WEATHER ALERT
BBB warns to watch for storm-chasing contractors to avoid scams after the storm
Read full article: BBB warns to watch for storm-chasing contractors to avoid scams after the stormAs Helene is approaching, the Better Business Bureau is reminding Floridians to be on alert for scammers looking to cash in after the storm is over.
Fraudsters target small businesses with scams. Here are some to watch out for
Read full article: Fraudsters target small businesses with scams. Here are some to watch out forIt’s never fun to be scammed, but if you’re a small business owner then falling for a scam can have long-lasting effects on a business, damaging client relationships and profit.
14M people are exposed to job scams every year. Here’s what you need to know
Read full article: 14M people are exposed to job scams every year. Here’s what you need to knowLinked in reports 50 percent of workers will actively look for a new job this year and most of those people will search online to find one. But beware, job scams are a growing problem. According to the Better Business Bureau, about 14 million people are exposed to an employment scam each year. Now, scammers are finding new ways to get people on board.
Not sure what to do after a damaging storm? Here’s some advice from the BBB
Read full article: Not sure what to do after a damaging storm? Here’s some advice from the BBBFlorida’s current storm system may cause damage from possible flooding or a tornado, but storm victims should never feel pressured to make a hasty decision.
Gift card scams are rising at an alarming rate. Here’s how to avoid falling victim this holiday season
Read full article: Gift card scams are rising at an alarming rate. Here’s how to avoid falling victim this holiday seasonAs many people grab those last-minute gift cards, the FBI is warning that gift card scams are rising at an alarming rate.
BBB Scam Alert: How to spot an out-of-stock scam before it’s too late
Read full article: BBB Scam Alert: How to spot an out-of-stock scam before it’s too lateOne shopper told BBB Scam Tracker, “I placed an order and received a confirmation and was charged $15.98. A few days later, I received an email saying due to low stock I was being refunded. I never received a refund, so I emailed, but the email continuously failed to deliver. I have disputed the charge with my bank.”
Why the BBB says you should never pay to recover your social media account
Read full article: Why the BBB says you should never pay to recover your social media accountLately, BBB Scam Tracker has seen multiple reports of a scam in which con artists trick people out of their money by promising they can recover social media accounts.
Employment opportunities, online purchases listed as top 2 scams impacting younger people ages 18 to 24: BBB
Read full article: Employment opportunities, online purchases listed as top 2 scams impacting younger people ages 18 to 24: BBBIn a recent Better Business Bureau report, younger people between the ages of 18 to 24 years old are now reported to lose more money in scams than older age groups.
Stay alert for online scammers as you support businesses on Prime Day
Read full article: Stay alert for online scammers as you support businesses on Prime DayAmazon isn't the only retailer rolling out deals for Prime Day, and scammers are ready to take advantage of all the excitement, the Better Business Bureau warns.
Small business owner says she’s owed $4,400 after completing a job, but client won’t pay up
Read full article: Small business owner says she’s owed $4,400 after completing a job, but client won’t pay upA local small business owner said she was never paid for a contracted job she completed for a corporation based out of Miami.
Nassau County man arrested for theft, contracting without a license after scamming clients, report says
Read full article: Nassau County man arrested for theft, contracting without a license after scamming clients, report saysPaul Rushing, 53, is charged with theft and contracting without a license. Police said he has a history of taking money from clients and not refunding them or doing the job.
Keeping You Safe: Where & how to meet & how to pay when you’re buying, selling online
Read full article: Keeping You Safe: Where & how to meet & how to pay when you’re buying, selling onlineThe amount consumers have lost to all types of social media fraud grows every year. In 2021 alone it was $770 million. But no matter how sophisticated scammers are, there are ways to protect yourself.
Be wary of subscription scam targeting individuals, small businesses
Read full article: Be wary of subscription scam targeting individuals, small businessesThe Better Business Bureau's Scam Tracker has received reports from people -- and small businesses -- about notices claiming to be from Best Buy's Geek Squad or PayPal.
Record number of shoppers expected to logon for Cyber Monday. Here’s how to check for scams
Read full article: Record number of shoppers expected to logon for Cyber Monday. Here’s how to check for scamsOn Monday, a record number of people are expected to logon and save big with Cyber Monday specials. This year, roughly 166 million people are expected to shop from Friday through Monday.
BBB: Scammers hungry to steal your information, money this holiday shopping season
Read full article: BBB: Scammers hungry to steal your information, money this holiday shopping seasonShopping for the perfect holiday gift is a tradition around this time of year, but it’s also hunting season for thieves and scammers.
BBB to consumers: Beware of storm chasers after Hurricane Ian
Read full article: BBB to consumers: Beware of storm chasers after Hurricane IanBetter Business Bureau warns consumers to watch out for storm chasers going door to door looking to take advantage of people in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian.
