CHICAGO,
IL - January 10, 2012 – The New Year has arrived and it’s more important than
ever to resolve to be a savvy consumer. The Better Business Bureau (BBB) offers
ten New Year’s resolutions to fight scammers, prevent identity theft and save
money in 2012.
“Being an
informed consumer is ultimately about using money wisely and, in this tough
economy, many families are quickly learning how important it is to squeeze as
much value as possible out of a dollar,” says Steve J. Bernas, president &
CEO of the Better Business Bureau serving Chicago
and Northern Illinois. “Creating a budget,
researching businesses before you buy and avoiding scams should be among
everyone’s resolutions this year.”
The BBB
recommends the following New Year’s resolutions to become a savvier consumer in
2012:
1.
Look for the BBB Seal of
Accreditation and always check a business out with BBB prior to making a
purchase. Over
400,000 businesses bear the BBB Seal of Accreditation and meet our standards;
you can find the Seal on Web sites and at business locations. The BBB doesn’t
just report on Accredited businesses, you can locate trustworthy businesses by
visiting www.bbb.org to view free BBB Business
Reviews for over 4 million businesses across North America.
2.
Read the fine print—especially for
“free” trial offers.
Many consumers complained to the BBB in 2011 after signing up for a “free”
trial offer online that resulted in repeated charges to their credit or debit
cards sometimes amounting to as much as hundreds of dollars every month. Read
the terms and conditions of any “free” trial offer before handing over credit
or debit card numbers.
3.
Get everything in writing. Don’t just take a business’ word
for it. Get every verbal agreement in writing to limit miscommunication and
misunderstandings between your expectations and what the business delivers.
4.
Beware of “job” offers to make
easy money.
Unemployment in the nation remains high and scammers are targeting the large
pool of job hunters. Beware of any job offer, work-at-home scheme or business
opportunity that promises big money for little work and no experience. Look up
companies at www.bbb.org before you apply for
any job.
5.
Keep your computer safe. If you haven’t already, install
anti-virus software onto your computer and don’t forget to regularly check for
software and operating system updates and patches. Don’t open attachments or
click on links in e-mails unless you can confirm the e-mail came from someone
you trust.
6.
Never wire money to someone you
don’t know. Many
scams require that the victim wire money back to the scammers. Tracking money
sent via MoneyGram or Western Union is extremely
difficult. Even more troubling for victims is that it’s nearly impossible to
get your money back.
7.
Fight identity theft. Shred paper documents that include sensitive
financial data and dispose of computers, cell phones and digital data safely. Your
BBB offers tips and checklists on
what to shred, and hosts free shred
events at www.bbb.org
8.
Fight fake check fraud. Thanks to advances in printing technology,
scammers have the ability to create very real-looking phony checks. Educate
yourself on the common types of check fraud and be extremely wary of checks
that come with claims that you’ve won the lottery, are eligible for a
government grant or have landed a job as a secret shopper when you never
applied.
9.
Ask the BBB for help. File a complaint with your
BBB if you have a disagreement with a business or have been ripped off by a
scammer. Your complaint will become go on record and may help others in dealing
with that company.
10.
Create a budget and stick to it. If you’re a cash-strapped consumer, setting a budget can
help you stay afloat in 2012. The BBB has additional advice on how to create a
budget to help you get out of debt and stay out of debt at www.bbb.org
For more consumer
tips you can trust from your BBB, visit www.bbb.org
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As a private, non-profit
organization, the purpose of the Better Business Bureau is to promote an
ethical marketplace. BBBs help resolve buyer/seller complaints by means of
conciliation, mediation and arbitration. BBBs also review advertising claims,
online business practices and charitable organizations. BBBs develop and issue reports
on businesses and nonprofit organizations and encourage people to check out a
company or charity before making a purchase or donation.