http://chicago.bbb.org/WWWRoot//SitePage.aspx?site=46&id=a824b759-3137-43b5-aedf-a38056bcce73&debug=False 10 Thu, 10 Nov 2011 06:00:00 GMT Veterans Day honors those who served our country. Unfortunately, it’s also a time when scammers come out to take advantage of our veterans and active duty personnel, cautions the Better Business Bureau serving Chicago and northern Illinois (BBB). http://chicago.bbb.org/article/better-business-bureau-warns-of-scams-targeting-veterans-and-military-personnel-30616 Tue, 19 Apr 2011 05:00:00 GMT With this year’s spring rains, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) is reminding both renters and home owners that they should prepare for water damage resulting from the annual rains and possible flooding. http://chicago.bbb.org/article/better-business-bureau-provides-spring-home-repair-tips-26800 Tue, 29 Mar 2011 05:00:00 GMT While the deadline to file and/or pay your taxes has been extended to April 18 this year, many Americans are looking forward to receiving a tax refund check from the government. During this tax season, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) serving Chicago and Northern Illinois advises taxpayers to use caution when filing returns to avoid making common mistakes and to use caution when selecting tax preparation help to avoid headaches and mounting fines or fees if the return isn’t correct or filed late. http://chicago.bbb.org/article/better-business-bureau-advice-for-tax-return-filers-26358 Mon, 21 Mar 2011 05:00:00 GMT Many Americans are looking forward to the expected refunds from their 2010 Federal Income Taxes. Many people may also consider applying for a Refund Anticipation Loan (RAL) to speed up the process of receiving the refunds that they expect. The Better Business Bureau suggests consumers consider all of the options before deciding how to collect their refunds this year. http://chicago.bbb.org/article/be-aware-tax-refund-anticipation-loans-provide-immediate-money-but-with-high-fees-26188 Thu, 16 Apr 2009 05:00:00 GMT In the past year, complaints to the Better Business Bureau of Chicago and Northern Illinois against payday lenders increased substantially. http://chicago.bbb.org/article/payday-loan-complaints-to-bbb-greatly-increase-in-the-past-year-as-economy-worsened-10016 Mon, 13 Apr 2009 05:00:00 GMT Online promotions promising easy wealth by joining a cash gifting program or gifting club are flourishing on the Internet. http://chicago.bbb.org/article/bbb-warns-cash-gifting-pyramid-schemes-flourishing-online-9963 Tue, 07 Apr 2009 05:00:00 GMT Always read the fine print or risk paying the price when being tempted by ads on social networking sites http://chicago.bbb.org/article/bbb-says-buyer-beware-when-clicking-on-facebook-ads-9858 Fri, 03 Apr 2009 05:00:00 GMT The continuing downturn in the economy means that many cash-strapped Americans are anxiously looking forward to receiving a tax refund check from Uncle Sam. http://chicago.bbb.org/article/bbb-alerts-cash-strapped-consumers-on-tax-schemes--9816 Tue, 31 Mar 2009 05:00:00 GMT Scam artists’ latest trick is using the well-known Publishers Clearing House name to steal money from unsuspecting individuals and harm the name of legitimate businesses http://chicago.bbb.org/article/publishers-clearing-house-scam-uses-bad-checks-to-get-good-money-from-unsuspecting-people-9737 Wed, 25 Mar 2009 05:00:00 GMT BBB is alerting contractors and their employees to be aware of fraudulent letters re-circulating that appear to be sent from the U.S. Department of Transportation http://chicago.bbb.org/article/fake-department-of-transportation-letter-continues-circulating-9679 Mon, 09 Mar 2009 05:00:00 GMT Lisa Madigan will speak on the BBB’s vision to enhance and support an ethical marketplace where buyers and sellers can trust each other. http://chicago.bbb.org/article/bbb-82nd-annual-dinner-featuring-lisa-madigan-on-march-12-9464 Wed, 18 Feb 2009 06:00:00 GMT If your plans include using a home improvement contractor to help with the fix-up and repair, the Better Business Bureau recommends three things to successfully start a project: request two or three different companies to submit bids for work you want, don’t automatically pick the lowest offer, and make sure all bids are based on the same set of specifications and materials to be used. http://chicago.bbb.org/article/spring-is-time-for-love-robins-and-home-improvement-contracts-9190 Mon, 16 Feb 2009 06:00:00 GMT The Better Business Bureau is reporting an increase in the number of consumers who are filing complaints against “online pawnshops”. http://chicago.bbb.org/article/pawn-shop-complaints-increase-reflecting-difficult-times-9163 Tue, 10 Feb 2009 06:00:00 GMT Liquidation sales are occurring throughout Chicago and northern Illinois http://chicago.bbb.org/article/bbb-says-buyer-beware-when-shopping-going-out-of-business-sales-9058 Mon, 01 Oct 2007 05:00:00 GMT The dietary supplement industry is a dynamic one. Scientific research on the associations between supplements and health is accumulating rapidly. The number of products — and the variety of uses for which they are promoted — have increased significantly in the last few years. The role of the Federal Trade Commission, which enforces laws outlawing "unfair or deceptive acts or practices," is to ensure that consumers get accurate information about dietary supplements so that they can make informed decisions about these products. http://chicago.bbb.org/article/ftc-dietary-supplements-an-advertising-guide-for-industry--4438 Mon, 01 Oct 2007 05:00:00 GMT This manual was prepared to help you, the advertiser, comply with requirements in federal law for advertising consumer credit and consumer leases. These requirements apply whenever you use specific terms in an advertisement promoting consumer credit or consumer leases. Although this manual is illustrated with newspaper advertisements, the law applies to all kinds of media advertisements for consumer credit and consumer leases. http://chicago.bbb.org/article/ftc-how-to-advertise-consumer-credit-and-lease-terms-4432 Fri, 01 Dec 2006 06:00:00 GMT It’s not hard to see why ads for business opportunities that promote the benefits of being your own boss and making money quickly are appealing. But the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the government agency that monitors advertising for deception, says that some ads for business opportunities feature empty promises and false claims that potential entrepreneurs could never realize. http://chicago.bbb.org/article/ftc-ads-for-business-opportunities-how-to-detect-deception-4364 Fri, 01 Dec 2006 06:00:00 GMT Fraudulent claims can show up in ads for a wide variety of products and services. Most use similar terms and techniques to entice a reader, listener, or viewer to respond favorably to an ad. This publication includes general tips on how to screen ads effectively and particular tip-offs - "buzz words" or techniques - to help you identify some of the most common types of deceptions that are found in ads for get-rich-quick schemes, weight loss fraud, health fraud, credit repair and loan scams, travel fraud and product misrepresentations. By learning to spot the tell-tale signs of fraudulent advertising, you can protect your customers, your bottom line, your reputation, and the good name of your legitimate advertisers. http://chicago.bbb.org/article/ftc-screening-advertisements-a-guide-for-the-media-4410