BBB: Online scams often target military, veterans, their families
Read full article: BBB: Online scams often target military, veterans, their familiesAccording to a report from the Better Business Bureau, online scams are often directed at members of the military, their families and military veterans.
Don’t be fooled: The new tech-savvy pickpocket
Read full article: Don’t be fooled: The new tech-savvy pickpocket“I received a notification from my bank that said your Venmo transaction of $1,800 has been approved right after that. It said your Venmo of $2,000 has been approved 3,800 total.” Frasier recalls.
Think that email about a sports betting handicapper is a sure thing? Don’t bet on it!
Read full article: Think that email about a sports betting handicapper is a sure thing? Don’t bet on it!The Better Business Bureau is warning fans to be careful after seeing a spike in sports betting scams on social media.
Cryptocurrency scams now 2nd riskiest scam, according to BBB report
Read full article: Cryptocurrency scams now 2nd riskiest scam, according to BBB reportYou've likely heard a lot about cryptocurrency in the last year and a half. And the Better Business Bureau says scammers are taking advantage of that interest.
BBB Scam Alert: Bored? Think twice before taking that Facebook quiz
Read full article: BBB Scam Alert: Bored? Think twice before taking that Facebook quizSocial media is used as a fun distraction for some people, and taking a Facebook quiz may seem like a harmless way to pass the time. But are you giving away more information than you think?
I-TEAM: Store owner agrees to help with medical bills after puppy needed heart surgery
Read full article: I-TEAM: Store owner agrees to help with medical bills after puppy needed heart surgeryA St. Augustine couple who recently purchased a puppy from a pet store at the Avenues Mall said that they were soon met with hefty bills after the dog required a life-saving heart surgery.
I-TEAM: Couple says Jacksonville pet store should foot bill of puppy’s surgery
Read full article: I-TEAM: Couple says Jacksonville pet store should foot bill of puppy’s surgeryAfter purchasing a puppy from Jacksonville pet store, a St. Augustine couple told the News4JAX I-TEAM that they were soon met with hefty bills after the dog required a life-saving heart surgery.
What to know before hiring a contractor to work on your home
Read full article: What to know before hiring a contractor to work on your homeWhether you’re considering repairs to your home, townhouse or condo, the Better Business Bureau says there are some important red flags to keep an eye out for before you hire a contractor to do the work.
COVID-19 vaccine schedulers being mistaken as scam callers
Read full article: COVID-19 vaccine schedulers being mistaken as scam callersWhen she started receiving calls from other Duval County residents asking about the same kind of calls, she started digging deeper. She called the health department, the Regency vaccine site and the State Department of Health and found out that the state does have schedulers who are calling people who register through the state’s vaccine scheduling line. “When they register, they do not talk to a live person,” explained Dr. Pauline Rolle, medical director of the Duval County Health Department. But she urged people to please answer so they do not miss their chance to book a vaccine appointment. AdShe wants everyone to understand that a legitimate health department scheduler will not ask for any financial or personal information.
It’ll cost you more than $10K for the cheapest ticket to Super Bowl LV in Tampa
Read full article: It’ll cost you more than $10K for the cheapest ticket to Super Bowl LV in TampaJACKSONVILLE, Fla. – If you are hoping to go to the big game this year, there will be a limited number of tickets because of the pandemic. Roughly 22,000 fans will be allowed inside Raymond James Stadium on game day and that includes 7,500 frontline healthcare workers who were invited to attend. For one ticket in the upper corner of the stadium, you’d have to pay more than $10,500, according to prices shown on Ticketmaster on Monday morning. With prices that high, people are looking for a good deal and where there is money on the line, scammers are nearby. The Better Business Bureau says it received more than 200 reports of ticket scams last year.
Get an EIP card in the mail? Here’s how to check if it’s legitimate
Read full article: Get an EIP card in the mail? Here’s how to check if it’s legitimateThe Better Business Bureau has been receiving complaints from people skeptical about these cards, wondering if they’re part of a scam. They’re called Economic Impact Payment (EIP) cards and they’re loaded with your stimulus money. You can activate your EIP Card, set your four-digit PIN and check your balance by calling 1-800-240-8100. It’s worth noting that you don’t have to pay anyone to activate your EIP card, so if someone tells you to pay them, that is a scam. Finally, don’t accidentally throw your EIP card away.
St. Johns County man says movers caused thousands of dollars in damage to furniture
Read full article: St. Johns County man says movers caused thousands of dollars in damage to furnitureFormer St. Johns County resident Keith Liwen said a third of his furniture was damaged when he hired Two Men and a Truck Jacksonville/St. That’s after he said he spent more than two months trying to get the moving company to make things right and repair the damage. “After I got the second estimate, they sent me an email that said they decided to offer me $1,000,” he said. To be fair, we found no red flags about the Jacksonville moving company. Liwen has a warning to anyone who is thinking about hiring a moving company: be careful.
