scam

September marks a month which recognizes worthy causes. The anniversary of 9/11 and Childhood Cancer Awareness Month may have people considering a donation to a charity. Last month, viral videos of people pouring ice water over their heads sparked a donation frenzy. Participants, including celebrities and a former U.S. President, were seen braving the chilly water all to support the ALS Associatio

Jury duty is a vital civic responsibility and should be taken seriously by all citizens. Unfortunately, Better Business Bureau (BBB) serving Central, Coastal, Southwest Texas and the Permian Basin found scammers may use it to compromise your personal information and steal your money. The jury duty scam begins when someone, posing as a deputy or court official, contacts the victim via telephone. Re

Better Business Bureau (BBB) serving Central, Coastal, Southwest Texas and the Permian Basin is warning that it expects to see scammers taking advantage of the recent leak of celebrity photos to trick consumers into clicking links to fraudulent websites. Scammers tend to take advantage of sensational news and public curiosity to spread malware that can lead to identity theft.

These days almost every social media outlet allows for private messaging. Even Pinterest recently jumped on the messaging bandwagon. The unfortunate side effect is that scammers are quick to jump on too. When con artists create emails, links or web pages assuming the identity of a trustworthy source and prompt you to share sensitive personal data, it’s called “phishing”. Phishing is big business f

The college fall semester will kick off soon, so now is the time to beware of scams targeting students. Scholarships and financial aid are a great way to help with the high cost of education. Even though finances have already been planned out for the school year, scammers still use this time as an opportunity to take advantage of students and parents. Before you think about last-minute financial a

Whether you are a college student looking for a place to live or just new to the area, finding an apartment can sometimes be difficult in today’s renters market. Better Business Bureau (BBB) serving Central, Coastal, Southwest Texas and the Permian Basin receives thousands of complaints against apartment complexes every year, consistently placing the apartment industry on BBB’s top 10 list of most

  The Better Business Bureau has been hearing lots of complaints from around the country about various fun runs that have been cancelled with short notice, often with no refunds. Last week, BBB of Greater Cleveland reported on a 5K Foam Fest that was cancelled with just four days’ notice. An email to paid participants said “Unfortunately, we’re not able to provide you with a refund.” A similar eve

Another day, another way that scammers are attempting to rip you off! Read up on the latest methods thieves are using to steal your personal information and use it fraudulently. It involves you getting a phone call telling you that your power is about to be cut off...don't fall for it!

June 25 is National Catfish Day. “Catfishing” doesn’t only mean going down to the river with a fishing pole. Better Business Bureau (BBB) serving Central, Coastal, Southwest Texas and the Permian Basin wants to warn you that catfishing can also be a technique commonly used by dating scammers.

Whether it’s mail, phone or in person, con artists are using the promise of prizes and large cash winnings to steal from honest people. Victims often get an unsolicited phone call, email or letter from someone notifying them that they've won a lot of money or a prize. Better Business Bureau (BBB) serving Central, Coastal, Southwest Texas and the Permian Basin wants you to be able to recognize red

This Sunday is Father’s Day, and although there is nothing quite like the gift of fatherhood, many consumers will be trying to brainstorm the perfect gift to honor dad. Spending on Father’s in the U.S. is predicted to reach almost $13.3 billion this year, based on a survey by the National Retail Federation (NRF). That is a 4.5 percent rise from last year’s projection. Consumers will be looking to

You're excited. You've found what you think is a "great" deal on a pair of tickets to that big concert, championship tournament, or other big event. You buy the tickets, drive to Austin, San Antonio, Houston, or maybe even make the trek all the way up to Dallas. When you get to the doors of the venue, they scan your tickets. Then, like a cold slap to the face, the ticket-taker informs yo