scam
BBB Scam Alert: PayPal impostors steal thousands from Texas residents
Innovations in payment processes have introduced a wide range of opportunities for legitimate businesses to market their products and services to a broad audience. The convenience and ease of peer-to-peer (P2P) payment applications provide a direct, cost-effective method to receive funds from customers for businesses of any size. However, unlike traditional financial institutions such as…
Read MoreAn Agenda for our Next President
Throughout our country’s history, we have offered opportunity and hope to all our citizens who are willing to work hard to attain a better life for themselves and their family. My working career spanned the period 1950 to 2000 and I had great opportunities, took everyone of them, worked hard and attained a life many…
Read MoreBBB Scam Alert: Texas employment scam reports in 2023 shatter five-year records
In quarter one of 2023 (January thru March), reports of employment scams to BBB Scam Tracker from Texas residents doubled, and money loss increased substantially compared to the typical rates Better Business Bureau (BBB) receives at the beginning of the year. The organization reminds jobseekers to be wary of fraudulent job postings, especially high-paying work-from-home…
Read MoreBBB Tip: Navigating the car-buying experience
Countless high school graduates are preparing for the next chapter of their lives in the coming months, whether entering the workforce, enrolling in college, or enlisting in the military. Regardless of their plans, most recent graduates require safe, reliable transportation, especially if they plan to move to an area with few mass transportation options. While…
Read MoreBBB Tip: Finding a Trustworthy Landscaper this Spring
The beginning of spring is just around the corner on Mar. 20 and as businesses and homeowners prepare for warmer weather, many are also preparing to begin seasonal projects. Whether focusing on the interior or exterior of their homes and businesses, BBB reminds Texas residents to research businesses carefully before contracting services for whatever improvement…
Read MoreBBB Scam Alert: Impostors steal billions from businesses and consumers since 2020
A key strategy of scammers is to build trust between themselves and their target. The more the victim trusts the scammer is legitimate, the more willing they are to divulge personal information or provide payment. To help establish trust or authority, con artists often impersonate a wide range of reputable businesses or government agencies through…
Read MoreBBB Tip: Top 5 Coastal Bend-Area Scams of 2022
In 2022, Coastal Bend-area consumers and businesses reported multiple scams to BBB, totaling $30,000 lost for the year. Across Texas, BBB received an average of 250 scam reports per month totaling $1.9 million lost for the year. While the tactics of scammers often shift to take advantage of marketplace trends, online shopping, employment and phishing…
Read MoreUnclaimed Property
Texas is currently holding about $7 billion in cash and other valuables waiting for their rightful owners to claim. The Texas Comptroller estimates that one in four residents of the State of Texas have unclaimed property. Examples of unclaimed property include dividend, payroll, or cashier’s checks; stocks, bonds, and mutual fund accounts; utility deposits and…
Read MoreBBB Tip: Buying a car online
The ability to purchase goods and services online has permanently changed how countless industries conduct business. The days of high-pressure sales tactics and price haggling are largely in the past, as online marketplaces allow buyers to comparatively shop for the best deal on the product they want across hundreds or thousands of sellers. Particularly when…
Read MoreDo the China protest demonstrations mean the end of communist rule?
There are more than 10,000 demonstrations in China each year. They are allowed if they don’t criticize the Party or Government. They usually are about local issues. The current demonstrations are different and more significant. They are nationwide and are about President XI Jinping’s zero-tolerance lock down of entire cities and provinces for COVID-19. President…
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