Archive for the ‘Better Business Bureau’ Category

As summer begins and temperatures rise, often so do the tempers of angry consumers who fall victim to summer door-to-door salesmen.  While many door-to-door salesmen are honest, every summer the Better Business Bureau receives troubling complaints from consumers who made purchases on their doorstep and were dissatisfied with the quality of product received, if they receive anything at all.

Some of the most common scams come from salesmen selling meat, magazines, alarm systems, asphalt, or offers of physical labor on homes.

While the low price of these products and services can be luring to your financial taste buds, it’s important for consumers to do their research prior to indulging in an impulse buy. The BBB offers the following advice before making a purchase at your front door:

Do your research. Ask the salesperson for written material about the company and let them know you are going to research them first before doing business with them. Check the company’s Reliability Report with your BBB. Many communities have licensing and permit requirements for food vendors and for selling door-to-door; confirm with your city or county government that the seller is in line with the law.

Don’t fall for empty promises. The seller might claim to offer a 100 percent satisfaction guarantee, but many complainants had no way to contact the seller if they were dissatisfied. Additionally, the seller might claim that the product is a higher grade than it really is.

Never pay with cash. When paying by check or credit card you have at least some way to protect your money—such as canceling the check or reporting it as fraud to your credit card company. If you pay with cash and are dissatisfied, you’re at the mercy of the salesperson. Many scam artists will take your check to the bank right away, making credit cards a safer bet.

Know your rights. If you decide to make a purchase in your home, ask for a dated cancellation form and a dated receipt. The Federal Trade Commission Cooling-Off Rule gives you three business days to cancel the purchase. Saturday is considered a business day.

Report the bad guys. If you feel that you were ripped off by a door-to-door salesperson, file a complaint with your Better Business Bureau and contact authorities (574-LMPD). Chances are, one of your neighbors could be scammed, too. Also report any unlicensed salesmen to Councilman Doug Hawkins at 574-1125 or Doug.Hawkins@louisvilleky.gov .

For more advice to help you make smart purchasing decisions, visit http://www.bbb.org/us/consumer-tips-product-purchasing/ or call 1-800-388-2222.

1 – Beware of any job postings that lead you to the website jobnab.com. Local papers have recently ran classified ads that lead to the website. The site contacts job seekers via email or text message about seeing their resume online and guarantees a job after registering. A job offer never materializes but identity theft often occurs. Be careful giving out your personal information!

2 – Help wanted ads on employment websites aren’t always legitimate. Scam artists are placing ads looking for job seekers to forward money from one account to another or to reship stolen merchandise overseas Consumers who respond to the ads are told the employer is in a foreign country and needs an American contact to handle business in the U.S.

3 – Job seekers, be wary of www.careersystemsllc.com. The company claims to offer assistance to consumers seeking government jobs. It is managed by the previous owners of Government Careers, Inc. (GCI). In 2010, the Attorney General and FTC filed a  lawsuit against GCI and affiliates were directed to stop engaging in this line of business. GCI was BBB’s third most complained about company in 2009.

4 – Beware of the Best Buy reshipping scam. Con artists are using the company’s name, targeting  unsuspecting job seekers via email with an invite to become a gift wrapper. The job offer is not legitimate and people who accept these fraudulent positions may be asked to do things for which they could be prosecuted by authorities. Legitimate Best Buy jobs are posted on their career website.

5 – Paypal Scam – If you receive an email from Paypal stating your account access is limited, it could be a scam. The email states your account has been accessed by a third party and directs users to a link that asks for personal information. Be careful of these phishing scams and be mindful of what information you are giving out online.

6 – Consumers using Medicare will receive a tax rebate check for $250 as part of the Affordable Care Act, aimed to close the coverage gap, making it more affordable to Senior Citizens. These checks will be mailed by the Dept. of Health and Human Services within 45 days of entering the coverage gap. You will not need to provide personal information to receive the check.

7 – Consumers are being annoyed with hundreds of phone calls through a “telephone denial-of-service” attack. The phone calls divert the consumer’s attention and tie up the phone line while the scam artist drains the consumer’s bank account. The bank tries to contact the victim, but gets a busy signal and continues with the transaction. Scammers get the victim’s personal information months in advance via phishing in an email or phone call.

