Gift cards are a popular and convenient way to give gifts. Unfortunately, they are also scammers’ new favorite way to steal money. But knowing how these scams work can help you avoid them. According to the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) new Data Spotlight, gift cards and reload cards are now the number one reported method…

For homeowners, fall may be the perfect time of year to take care of projects around the house. Whether your furnace needs upkeep, your roof needs repair or your lawn needs maintaining; BBB is here to help with all your home improvement needs. Some projects you may be able to take care of yourself, while…

  The emergency management coordinator for Travis County initially announced that the boil-water order for Austin, Texas could last two weeks as the city’s water treatment system works to restore normal output. It’s believed at least 888,000 people in the city are affected after floodwaters slowed down the water treatment process and limited the amount…

Sadly, another natural disaster has made the headlines. Greg Abbott, Governor of the State of Texas, has issued a state of emergency for 18 counties in response to severe weather and flooding that began on October 7, 2018. Prolonged flooding and widespread property damage have swept Central Texas. BBB and BBB Wise Giving Alliance encourage…

You might believe that using your insurance is the best or the only way to pay for prescription medications. So, it may come as a surprise to learn that sometimes paying out of pocket rather than through your health plan is cheaper. Last Wednesday, President Trump signed two bills into law that ban pharmacy gag…

Catastrophic weather or other major disasters can impose hardships on your family, pets and property. Hurricane Michael offers a valuable reminder to take a proactive approach and prepare ahead of time for the unexpected. BBB and Consumer Reports compiled a list of smart steps you may need to take to protect yourself in the event…

October recognizes the importance of cybersecurity with National Cyber Security Awareness Month (SCSAM). In short, cybersecurity is protecting your computer-based equipment and information from unintended or unauthorized access, change, theft or destruction. Cybercrime comes in many forms, such as online identity theft, financial fraud, hacking, email spoofing, information forgery and intellectual property crime. It can…

Despite strict privacy laws, like the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), intended to safeguard your personal medical information, medical identity theft is on the rise and that could be a prescription for financial disaster. A law passed in 2009 requires health care providers and other entities covered by HIPAA to inform the U.S….

Advancements in technology have made it easy and inexpensive for scammers to hide their true identities. Unlawful robocalls and malicious caller ID spoofing have become a major concern for millions of Americans. These types of scam calls can result in financial losses, identity theft and serious consumer frustration. Around 60 percent of all complaints received…

According to the 2017 BBB Scam Tracker Annual Risk Report, online purchase scams are now the riskiest type of consumer fraud. These cons often involve purchases and sales on direct seller-to-buyer sites such as eBay, Craigslist and Facebook’s Marketplace. Most online purchase scams occur when a payment is made online in exchange for a good…