How to spot fake shopping sites and avoid being scammed
Read full article: How to spot fake shopping sites and avoid being scammedOnline shopping scams are on the rise as thieves look to take advantage of the increase in people shopping online during the pandemic. Online shopping scams, like the one Black fell for, are on the rise as thieves take advantage of the surge of people flocking to the internet during the pandemic. To lure you onto the sites, scammers pay for ads on Facebook, Google and other websites. So far this year, the FTC has received more than 37,000 reports of online shopping fraud, amounting to $27 million in losses. You can also report the site on the Better Business Bureau and FTC websites, which could help others from being scammed.
Warning: Scammers posing as COVID-19 contact tracers
Read full article: Warning: Scammers posing as COVID-19 contact tracersJACKSONVILLE, Fla. Scammers are posing as contact tracers and trying to trick people into giving them their credit card numbers. They are using social media, robocalls or text messages to contact their victims, preying on your concerns about being exposed to COVID-19 to get their hands on your personal information. RELATED: State leaders warn of scam contact tracer callsStephens said scammers pose as authorities or officials to make themselves look legitimate. While legitimate contract tracers need to obtain private information to confirm your identity before releasing medical information, they will never ask for money, Stephens said. Tell them youll call them back and then contact your local health department directly to confirm someone there is really trying to reach you.
BBB: Avoid sharing your senior photo on Facebook
Read full article: BBB: Avoid sharing your senior photo on FacebookJACKSONVILLE, Fla. – With coronavirus derailing everyone’s high school graduation plans, people are rallying behind the class of 2020 by sharing their senior photos on Facebook. The Better Business Bureau warns that these posts make it easy for hackers to find the name of your high school and graduating class, which often are used in online security questions. It’s not just school details people should be careful about, either. Tom Stephens, president of the Better Business Bureau of Northeast Florida, said these social media challenges all seem like fun and games until your identity is stolen. Below is some advice from the BBB on how to safely navigate social media:
I-TEAM: Couple loses hundreds of dollars in puppy scam
Read full article: I-TEAM: Couple loses hundreds of dollars in puppy scamI-TEAM: Couple loses hundreds of dollars in puppy scamPublished: December 16, 2019, 7:27 pmAn increase in the number of reports and complaints about pet scams, the Better Business Bureau has issued an alert for the holidays.
Get a weird Facebook message? It might be an attempt to scam you
Read full article: Get a weird Facebook message? It might be an attempt to scam youJACKSONVILLE, Fla - Have you ever received a strange message on Facebook that didnt seem quite right? In this particular Facebook phishing scam, you might think youre on a Facebook login page when youre actually on a page designed to capture the information you enter. The BBB says: Users receive a Facebook message with a video link asking, "Is this you?" The message will come from someone you are friends with on Facebook, trying to entice you to click the link. If you get a message that looks like a phishing scam, the first thing to do is avoid the link.
Get a weird Facebook message? It might be an attempt to scam you
Read full article: Get a weird Facebook message? It might be an attempt to scam youVIDEO: Have you ever received a strange message on Facebook that didn't seem quite right? The Better Business Bureau is warning that it might be a phishing scam, attempting to steal your personal... Copyright 2019 by WJXT News4Jax - All rights reserved.
Making sure your Bahamas relief donations do the most good
Read full article: Making sure your Bahamas relief donations do the most goodJACKSONVILLE, Fla. - While Hurricane Dorian spared Northeast Florida from catastrophic damage, damage to the islands of the Northern Bahamas was catastrophic. Bold City Church is just one of many churches, restaurants and businesses collecting supplies to send to the Bahamas. WINDWARD MARINA GROUP - ST. AUGUSTINETaking donations of marine engines -- be it outboard, inboard, gas or diesel -- solar panels, chargers, batteries and any miscellaneous marine hardware in working order. Just need to stop by the food truckRelief to Bahamas; Upchurch family coordinating (through a local charter company) a collection of donations for Bahamas. Scam artists will often times create a social media page right before they launch the donation campaign, so check to see how long they have been active.
BBB: Summer job employment scams target students
Read full article: BBB: Summer job employment scams target studentsThe BBB Scam Tracker has gotten reports of university emails being used to recruit students for fake job opportunities. Scam Tracker data from last year showed that employment scams are the riskiest for students and those between the ages of 18 and 24 with the median loss reported being $1,204. Before school is out for the summer, BBB wants to make sure that students have a firm grasp on the red flags for these scams so they don’t become victims. How the scam works:Scammers will post job advertisements seeking college students for various temporary positions. Recent BBB Scam Tracker reports state that the students have received spoofed emails from their institution advising them of job opportunities.