

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Scam alert! Fake BBB calls target area consumers

Posted on April 26, 2013 by

If there’s anything I hate worse than a scam, it’s a scam that uses a trusted name in order to take advantage of people. Better Business Bureau recently received consumer complaints about a couple of scams that had something in common: the scammers claimed to be representing BBB.

BBB Green Dot card scam
In the first call, the consumer reported receiving numerous calls from a scammer claiming to be from BBB asking him to get a Green Dot card so he could claim a prize and get tax free money. The calls came from an 876 phone number from Jamaica. The consumer hung up and reported the incident to BBB, but the scam following this template usually asks for some kind of fee to cover administrative costs and promises a bigger payout in the future.

This scam, with a few variations, has been making the rounds and has been reported to other BBBs. Last month, NBC released a story about the practice, put together with cooperation from BBB.

With Green Dot MoneyPak and other cash-load cards, you can go to a supermarket and convert cash into digital currency that you can then load onto a prepaid debit card or PayPal acccount.  The 14-digit authorization code gives you access to the money.

If you give a scammer that authorization code, he can use it to load your money onto his prepaid card. He can then go to an ATM for cash, or use it to buy easily-fenced items such as electronic goods.

‘BBB Florida’ money wiring scam

The second consumer reported receiving a call claiming to be from “BBB of Florida” (which doesn’t exist). The caller told her she was being awarded money from a BBB lawsuit. All she had to do was send funds for the legal fees – preferably by wire.

The consumer stated she has purchased a number of timeshare vacation packages that she was unable to use. The caller reportedly told her he knew she had spent $3,000 on these packages and the lawsuit would return all the money she spent plus 40 percent. All she had to do was send $513.12 for legal expenses.  She was told she would receive her payout in 24 hours if she sent a money gram. 180 days if she used a credit card and two to three weeks if she paid with a check by mail.

The consumer said she asked if it was a scam and asked for a phone number. The caller then hung up.

This scam also resembles other timeshare-related scams, as this WatchYourBuck.com post noted. Scammers who have sold timeshares in a fraudulent manner sometimes return to the same victim and offer to recover their money.

BBB offers the following tips to avoid being scammed: 

  • Don’t give out information. Never provide any personal information to unknown callers, including bank information, Social Security Number and contact information.
  • Don’t wire money. Never wire money to unknown individuals.  Wire transfers are untraceable and there is no opportunity to recoup money if you have been scammed.
  • Don’t pay up front.  If you’ve really won a prize, you don’t have to pay anything in advance — not a penny for taxes, fees, or anything else. It’s illegal to charge upfront for a prize.

What should you do if you think you are being scammed?

  • Hang up and don’t call the scammer back. It may be tempting to have the last word, but returning the call could give the con artist information he can use.
  • Report phone scams to the FTC. If you experience telemarketing fraud of any type, report it online to the FTC or call toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357).
  • Report scams to BBB. For more on how to avoid scams, or to report a scam, check out BBB Scam Stopper.
  • Get on the Do Not Call registry. It won’t stop scams entirely, but joining the national Do Not Call registry can help reduce the number of unwanted calls you receive.
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CPSI collects consumer complaints of threats and harassment

Posted on April 24, 2013 by

BBB advises consumers to be very cautious when receiving collection calls

CPSI Loss Prevention/Security is in business to collect debts, but the Corpus-Christi-based company has also collected numerous consumer complaints alleging threatening, harassing behavior.

Better Business Bureau has received close to 60 complaints against the collection company over the last 36 months. Consumers report the company threatened to have them sent to jail, threatened lawsuits and were rude and uncooperative when asked for documentation of their debt.

While the company has resolved many complaints, BBB has not received a response from CPSI regarding more than a dozen of those complaints.

Tammy Fairchild of Florida said the company drafted money from her account without permission, yelled at her over the phone when she called about the payment. She claimed the company threatened to have her thrown in jail.

Fairchild said the company contacted her in the fall of 2012 over a bad check. She said she agreed to pay a one-time payment of $100 toward the amount she owed. Fairchild said CPSI took another $100 from her account in December without asking and when she called about it, a company representative yelled at her.

“I kept calling back,” Fairchild said. “They said to stop harassing them and said, ‘we will put you in jail.’ I went to my bank and filed it as a fraud report and the bank returned the $100. The company keeps calling.”

Sandy Mahoney of Indiana filed a BBB complaint against the company in Aug. 2012. She said the company called her late at night and left a threatening message. She said she called back and left a message, but CPSI did not return her call to resolve the matter.

“They called late, like 9 o’clock at night,” Mahoney said. “They said to call them back in 24 hours or they would file charges against me and take me to court.”

The company goes by many other names, including: Certi-Med, Check Plus, Check Plus Revenue Collection Service, Check Plus Systems National Notification Section, Check Plus Systems, Inc., Check Plus, Inc., CPS – Security Division, CPS Security and Medical Credit Collection Department.

While it does not eliminate legitimate debts, the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) requires debt collectors to treat you fairly and prohibits certain methods of debt collection. Personal, family and household debts are covered under the Act.

Under FDCPA, debt collectors:

  • may not contact you before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m. unless you agree (Section 805 (a)(1))
  • must not contact you if you write a letter to the collector telling the company to stop.(Section 805(c))
  • must send you a written notice telling you the amount of money you owe, the name of the creditor to whom you owe the money and what action to take if you believe you do not owe the money, within five days of initial contact. (Section 809(a))
  • may not contact you if you send the collection agency a letter stating you do not owe the money within 30 days after you receive the written notice. (Section 809(b))

Additionally, if you receive a call from a debt collector, BBB advises you to follow these steps:

  • Research the collector and/or agency. Get the debt collector’s name and contact information and verify that the representative who called is affiliated with the agency. Check the company’s BBB Business Review at bbb.org to see the history of complaints and details about the company.
  • Don’t ignore errors. If you have no outstanding debts in your name, contact any involved parties to clear up inaccuracies on your credit report. Write a detailed letter and include supporting documents to prove your case.
  • Check for identity theft. If contacted by a collection agency regarding erroneous bills or debts, it could be an indication of identity theft. You can review your credit report for free once a year at annualcreditreport.com.
  • Know where to turn. Report any problems with debt collectors to your Better Business Bureau, your state’s Attorney General’s office or the Federal Trade Commission.
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BBB’s Corpus Christi Shred Day is a hit

Posted on April 22, 2013 by

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Nearly 500 consumers and businesses in the Coastal Bend area turned out on Saturday, April 20 to participate in the bi-annual Better Business Bureau Shred Day event at KIII-TV Studio on Padre Island Drive.

The event gave local consumers and businesses an opportunity to prevent identity theft and help the environment through free on-site document shredding, as well as computer and cell phone recycling.

BBB serving Central, Coastal, Southwest Texas and the Permian Basin is part of an expansive network of local BBBs across North America that collaborates to produce bi-annual protect your identity events. The program is a BBB-branded identity theft, fraud prevention and educational initiative. For more details visit: austin.bbb.org/shred

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Tips to avoid charity scams after West and Boston tragedies

Posted on April 22, 2013 by

In the wake of the Boston Marathon bombings and the fertilizer plant explosion in West, many people are looking for ways to donate funds to help people affected by the tragedies. Your BBB offers the above tips to avoid charity scams and make sure your donations go to the right people.

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