Author Archives: virginiasmp

These tax scams may start with a phone call and take two primary forms. In the first version, the IRS “agent” says you owe back taxes and pressures you into paying with a prepaid debit card or wire transfer. If you don’t comply, the scammer threatens you with arrest and fines. (Read More)

Last year, Pittsburgh resident Molly Sinclair, 54, suddenly received ominous-sounding messages from two local banks where she’s a customer. One warned her that her account had been locked because of unusual activity, and instructed her to click a link in order to verify the transaction. The other simply said that her account was locked, andContinue reading “Bank Impersonation Is the Most Common Text Scam: What You Need to Know”

It was a common scam that ended with an uncommon outcome, tragically in an Ohio driveway.  William J. Brock fatally shot an Uber driver because he wrongly assumed she was part of a scheme to extract $12,000 in supposed bond money for a relative, authorities said this week. Lo-Letha Hall was a victim of the same con,Continue reading “What we know about the shooting of an Uber driver in Ohio and the scam surrounding it”

Impatient for your tax refund? It usually takes about 21 days to receive your refund after filing, but tax preparers are increasingly offering ways to get your funds immediately. Here are the pros and cons. Types of tax refund advances There are many different kinds of tax refund advances and promotional agreements. To help you makeContinue reading “BBB Tips on tax refund advances: What you should know “

You’ve surely received one (if not dozens) of these texts, noting that your U.S. Postal Service, UPS or FedEx delivery has been kept on hold because of an issue with your address, insufficient postage, or nobody was home to receive it. Just visit [a link will usually be included here] to provide more information, payContinue reading “Package Delivery Problem? Maybe Not. Americans Are Swamped With Scam Texts “

Health and wellness websites and apps collect a lot of personal and sensitive health information about their users. And they might make promises about how they’ll use and protect that data. If companies don’t honor those promises, it can lead to a serious breach of trust — and a lawsuit from the Federal Trade Commission.Continue reading “When companies share your personal information without your permission”

The bureau says scammers are sending texts telling drivers to pay up on toll road balances, and it contains a link saying there will be a late fee if not paid. The link then leads to a website impersonating transportation agencies, such as TXTtag. (Learn More)

BBB continues to receive reports to BBB Scam Tracker about these calls. Usually, the caller will hang up immediately after you respond to the question “Can you hear me?” However, some consumers say the calls can also be about banking, vacation packages, warranties, and even Medicare cards. The callers may be impersonating a business like your bank or anotherContinue reading “The “Can you hear me?” phone scam is still ringing (hint: Just hang up!)”

After scammers posing as ­federal agents convinced Alaina Weisman that her bank accounts had been compromised, she found herself feeding more than $11,000 in hundred-dollar bills into a cryptocurrency ATM inside a cannabis dispensary last October in Santa Fe, New Mexico. (Read More)