Your Better Business advises that scam artists are claiming affiliation with the Better Business Bureau as a means to gain your trust. Recent incidents reported nationwide include:
The Scam: Impostors visit businesses unannounced to falsely solicit BBB Accreditation and request access to company financial records.
The Facts: BBB representatives may contact businesses periodically by phone or email to update BBB Business Reviews, handle a complaint, or invite select businesses to apply for BBB Accreditation. BBB representatives do not request detailed financial information for any reason.
If This Happens to You: Do not provide company details or payment information to individuals who show up at your business promising BBB Accreditation. Contact your BBB and your local police department.
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The Scam: A BBB impersonator calls to inform you that you’ve won a sweepstakes but to obtain your millions you must first wire a handling fee.
The Facts: The BBB does not operate sweepstakes and will never ever ask you to wire money.
If This Happens to You: Hang up the phone and do not wire money. Report the incident to both your BBB and your local police department.
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The Scam: An email purportedly from the BBB requests verification and validation of BBB business ratings.
The Facts: The BBB is not conducting verification request nor does it issue emails in response to pending rating or review about you or your business.
If This Happens to You: Disregard the message and report any information received to your BBB.
If you feel you’ve been a victim of these or any other type of scam, please contact your Better Business Bureau at wynco.bbb.org.
About the BBB
The Better Business Bureau, founded in 1912, is a champion for ethics and trust in the marketplace. Only businesses that meet the high BBB standards are invited to become BBB Accredited Businesses. Today, 123 BBBs across the United States and Canada rate more than 4 million local and national businesses and charities with scores ranging from A to F. Only a BBB Accredited Business may elect to participate in BBBOnLine, one of the most trusted and recognized Internet seal programs in the world.
The BBB serving Northern Colorado and Wyoming topped 1.1 million instances of service to consumers in the past 12 months. These services include reliability reports on local companies and charities, access to companies that can be trusted by industry, help with dispute resolution, and trustworthy information on consumer and business topics.
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Luanne Kadlub, BBB media relations manager, 970-488-2044 lkadlub@wynco.bbb.org