8 – Beware of “Scareware!” These pop-up boxes warn web surfers that their computer is affected with a virus. The pop-up’s are a part of a scam to scare internet goers to pay for fake anti-virus programs out of fear for their hard drives. BBB advises internet users not to click on any unexpected pop-ups.

9 – A Solid Gold Sound has an “F” rating with BBB. Brides across the country say the photography and video company takes their money and never delivers! The company also operates under A Sensory Sound System. Check out a company with the BBB, ask for names of satisfied customers, make contracts in writing and include dates, products, prices, and all fees. Never pay in full upfront, and pay by credit card in case you need to cancel the purchase.

10 – Car shoppers, beware of websites offering too-good-to-be-true deals on repossessed cars. The scammers use names, numbers, and addresses of reputable car dealers to build fraudulent websites that claim to sell repossessed cars at well below market price. The sites instruct buyers to wire a deposit to an individual rather than the company helping to “avoid taxes legally,” and claim the remainder can be paid upon delivery. After the deposit is paid, victims call the real dealership to arrange pick-up and find they have been scammed.

Nominate a Business or Non-Profit You Trust

for the BBB Torch Awards

It’s time to nominate a business or non-profit organization for the Better Business Bureau Torch Awards! Each year the BBB relies on the public to help recognize and celebrate businesses and non-profit organizations that have gone above and beyond in their commitment to ethics and customer service excellence. Companies and non-profit organizations are nominated by individuals and recognized at the annual BBB Torch Awards event.

The BBB is encouraging everybody to take a few minutes to nominate one of the many amazing businesses or non-profit organizations, in the area, for a 2010 Torch Award.

Whether it is your hairdresser, your local coffee shop, a retailer, contractor, dentist, insurance broker, academic institution, non-profit organization, or other professional service, the BBB wants all that are honest, reliable and trustworthy to be recognized for their efforts. All businesses, no matter the industry and regardless of whether they are an Accredited Business are eligible to be nominated and to win a Torch Award if they do business and are located in the Louisville, Southern Indiana, and Western Kentucky region. They must be in good standing with the BBB.

This year’s Torch Awards luncheon will be held November 3, 2010 at the Olmsted in Louisville, KY. Kent Taylor, CEO/ Founder, Texas Roadhouse will be the Keynote Speaker, and Barry Bernson, Anchor, FOX 41 News in Louisville will be the emcee for the event.

For sponsorship or ticket information, contact Reanna Smith-Hamblin, VP/Communications, BBB serving Louisville, Southern Indiana, and Western KY at 502-588-0043 or rsmith-hamblin@louisville.bbb.org.

The deadline for nominations is September 1, 2010. And should include the following information: The name/contact information of the person nominating, the company/non-profit that is being nominated, it’s address and phone number. Or, you can find the nomination form online at http://louisville.bbb.org/special-events/Torch-Awards/. You can email, fax, call, or mail the information to:

As summer begins and temperatures begin to rise, often so do the tempers of angry consumers who fall victim to summer door-to-door salesmen.  While many door-to-door salesmen are honest, every summer the Better Business Bureau receives troubling complaints from consumers who made purchases on their doorstep and were dissatisfied with the quality of product received.

Some of the most common scams come from salesmen selling meat, asphalt, or construction, magazines, or alarm systems and offers of physical labor on homes.

While the low price of these products and services can be luring to your financial taste buds, it’s important for consumers to do their research prior to indulging in these scams. The BBB offers the following advice before making a purchase at your front door:

Do your research. Ask the salesmen for written material about the company and let them know you are going to research them first before doing business with them. Check the company’s Reliability Report with your BBB. Many communities have licensing and permit requirements for food vendors and for selling door-to-door; confirm with your city or county government that the seller is in line with the law.

Don’t fall for empty promises. The seller might claim to offer a 100 percent satisfaction guarantee, but many complainants had no way to contact the seller if they were dissatisfied. Additionally, the seller might claim that the product is a higher grade than it really is.

Never pay with cash. When paying by check or credit card you have at least some way to protect your money—such as canceling the check or reporting it as fraud to your credit card company. If you pay with cash and are dissatisfied, you’re at the mercy of the salesman.

Know your rights. If you decide to make a purchase, ask for a dated cancellation form and a dated receipt. The Federal Trade Commission Cooling-Off Rule gives you three business days to cancel the purchase. Saturday is considered a business day.

