BBB Tip of the Week: Four hot scams

Four hot scams

What scams are heating up with the summer weather? With our ears to the ground, we at the BBB are hearing about:

• FW: Your Photos email

Despite the BBB’s strong security, I’m getting daily email about “Fw: Your Photos.” Inside it says “Hi, Your Photos” or “Good Day Your Photos,” and gives a link for me (NOT) to click on. The links go to different websites and the emails are from: mehrdad@starmarino.net, richard@ kellak.com and enzo@saltek.com.

The links all start with http:// instead of the safer https://. Please delete emails …

Four hot scams

What scams are heating up with the summer weather? With our ears to the ground, we at the BBB are hearing about:

• FW: Your Photos email

Despite the BBB’s strong security, I’m getting daily email about “Fw: Your Photos.” Inside it says “Hi, Your Photos” or “Good Day Your Photos,” and gives a link for me (NOT) to click on. The links go to different websites and the emails are from: mehrdad@starmarino.net, richard@ kellak.com and enzo@saltek.com.

The links all start with http:// instead of the safer https://. Please delete emails like this or forward to www.ic3.gov, the FBI’s Internet Crime Center.

• Scams misusing the BBB name

We’ve been plagued with emails claiming to contain “Urgent Information From the BBB.” The recent fakes are quite good – they use correct grammar and follow formats often used in legitimate BBB communications. However, if you move your cursor over the Web address you will see that the URL is not from the BBB at all. Don’t click the link – it downloads a virus to your computer.

The BBB is working with a professional deactivation service to take down malware websites, and the FBI has been notified.

• Misleading home energy audits

Is it a scam if someone talks you into paying for a service you can also obtain for free? Some insulation companies claim to be “working on behalf of the government” and offer to do an energy audit for you for $50. They then try to sell you insulation. However, your own energy company will usually do a free energy audit for you. So unless you feel that the service is worth paying for …

• Free cruises that aren’t

Nationally, consumers report that political opinions pollsters are calling them saying that if they complete a short survey, they’ll win a lovely “free” cruise that has so many fees and conditions attached they are basically selling you a cruise.

For more information or to report scams, visit www.bbb.org or call (509) 455-4200 or (800) 356-1007. Sign up to receive our Scam Alerts at www.bbb.org/scam.

Holly Doering | BBB Editor