The BBB Scam Resources Are There to Help You!

You may not know anything about the number of BBB Scam Resources available to you, but by the end of this article, you will. Sure, most people think the BBC mostly exists to rate businesses, but that’s not the case. Their focus is on consumers as well and protecting us:

The BBB wants to help ensure that companies deal with us ethically.
They don’t want us dealing with unethical companies and individuals (meaning, scammers)
Much of their online content helps consumers avoid, report, and recover from the effects of scams.

By strict definition, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) is a nonprofit organization that promotes consumer trust by rating businesses, settling consumer disputes, and reporting on scams. Operating primarily online, they process millions of customer complaints and provide updated business ratings.

You may have believed that the BBB is more for businesses than it is for consumers, and that’s understandable—after all, it’s called the Better Business Bureau. And in that way, you’d be right… but not totally. Here’s why.

While the BBB rates businesses for accreditation and displays a seal of trust, it also does plenty for consumers. In a nutshell….

The BBB offers free research and a dispute resolution service
You can use their data to check a business’s rating.
If you’re interested, you can read reviews of a business from other consumers and view the business’s complaint history.
Lastly, and most importantly, they help consumers in countless ways, including with scams and fraud.

BBB scam resources help you in a variety of ways.

As you learn about the BBB, keep this in mind. While they can help you and other consumers, they have no legal authority and no law-enforcement teeth. They are simply a well-organized nonprofit organization that serves businesses and consumers. Also, their resources for consumers are mostly educational—meaning that while you can get information from their website that can help you avoid scams, they cannot respond specifically to your inquiries or take on a case individually.

However, please don’t think it’s not worth exploring their resources. As Chris Parker, CEO of WhatIsMyIPaddress.com and Easy Prey podcast, has always said, awareness of scams and learning all you can about them are perhaps consumers’ best defense.

Also, keep in mind that only some law enforcement agencies have the resources and ability to track, search for, and arrest scammers. And statistics show that only a very small percentage of scammers are ever arrested…as few as 5-10 percent.

The Better Business Bureau is on YOUR side, helping consumers with real-time scam tracking, which you can explore whenever you want. More than that, they offer everyone exclusive, BBB Scam resources.

BBB Scam Resources Can Help You Stay Safe.

Do you need to report a scam? Here’s a guide on what to do.

BBB SCAM TRACKER

This resource alone from the Better Business Bureau can help you feel more confident in your fight against scammers and fraud, and even help others like you. This is where you can report, research, or search for all types of scams.

Do your own customized research. Do you want to see what kind of fraudulent activity consumers in your area have reported? The BBB Scam Tracker’s resources also include a robust search that lets you explore special BBB reports by location, keyword, or scam type. A single click takes you to the research.
View a dynamic Heat Map. They now have a Scam Tracker heat map that shows scams reported across the U.S. and Canada. It lets you drill down into the regions you’re interested in or see where certain scam types are operating or trending.
Explore the scam awareness library. Under their heading “Scam tips,” you can learn about the dozens of scam types. Each featured article shows you how to spot a scam, avoid it, and what to do if you fall prey.

BBB SCAM PREVENTION GUIDE

This resource on BBB.org offers you free tip sheets, educational videos, and risk calculators to help you identify scam tactics, boost your self-awareness, and develop an anti-scam profile to protect your money, identity, and family.

Learn from videos. You can watch BBB-made videos to learn about the most common types of fraud and scams.
Test your knowledge. Take a series of short quizzes to gauge your actual awareness of scams.
Check out their resources. Visit their article section for tips, articles, handouts, and more.
Discover your personal risk profile. Discover what type of scams you’re most likely to encounter by using the Scam Risk Calculator. You enter non-specific information about yourself, and the calculator shows where you might be most vulnerable and how to increase protection.
Receive timely news: Regular Scam Alerts generate press releases and newsletters that help warn us about trending scams or even an immediate danger you need to know about.

BBB SCAM SURVIVAL TOOLKIT

Scams are a part of everyday life in the U.S. and around the world. Not only do victims lose money, but they also lose their sense of security and peace. Victims often will feel shame, guilt, and keep their experience a secret. When they do that, there’s no chance of recovering their money or sense of security.

That’s where the BBB Scam Survivor Toolkit comes in. It is a step-by-step guide that helps a scam victim develop a personalized recovery plan. If you know someone who is a victim of a scam, share the Toolkit with them. Not only can it help give them some hope, but they will also realize they’re not alone.

The BBB scam resources mean business for consumers.

If you’re concerned about protecting yourself and friends and family from scams, the BBC scam resources provide some of the best advice and support available. Be sure to visit their website and explore the areas mentioned in this article.

While they might not help you investigate a personal scam incident, they do collaborate with law enforcement agencies to help stop scams and fraud. That is why it is so important to share a scam, or even a close call, with the BBB and other resources.

Here are the many places you can report any type of scam.

Visit our Learning Center for more resources.

To learn more about avoiding scams and finding resources that can help you, visit the WhatIsMyIPAddress.com Learning Center and explore the available articles and interviews.

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