National Consumer Protection Week This Week

Whether it’s online, over the phone, in-person, or the result of a major event, sooner or later you’re likely to encounter a person trying to take advantage of the situation.  Sooner or later, you’re likely to run into a scammer.  That’s why the Better Business Bureau is partnering with the Federal Trade Commission to promote National Consumer Protection Week.  National Consumer Protection Week runs March 6th through the 12th.  According to Simone Williams with the Better Business Bureau Atlanta Office, National Consumer Protection Week has two purposes.

“National Consumer Protection Week is a week devoted to informing consumers of their rights, and a time for agencies such as BBB, FTC to educate to the public about scams ID theft prevention.”

Williams says her office has received a lot of calls lately regarding online scams.

“Right now, what we’re seeing currently is online purchase scams.  So due to post Covid, two years in, people did a lot of online shopping, and so did scammers.  They set up shop on the digital front and just started scamming people who were in the process of trying to either buy a product or a service.”

Another common scam involves fly-by-night contractors who’ll show up after a storm or some other disaster and try to take your money before a job is completed.

Williams says there are some basic things you can do to protect yourself from scammers.

“One thing that we encourage to consumers to always do is it to make sure that they are protecting their identity and their personal information.  Such as you know, you don’t want to give people or scammers in particular your full name.  You don’t want to give them your banking information which includes credit card information.  You want to make sure you hold that information dearly because scammers just need one piece of that information to wreak havoc in your life.”

You can view a list of complete tips to help protect yourself from scammers on our website.  And Williams says if you believe you have been a victim of a scam, contact the Better Business Bureau at www.BBB.org, that’s www.BBB.org.  There, you’ll find information on making a Scam Tracker Report.

 

BBB’s basics for safeguarding against scams
At the very least, guard yourself with these fundamental consumer protection tips:

  • Don’t do it when someone you have not met asks you to send them money, especially by wire transfer, prepaid debit card, or gift card.
  • Never click on links or attachments in unsolicited emails or texts. That’s how crooks put malware on your devices.
  • Don’t trust the legitimacy of something by its looks. Emails and websites are easy to fake with copied logos and graphics.
  • Don’t trust your Caller ID. It can be faked to read any way a crook wants.
  • Buy online only from legitimate sources with a website address with the “s” in “https.” Look for the lock icon in the address bar as well.
  • Lookup any company you’re unfamiliar with at BBB.org.
  • Treat your personal identification information like gold. Don’t give it away to anyone who contacts you out of the blue. Your banking, Social Security, and insurance numbers should be closely guarded.
  • Anyone pressuring you to act quickly could be a scammer who doesn’t want you to have time to seriously consider the “offer.”
  • Get details in writing and read them thoroughly.
  • Don’t overshare on social media. Con artists can collect your information from such sources and use it to make you think they know you.
  • Keep your travel plans to yourself and only share them after the fact.
  • Shred junk mail, old documents, bills and medical paperwork.
  • Monitor your accounts and check out any unknown transaction, even for tiny amounts (thieves start with small amounts to see if you pay attention).
  • Use strong passwords and keep software and virus protections updated constantly.

Be sure to check the FTC website for National Consumer Protection Week events.

Check out BBB’s articles on phishing scams, tech support scams, and social security scams.

Scammers never quit, but they can be thwarted by staying on top of the latest tips and news from organizations that monitor them, like the FTC and BBB.

Go to BBB.org to look up online marketplace business profiles, file a complaint, or write a customer review. Visit BBB Scam Tracker to research and report scams.