Report the bad guys. If you feel that you were ripped off by a door-to-door salesmen, file a complaint with your Better Business Bureau. Also report any unlicensed salesmen to the appropriate city or county authorities.

For more advice to help you make smart purchasing decisions, visit http://www.bbb.org/us/consumer-tips-product-purchasing/ or call 1-800-388-2222.

With unemployment up, and schools across the area out for the summer, job seekers are turning their heads online to search for employment. The Better Business Bureau warns, while that jobs you find online may sound tempting, they could be a scam!

A local woman contacted the BBB after she was offered an employment opportunity through the popular online auction site, Craigslist. The “employer,” a man using the name Robert Filter, was looking for a personal assistant. Filter, who claimed to operate a family farm, and have other investments and businesses in real estate and as a private lender, was offering $500/week after taxes for the job. The local woman knew something was wrong when she received a $3,900 check via UPS and was told to cash the check, keep $500, wire transfer $3,000 to a person in New York, and use the remaining $400 for transfers and transportation costs. The “employer” said this wire was meant for “plans for his daughter’s birthday, so treat it with all importance.”

The BBB is warning all job seekers to be cautious when looking for employment online. In the situation with the Louisville woman, the “employer” displayed the most commonly used tactic in online employment scams.

The payment-forwarding/payment-transfer/fake check scams. In this scenario, the scammer pretends to be an employer and sends a fake check to the employee. Like the Louisville woman, the employee is asked to cash the check, keep part of the money as payment, and forward or transfer the money through Western Union. Later, the employee finds out the check was fake and owes the bank the money. Often, in this scam, the employer uses ploys to request the job seeker’s bank account information. They may tell job seekers it’s needed to deliver their pay check by “direct deposit.”

The BBB warns of other commonly used schemes that scammers are using in online employment scams:

The Personal Invitation – These are often ploys to garner personal data. The sender claims to have seen your resume on the Internet, notes that your skills match the requirements for their job, and invites you to complete an online job application.

The ID verification scenario – If a company requests information on, or copies of your driver’s license, passport, bank account or credit card numbers, mother’s maiden name, or your Social Security number to “verify” your identity during the interview/application process, you could be at risk for identity theft. Legitimate companies do not request this information prior to an interview.

The inside scoop on Federal jobs. All federal government positions are publicly announced and federal agencies never charge application fees or guarantee that an applicant will be hired. Avoid websites that promise, possibly for a fee, to give you the inside scoop on how to get a Federal or Postal Service job.

Opportunities abroad. Tempting, but only exploit a person’s desires and provide no real opportunities in exchange for money or personal information.  Legitimate businesses will not ask for money up front; use post office boxes, instead of office addresses; make promises of employment and guarantees of refunds; or charge fees for giving you a job lead.

The Better Business Bureau encourages checking a company’s Reliability Report and complaint record for free at www.bbb.org before sending any money or personal information when seeking employment. There are a variety of free and low-cost resources available to help you in your job search, including local and state government job service offices, libraries, universities and community colleges.

For additional information on how to protect yourself from online scams, visit www.bbb.org or call 1-800-388-2222.

In the wake of any disaster, many reach for their checkbooks and donate money to organizations. But, with any disaster are a slew of scams. In the wake of the oil spill, the BBB Wise Giving Alliance cautions consumers to beware that scammers will use e-mails, websites, door-to-door collections, flyers, mailings, and telephone calls to make contact and solicit money. Some will claim they are raising money for environmental causes or they may offer fraudulent services like remediation services related to the oil spill. BBB Wise Giving Alliance recommends that donors and volunteers consider the following:

• Beware of well-intentioned but inexperienced organizations – New non-profits and relief organizations spring up following any major disaster. While these groups might have the best of intentions, new charities responding to a crisis may lack the resources, experience and management needed to be effective. Ideally, look for established organizations with environmental expertise or experience aiding Gulf communities.

• Understand where your money is going – Find out how the organization plans to spend funds for Gulf relief, ecosystem recovery and related activities. Among the activities that charities are promoting, in addition to shoreline rescue and protection, are needs assessment, litigation, economic relief, advocacy for new governmental energy policies and research into long-term solutions to minimize effects of future disasters.  Ask whether the organization offers to restrict your donation for use in its Gulf-related activities or intends to use it for general support for all of its programs.

