Author Archives: virginiasmp

As we approach Veterans Day, we thank our veterans for their service and sacrifice. But not everyone has a vet’s best interests in mind. Whether you left the service decades ago or you’re planning your transition to civilian life, scammers will try to get you to send money or share personal information. Scammers also wantContinue reading “Veterans and scams”

Are you thinking about traveling by air for a few days?  Before clicking the button to buy tickets, BBB recommends the following: (Read More)

If you get your political news from social media, you might have seen the following stories. At an event in Maui following the island’s deadly wildfires, President Joe Biden appeared to fall asleep. At a July 4 parade in Hempstead, New York, former vice president Mike Pence was apparently struck in the head with aContinue reading “11 Ways to Fight Election Misinformation”

Did you get a message from a “brand ambassador manager” for a national company wanting to pay you to promote their products online? It could be a scam…but how will you know?  If you’re an influencer or have lots of social media followers, scammers might target you with fake job offers aimed at getting yourContinue reading “Job scam targeting influencers”

Retired Florida firefighter Mike Coombs caught Covid twice during the pandemic and didn’t have trouble finding rapid tests. But someone thought he needed a test kit—lots of them, actually. Over 10 months, Coombs received more than 60 Covid test kits in the mail, charged to his Medicare ID number. He never asked for them andContinue reading “Free Covid Tests Are Back. Expect New Fraud Schemes to Follow”

The 2023 holiday shopping season promises to be an unpredictable one.  High inflation ratesand increased prices of consumer goods are already throwing a wrench into holiday shopping. Electronics, toys, and other products will be (or already are) in short supply, and retailers are struggling to staff up as the shopping season nears. (Read More)

Scammers are like viruses: They continually evolve in response to the latest news and trends, using them for new ways to separate us from our cash. These criminals “are so adaptable, they’re going to just follow the headlines,” says Amy Nofziger, director of fraud victim support for AARP. (Read More)

Protecting older adults is one of the FTC’s top priorities, and a new report to Congress tells how the agency tackled fraud, scams, and other issues affecting older adults over the last year. It’s been a busy year at the FTC, so what are some of the highlights? (Read More)

One minute last December Leslie Montgomery was a medieval warlord pillaging a nearby kingdom. The next she was a retiree drowning in a flood of confusing Medicare sales calls. The 75-year-old had been deeply immersed in her favorite free online game when a banner ad appeared warning her that she might be missing out onContinue reading “Medicare shoppers often face a barrage of unsolicited calls and aggressive ads”

Is there anything more frustrating than not being able to access your social media accounts? Scammers are betting there isn’t. Lately, 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. (Read More)