http://toledo.bbb.org/WWWRoot//SitePage.aspx?site=101&id=a824b759-3137-43b5-aedf-a38056bcce73&debug=False 10 Wed, 23 Jan 2013 06:00:00 GMT Protecting our senior citizens from Medicare Fraud - information you need to know. http://toledo.bbb.org/article/common-scams-and-identity-theft-related-to-medicare-39749 Wed, 19 Dec 2012 06:00:00 GMT The Better Business Bureau (BBB) serving Canton Region and Greater West Virginia has been receiving numerous phone calls from individuals nationwide regarding a loan company posing as a local out-of-business company. http://toledo.bbb.org/article/consumers-beware-advanced-fee-loan-company-posing-as-out-of-business-company-39087 Tue, 02 Oct 2012 05:00:00 GMT Opt Out of Junk Mail to Reduce Shredding Piles http://toledo.bbb.org/article/identity-theft-risks-lurk-in-the-mail-37249 Thu, 19 Jan 2012 06:00:00 GMT FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Beware of fake complaint or request for information email claiming to be from bbb.org. If you receive an e-mail from a bbb.org address, DON’T OPEN IT! The Better Business Bureau is warning businesses to beware of a malicious email that pretends to be from the BBB about a complaint, or seeking accreditation information from the company. The phishing email is sent from the multiple email addresses with the subject line “Complaint #” followed by a nine-digit number, or referencing an SBQ Form. BBB Accredited and non-Accredited Businesses have been targeted and some consumers have received the Email. The body of the email claims that the company has received a complaint, or that the BBB needs more information, and asks them to respond by directing them to click through to what is actually is disguised link to a third party website. http://toledo.bbb.org/article/consumer-alert-fake-bbb-email-32031 Tue, 10 Jan 2012 06:00:00 GMT Better Business Bureau serving Alaska, Oregon and Western Washington investigates fraud reports throughout the year and reveals some of the most common scams of 2011 http://toledo.bbb.org/article/bbb-presents-11-common-scams-of-2011-31876 Tue, 13 Dec 2011 06:00:00 GMT Consumers who let down their guard during the hectic holiday season can easily fall prey to scammers poised to pounce on careless or overburdened shoppers, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) warns. http://toledo.bbb.org/article/bbb-alert-five-holiday-scams-to-avoid-31315 Wed, 07 Dec 2011 06:00:00 GMT The Better Business Bureau is alerting businesses and consumers of potential harm from a scam email that is purporting to be from a bbb.org email address about a recently filed complaint. http://toledo.bbb.org/article/bbb-alert-phishing-attack-using-bbb-name-strikes-again-31210 Mon, 03 Oct 2011 05:00:00 GMT Arlington, VA – October 3, 2011 – Child identity theft is a growing crime that is causing damage to the pristine credit reports of children. Hundreds of online businesses are finding inactive Social Security numbers online – most of which are assigned to children under the age of 18 who have not started using them yet. These scammers are then selling the numbers under different names to help people establish fake credit. Protecting your child’s innocent, clean record is something that every parent needs to do. http://toledo.bbb.org/article/111003a-bbb-joins-national-effort-to-highlight-child-identity-theft-protection-and-education-29945 Mon, 02 Aug 2010 05:00:00 GMT College students have enough to juggle when it comes to school, work and their social life and fighting fraud often doesn’t make the list of priorities. Because college students are so susceptible to identity theft, the Better Business Bureau recommends that they take seven simple steps to protect themselves on campus. http://toledo.bbb.org/article/100802c-seven-tips-for-college-bound-students-to-fight-identity-theft-21338 Thu, 11 Mar 2010 06:00:00 GMT The BBB is partnering with the census and advises: The 2010 Census may have you wondering whom you can trust. The census is easy, important and safe – just fill out your form and mail it back – but if you don’t mail it back, a census taker will knock on your door. Here are tips to help you identify a census taker. They will have an official badge, shoulder bag, and confidentiality document. If you ask, they will give you a phone number to their local census office. They will ask just 10 questions, but they will never ask for social security, bank account, or credit card numbers. Learn more at 2010census.gov. http://toledo.bbb.org/article/bbb-tip-how-to-identify-a-census-taker-18153 Tue, 22 Sep 2009 05:00:00 GMT A recent National Foundation for Credit Counseling survey conducted by Harris Interactive® revealed that 45 percent of all U.S. adults feel at most risk for identity theft when making a purchase with a credit card that requires the card to be taken out of their sight, for example, at a restaurant. http://toledo.bbb.org/article/consumers-feel-more-at-risk-for-identity-theft-when-making-certain-types-of-purchases-12556 Mon, 01 Jan 2007 06:00:00 GMT It’s your lucky day! You just won a foreign lottery! The letter says so. And the cashier’s check to cover the taxes and fees is included. All you have to do to get your winnings is deposit the check and wire the money to the sender to pay the taxes and fees. You’re guaranteed that when they get your payment, you’ll get your prize. http://toledo.bbb.org/article/ftc-giving-the-bounce-to-counterfeit-check-scams--4661 Wed, 01 Nov 2006 05:00:00 GMT The Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005 launched a new era: With limited exceptions, people who plan to file for bankruptcy protection must get credit counseling from a government-approved organization within 180 days before they file. They also must complete a debtor education course to have their debts discharged. http://toledo.bbb.org/article/ftc-before-you-file-for-personal-bankruptcy-information-about-credit-counseling-and-debtor-education--4723 Wed, 01 Nov 2006 05:00:00 GMT The next time you write a check to your local merchant, the cashier may hand it back to you after the payment has been processed – electronically. Or maybe you’re mailing a check as payment to a company. That payment, too, may be processed electronically. Why? More merchants and companies are using electronic check conversion, which converts information from your paper check into an electronic payment from your bank account. In fact, NACHA – the Electronic Payments Association – estimates that more than 1.7 billion paper checks were converted through in-store and mail-in transactions in 2005. http://toledo.bbb.org/article/ftc-electronic-check-conversion-4647 Mon, 01 May 2006 05:00:00 GMT The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) spells out rights for victims of identity theft, as well as responsibilities for businesses. Identity theft victims are entitled to ask businesses for a copy of transaction records — such as applications for credit — relating to the theft of their identity. http://toledo.bbb.org/article/ftc-businesses-must-provide-victims-and-law-enforcement-with-transaction-records-relating-to-identity-theft-4465 Mon, 01 May 2006 05:00:00 GMT COMMON WAYS ID THEFT HAPPENS: Skilled identity thieves use a variety of methods to steal your personal information, including: http://toledo.bbb.org/article/ftc-fighting-back-against-identity-theft-4683 Sat, 01 Apr 2006 05:00:00 GMT Many companies collect personal information from their customers, including names, addresses, and phone numbers; bank and credit card account numbers; income and credit histories; and Social Security numbers. The Gramm-Leach-Bliley (GLB) Act requires companies defined under the law as “financial institutions” to ensure the security and confidentiality of this type of information. http://toledo.bbb.org/article/ftc-financial-institutions-and-customer-information-complying-with-the-safeguards-rule-4477 Wed, 01 Feb 2006 06:00:00 GMT When you think of your own personal assets, chances are your home, car, and savings and investments come to mind. But what about your Social Security number (SSN), telephone records and your bank and credit card account numbers? To people known as “pretexters,” that information is a personal asset, too. http://toledo.bbb.org/article/ftc-pretexting-your-personal-information-revealed-4699