• Rely on expert opinion when it comes to evaluating a charity – Be cautious when relying on third-party recommendations posted on blogs or web sites, as the authors might not have fully researched the organizations they list.  The public can go to www.bbb.org/charity to research charities to verify that they are accredited by the BBB and meet the BBB’s 20 Standards for Charity Accountability.

• Find out if the charity is doing Gulf-related work or raising funds for other Gulf relief organizations – If a charity is raising money for other groups, you may want to consider “avoiding the middleman” and giving directly to those performing the work. Research ultimate recipients of the “middleman’s” donations to ensure that these organizations are equipped to do the job you want to support and are aware of the individual or organization soliciting on its behalf.

• Volunteering for Gulf clean-up may require special skills or training – Learn what qualifications are necessary before setting off for the site. If you’re looking to get your hands dirty, you’re out of luck unless you’re certified to handle hazardous materials or have received training to care for injured wildlife. In fact, Gulf residents are being told not to handle any tar balls that wash up on the beach or animals that might be affected by the spill. Other volunteer opportunities may include shoreline monitoring, fund raising, office work, help in food programs for families in need and providing transportation. Numerous charities with volunteer programs ask that you register with them so that they can assess your skills and place you appropriately when openings arise.

• There will be many opportunities to give, so keep checking – The Gulf region will be suffering from the effects of the oil spill for years to come and, as the situation unfolds, there will be more opportunities for donors to step in and help in the future. If you can’t find a cause you can get behind right now, plan to revisit the possibility of making a donation or volunteering in the months to come.

BBB Wise Giving Alliance has compiled a list of nationally soliciting charities which meet BBB standards that are asking for donations and volunteers for the Gulf effort. More information and charity evaluations are available at www.bbb.org/charity.

Late last month, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) began mailing more than 34,000 checks to consumers who lost money in cross-border fraud schemes involving payments made via wire through MoneyGram International, Inc.

Better Business Bureau’s across the country are receiving inquiries from the public as to the validity of these checks. They are legitimate checks and the FTC urges consumers who receive them to cash them within 60 days. As a reminder, the FTC never requires a payment of money up-front or the provision of additional information from consumers before the checks can be cashed as issued.

The checks are part of an $18 million dollar settlement agreement reached between MoneyGram and the FTC. In October 2009, the FTC charged that MoneyGram allowed its money transfer system to be used by fraudulent telemarketers to bilk U.S. consumers out of tens of millions of dollars – after these consumers were falsely told by con artists they had won a lottery, were hired for a secret shopper program, or would receive loans for an advance fee.

A press release describing the FTC complaint and the settlement agreement with MoneyGram can be found at: http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2009/10/moneygram.shtm.

The redress checks being issued to consumers average $520. The checks are being sent to U.S. consumers who complained directly to MoneyGram about their fraud-induced money transfers within the United States to Canada. However, consumers who were tricked into wiring funds by fraudulent telemarketers and didn’t file complaints might still be eligible for proceeds from the settlement. The redress program covers consumers whose transfers were made between the years 2004 through 2008. Consumers who have questions about the settlement can call the claims administrator at 1-877-740-6993.

If you received a letter from Our Lady of Peace notifying you of an “unfortunate incident where a flash drive containing personal information went missing,” the letter is legitimate. Personal information could have been compromised. The organization recommends contacting at least one of the credit reporting bureaus to place a fraud alert on your credit report.

Oil Spill Fraud - Beware of scams surrounding the Gulf of Mexico oil spill. The scams could involve individuals who claim to be raising money for environmental causes. Solicitations can come from emails, websites, and door-to-door. The FBI has a fraud tip line for information from the public on suspected fraud associated with the oil spill. Call (866) 720-5721. Emails can be sent to disaster@leo.gov.

Beware of healthcare-related scams! Complaints continue to rise against fake coverage” and medical discount plans. There are also scams surrounding the new healthcare reform bill. Consumers should confirm the company is licensed with the state insurance commissioner, read all fine print, recognize the difference between insurance and discount medical cards, and always research the company with the BBB at www.bbb.org.

U.S. Fidelis, which also operates as National Auto Warranty Services, is being sued by the Pennsylvania Attorney General for allegedly using “deceptive, misleading or false information” when selling car owners warranties across the country. The company filed for bankruptcy protection in March and reportedly stopped selling car warranties last year. The company is also accused of disregarding the “Do Not Call” law. The company has an “F” rating with the BBB.

