http://toledo.bbb.org/WWWRoot//SitePage.aspx?site=101&id=a824b759-3137-43b5-aedf-a38056bcce73&debug=False 10 Mon, 17 Jun 2013 05:00:00 GMT HIDALGO COUNTY - A disabled veteran is struggling to pay rent this month after someone tricked her out of $2,100 http://toledo.bbb.org/article/craigslist-scheme-leaves-woman-without-rent-money-42505 Thu, 06 Jun 2013 05:00:00 GMT BBB is alerting area seniors and caretakers to be wary of phone calls or voicemails from a company offering a “free” personal alarm system. BBB Serving Greater Cleveland has reported an influx of inquiries in recent days about a company using a variety of different names such as “Medical Emergency,” “Medical Alert Company,” “First Alert Company,” “Life Alert USA,” and “Medical Alarms Hewlett.” The company claims to be offering a “free” medical alert system and tells the listener that the system will be provided to them because a family member or a friend believes they should have it, and that the system and shipping is already paid for. In many cases, seniors who have provided their bank account or credit card information to “verify” their identity have found they were charged the monthly service fee, usually around $35.00, then the system never arrived or they had trouble returning it and obtaining a refund. http://toledo.bbb.org/article/bbb-warns-seniors-of-deceptive-telemarketing-calls-offering-free-medical-alert-devices-42312 Fri, 31 May 2013 05:00:00 GMT CHICAGO, IL - May 31, 2013 – Phishing occurs when criminals pretending to be from well-known, legitimate businesses or organizations contact individuals and trick them into revealing personal information such as Social Security numbers, financial or other personal information. http://toledo.bbb.org/article/phishing-scams-growing-into-a-greater-threat-warns-better-business-bureau--42178 Wed, 29 May 2013 05:00:00 GMT CHICAGO, IL – May 29, 2013 – ATM card skimming is an ongoing problem. Thankfully, few crimes are on the scale of the recent theft of $45 million from ATM machines in 26 countries, accomplished through hacking and deletion of withdrawal limits. However, there are more and more smaller scale ATM scams impacting consumers virtually every day. These may range from hacking into financial systems to installing false card reading devices at point-of-sale terminals. http://toledo.bbb.org/article/better-business-bureau-advises-atm-skimming-and-other-card-scams-cost-consumers-42138 Thu, 23 May 2013 05:00:00 GMT Some job postings promise good pay for easy work at home, but the offers aren't as good as they sound, Jeannette Kopko of BBB in Dallas told Doug Magditch of KDAF-TV, Dallas - Fort Worth. http://toledo.bbb.org/article/in-the-news--be-careful-when-responding-to-work-at-home-job-openings-42068 Tue, 21 May 2013 05:00:00 GMT In the wake of the devastating tornadoes that ripped through Oklahoma yesterday, and in north Texas last week, Better Business Bureau and BBB Wise Giving Alliance have issued tips to help donors make smart giving decisions and to avoid scams. http://toledo.bbb.org/article/better-business-bureau-urges-donor-caution-after-tornadoes-42005 Tue, 21 May 2013 05:00:00 GMT Unfortunately, in the wake of past disasters like Hurricanes Sandy and Katrina, BBB and the FBI have seen organizations and web sites spring up overnight, allegedly to help victims and relief efforts http://toledo.bbb.org/article/help-for-oklahoma-41991 Tue, 21 May 2013 05:00:00 GMT AG Ferguson and Sec. of State Wyman Join BBB in Warning of Bogus Charities http://toledo.bbb.org/article/tornado-charity-scams-swirling-around-42024 Thu, 16 May 2013 05:00:00 GMT The Better Business Bureau (BBB) is warning local businesses to beware of a yellow page directory invoice being faxed and mailed to area businesses. http://toledo.bbb.org/article/bbb-warns-of-phone-directory-scam-41928 Tue, 14 May 2013 05:00:00 GMT Chicago, IL - May 14, 2013 - Apparent bargain-priced vacations may be presenting only a portion of the customer-cost story. The Better Business Bureau serving Chicago and Northern Illinois advises consumers to carefully investigate and compare vacation plans, as well as ask questions about extra fees that could significantly impact your vacation budget. http://toledo.bbb.org/article/consumers-need-to-carefully-check-for-hidden-fees-when-making-vacation-plans-41892 Wed, 08 May 2013 05:00:00 GMT IC3 warns consumers about a phishing scam targeting telecommunication companies' customers. http://toledo.bbb.org/article/alert-about-a-phishing-attack-on-telecommunication-customers-41787 Wed, 01 May 2013 05:00:00 GMT Scammers have charged job seekers for background checks, then disappeared. You shouldn't have to pay an employer for a background check, BBB told Doug Magditch of CW33-TV. http://toledo.bbb.org/article/in-the-news--job-seekers-scammed-by-fake-background-check-41726 Wed, 24 Apr 2013 05:00:00 GMT Beware of Green Dot MoneyPak Scams! Your BBB wants to remind you to beware of scammers using the Green Dot MoneyPak prepaid cards you can purchase at local stores. Using a prepaid card is a convenient way to pay bills online without threat of risk to your bank account. But scammers have found a way to get that money from you too! Green Dot spokesman states, “Fraudsters will call or email you saying that you won a lottery or can buy discount merchandise at their phony websites – but you need to pay fees to get your prize or purchase that merchandise via MoneyPak – and only MoneyPak, then they ask for the 14-digit code.” Once you have given them that code – the crooks can then transfer your MoneyPak funds to their own prepaid cards. MoneyPak offers these 7 tips to help protect you from fraud! 1. Never give your MoneyPak number to someone you don’t know. 2. Never give receipt information about your MoneyPak purchase to another party. 3. Use your MoneyPak only to reload your prepaid http://toledo.bbb.org/article/beware-of-green-dot-moneypak-scams-41509 Tue, 16 Apr 2013 05:00:00 GMT At least one poorly-conceived charity scam has already emerged in the wake of the explosions at the finish line of the Boston Marathon yesterday, and more are likely. http://toledo.bbb.org/article/bbb-warns-of-charity-scams-offers-giving-tips-in-wake-of-boston-marathon-bombing-41366 Tue, 16 Apr 2013 05:00:00 GMT CHICAGO, IL – April 16, 2013 – Charity scammers strike after tragedies, and at least one poorly-conceived charity scam has already emerged in the wake of the explosions at the finish line of the Boston Marathon yesterday. The Better Business Bureau serving Chicago and Northern Illinois (BBB) is alerting consumers of the possibility of phony charity solicitations, supposedly on behalf of the families of victims of the Boston Marathon tragedy. http://toledo.bbb.org/article/better-business-bureau-cautions-consumers-to-watch-out-for-scammers-in-wake-of-the-boston-marathon-attack-41390 Mon, 15 Apr 2013 05:00:00 GMT A warning for eBay bidders: If you ever lose an eBay auction, you may be contacted about a second chance to buy that item, but in some cases, that offer is just an attempt to steal your money. http://toledo.bbb.org/article/emails-offering-second-chance-to-buy-item-from-lost-ebay-auction-can-be-scams-41342 Fri, 05 Apr 2013 05:00:00 GMT That call claiming to be from your bank about an unauthorized charge on your account could really be from a scammer, Jeannette Kopko of BBB Dallas told Doug Magditch of CW33-TV, Dallas - Fort Worth. http://toledo.bbb.org/article/in-the-news--credit-card-scammers-calling-41185 Wed, 03 Apr 2013 05:00:00 GMT After more than 100 years, consumers are still relying heavily on Better Business Bureau for free reports on companies, charities and more. http://toledo.bbb.org/article/local-statistic-show-growth-in-bbbs-services-41125