CHICAGO (WLS) -- While you take time off to enjoy summer, scam artists get to work! So while you relax, you don't want to let your guard down.
Better Business Bureau President Steve Bernas joins us now with the top five summer scams and how to avoid tech support scams.
(PRESS RELEASE)
Summer Scams: The BBB's Hot Five
June 30, 2015 -Summer for most people is the perfect time to go to a concert or take a vacation. For con artists, warm weather means their scam efforts heat up. Nationwide there are thousands of victims and millions of dollars lost to scammers. The Better Business Bureau (BBB) is warning consumers of popular summer scams.
"Scammers have been putting a lot of effort into convincing consumers that they are the real deal", said Steve Bernas, president & CEO of the Better Business Bureau serving Chicago and Northern Illinois. "Avoid being scammed by learning who you are dealing with and taking the appropriate measures."
The Top 5 Summer Scams of 2015 are:
VACATION SCAMS
Vacation clubs, free vacation offers, travel points and airline miles are just a few ways that scammers are trying to rip off consumers. Scammers are calling consumers with "free" vacation offers, and in return taking their personal information, debit or credit card which sets them up for identity theft.
Scam Protection:Book directly with an established hotel or reputable travel agent. Find an accredited agent at www.bbb.org. Keep an eye out for bad spelling and grammar. These are indications of scammers. Pay only by credit card and get refund policies in writing.
MOVING SCAMS
BBB records show in the past 12 months nearly 300 consumers have filed complaints against movers. The BBB warns of scammers who take advantage of the peak season.
Scam Protection: Know your rights and research them as a consumer for interstate moves or for moves within Illinois. Research the company thoroughly. All interstate movers must, at minimum, be licensed by the federal government and are assigned a motor carrier number you can verify.
TICKET SCAMS
Concert season takes place in the summer and with that comes an increase in ticket scalping. Scalpers are looking to take advantage of last-minute ticket buyers.
Scam Protection: Know the difference between a ticket broker and a scalper. A ticket broker is a legitimate, licensed reseller. A ticket scalper is unlicensed and engaged in illegal activity.
PHONY JOB SCAMS
For high school and college students, finding a summer job is a priority. The BBB is warning consumers that seasonal job postings may not be as advertised.
Scam Protection: Red flags for employment scams include no interview or application, no job details, non-existent website, or a contract and fees are required.
DOOR-TO-DOOR SALES SCAMS
Consumers need to watch for individuals who try to skirt various city ordinances that regulate door-to-door solicitors. They offer deals for everything from air conditioning repair to driveway paving.
Scam Protection: Door-to-door salesmen are required to have a permit. Ask to see it. Resist high-pressure sales tactics such as the "good deal" you'll get if you buy now. Pay by credit card or check but never pay in cash.
"Before giving any organization your personal or financial information, review the business on the BBB website," added Bernas. "If an offer seems too good to be true, it probably is."
For more tips, visit www.bbb.org/chicago, like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or add us on Pinterest.
(PRESS RELEASE)
Tech Support Scams Continue to be a Serious Danger to Consumers Warns the Better Business Bureau
July 09, 2015 -Tech support scams have been around for years and have affected thousands of individuals. Today, the leading tech support scam is known as the "Microsoft Scam." Since mid-2014, there has been a major increase in scam activity.
Originally, the scammers placed calls claiming to be "tech support specialists." They would build trust with their potential victims, convincing them that their computers have been hacked. In a new twist, cyber criminals attempt to defraud individuals using another avenue. The scam is executed while a user is browsing the Internet and unknowingly clicks a link that produces a pop-up warning that says their computer has been hacked. The warning provides a phone number for tech support.
That was the case with James Topp, a Des Plaines senior citizen and Vietnam veteran. Mr. Topp says, "In May, I saw an odd icon on my computer with a message that said I had a problem with my computer. I called the number provided. They told me I had to pay $199 to fix the problem. I was not aware of any problem but I paid with a credit card."
In June, he received another phone call from a person who identified himself as Patrick Sanders and was told his computer had been compromised. According to Mr. Topp, "He said that I had to wire $2000 to fix the problem, and then they locked my computer. Now they have $2,199 of my money."
And in a third call, trying to gain access to Mr. Topp's bank account, the scammers asked that he turn on his computer and provide access to his bank account; it would allow Microsoft to refund his money as part of a special program for senior citizens. He said no.
"Even though there are ongoing efforts by federal authorities to shut down this and other scams, these cyber criminals seem to have become more determined in their efforts and tactics to rip-off consumers," says Steve J. Bernas, president and CEO of the Better Business Bureau serving Chicago and Northern Illinois.
Bernas noted, "Regardless of how the contact is made, by telephone or an on-screen pop-up, the scam only works if the scammer gains the trust of their potential victims. That's where a healthy dose of consumer skepticism will pay off."
If they are able to gain your trust, they may:
-Ask you to give them remote access to your computer and then make changes to your settings that could leave your computer vulnerable.
-Try to enroll you in a worthless computer maintenance or warranty program.
-Ask for credit card information so they can bill you for phony services - or services you could get elsewhere for free.
-Trick you into installing malware that could allow them to steal sensitive data, like user names and passwords.
-Direct you to websites and ask you to enter your credit card number and other personal information.
If you get a call from someone who claims to be a tech support person, hang up and call the company yourself on a phone number you know to be genuine. Keep these other tips in mind:
-Don't give control of your computer to a third party who calls you out of the blue.
-Do not rely on caller ID alone to authenticate a caller. Criminals spoof caller ID numbers. They may appear to be calling from a legitimate company or a local number, when they're not even in the same country as you.
-If you need tech support, look for a company's contact information on their website, software package or on your receipt.
-Never provide your credit card or financial information to someone who calls and claims to be from tech support.
-If a caller pressures you to buy a computer security product or says there is a subscription fee associated with the call, hang up. If you're concerned about your computer, call your security software company directly and ask for help.
-Never give your password on the phone. No legitimate organization calls you and asks for your password.
If you think you might have downloaded malware from a scam site or allowed a cybercriminal to access your computer, don't panic. Instead:
-Update or download legitimate security software and scan your computer. Delete anything it identifies as a problem.
-Change any passwords that you gave out. If you use these passwords for other accounts, change those accounts, too.
-If you paid for bogus services with a credit card, call your credit card provider and ask to reverse the charges. Check your statements for any other charges you didn't make, and ask to reverse those, too.
For more information on scams, visit www.bbb.org/chicago, like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or add us on Pinterest.