Summer Camp – BBB recommends parents to do their homework on summer camps for their kids before they submit applications. Be sure to visit the site, ask about the staff’s training and experience, and find out how the camp will handle medical emergencies. Parents should also find out the total fees and payment deadlines, and ask for references.

It looks like a government notice, but a yellow postcard stamped “2010 Senior Income Tax Update” is apparently a marketing ploy used by Texas company, Acc-U-Lead, that collects the information and sells it to other businesses looking for leads to sell insurance annuities. The company has an “F” rating with BBB for not responding to several complaints. Be wary of giving anyone your personal information through the mail, email or over the phone.

This month, Census takers start knocking on doors of households that did not return their census forms through the mail. BBB warns, beware of census scammers who may ask for your social security number, credit card, or bank account information. Legitimate census workers will carry official government badges marked with just their name, they may also have a “U.S. Census Bureau” bag, and will provide you with supervisor contact information and/or the local census office phone number for verification.

Scam Calls – BBB wants to remind consumers NOT to share personal information, including social security, checking account, or credit card numbers over the phone with someone you do not know. BBB is receiving many reports from consumers who say they have been contacted by someone they don’t know who is asking for their information, for several purposes including lowering interest rates on credit cards, healthcare, gift cards, and more.

Flood Repairs - Property owners in need of repairs after the recent floods should carefully check out companies before hiring them. A home repair rip-off artist may overcharge, perform shoddy work, or skip town without finishing your job. BBB Tips: Deal with licensed and insured contractors only, take your time signing a contract, resist hiring a contractor who asks you to pay for the entire job up front, and check with the BBB to see if complaints have been filed against the contractor.

Help4Troops is a work-at-home shipping scam that claims to help American troops overseas. Shippers are told to accumulate a number of small packages at their home then consolidate them into a larger box to ship. Help4Troops promises each volunteer a salary of $20 per package shipped, and requests personal banking information in order to deliver these payments via check, wire, or money transfer. BBB has confirmed Help4Troops is not located at its listed address in Spring Green, Wisconsin.

Loved ones who plan to send flowers for Mother’s Day should beware of “petal pushers.” These unscrupulous florists place bogus listings in local phone directories. When you call the local number listed, or given to you by the operator, you’re unknowingly forwarded to an out-of-town telemarketing company. The telemarketer takes your order and credit card information, and then forwards your order to an area florist. The telemarketer pockets a processing fee and usually a percentage of the total order. You don’t know you’ve been scammed until you learn you’ve been charged more than you planned, then the flowers aren’t delivered as ordered or worse — not delivered at all.

Here are some tips from the BBB so you don’t get duped by petal pushers:

• Ask family and friends for referrals to a florist they have used.
• Check to see if a florist is a BBB Accredited Businesses at www.bbb.org.
• If you find a florist from the phone book, look for a listing that includes a local address. When you call, ask for the directions to the store – if they hesitate or refuse, hang up.
• Visiting the shop is another way to determine if the florist is reputable. Check the quality of the flowers and the overall quality of the business.
• You can also ask for a guarantee. Most professional florists should have one.

For more tips, go to www.bbb.org or call 1-800-388-2222.

Better Business Bureau is warning business to beware of a new malicious e-mail that pretends to be from BBB about a complaint filed against the company.

Several businesses in the Louisville area, and across the US – including law firms, advertising agencies and architecture firms – have reported receiving a suspicious e-mail from the address seatac@bbb.org with the subject line “BBB Complaint Case #” followed by a nine-digit number. BBB Accredited and non-Accredited businesses have been targeted.

The body of the e-mail claims that the company did not respond to a complaint filed by a Jason Harlow (however other names may be used) and includes a link to a page at www.ca-bbb.org where the business can supposedly review the complaint.

Because the message is fraudulent, BBB advises any business that receives this e-mail to take the following steps:

• Do not click on any links or reply to the message,
• Forward the message to phishing@council.bbb.org,
• Completely delete the message from your inbox, and
• Run a full virus scan on your computer if you did click on any links.

If you receive an e-mail from Better Business Bureau about a complaint filed against your business and need assistance in determining whether or not it is legitimate, contact your local BBB directly at www.louisville.bbb.org or call 1-800-388-2222.

For more advice on how to protect your business from malicious online attacks and data breaches visit www.bbb.org/data-security/.

A copy of the actual email follows: