Your Moment of Trust

A Podcast by BBB of the Tri-Counties: https://www.bbb.org/local-bbb/bbb-of-... Welcome to this week's edition of Your Moment of Trust! If your goal is to lose weight, get in better shape, or improve your overall health, deciding to join a gym may be the first step. However, don't just sign up at the first gym you see or visit. Before signing on the dotted line, research all options first! Get the...

BBB of the Tri-Counties: https://www.bbb.org/local-bbb/bbb-of-... Sponsored by Ayers Repairs in Santa Barbara: https://www.ayersrepairs.com BBB recommends adding a few precautionary steps to the New Year's resolution list, along with the weight loss and financial goals, to help make the upcoming days and months fraud-free. ● I resolve to be cautious with email. Be wary of unsolicited emails from a...

A podcast by BBB of the Tri-Counties https://www.bbb.org/local-bbb/bbb-of-... Sponsored by Ayers Automotive Repairs in Santa Barbara https://ayersrepairs.com Everyone loves a good deal, and scammers know it. Counterfeit coupons are a popular way for scammers to steal your identity and money. Motives and methods vary, but phony coupons often mean serious losses for retailers, consumers, or both. Ho...

SPECIAL EDITION!!   Richard Copelan, President of BBB of the Tri-Counties and Deputy District Attorney Vicki Johnson from the County of Santa Barbara  join forces and interview each other!   Vicki asks Richard about BBB's Scam Tracker:   Richard informs us that the new and improved BBB Scam Tracker was recently rebuilt with the help of Capital One & Amazon and dexcribes how it can be used to searc...

Brought to you by BBB of the Tri-Counties:  Welcome to this week's edition of Your Moment of Trust! When the holiday season rolls around, many shoppers turn to online seller platforms to find unique, handmade gifts for their friends and family. Scammers have taken note, and according to recent BBB ScamTracker reports, they're targeting shoppers with a not-so-unique scam. These recent reports say t...

Brought to you by BBB of the Tri-Counties ( https://www.bbb.org/local-bbb/bbb-of-... ) The Better Business Bureau® is partnering with Amazon to drive an education campaign aimed at helping consumers spot impersonation scams during this holiday season (BBB.org/ImpersonationScams). This scam tactic occurs when a scammer pretends to be a trustworthy organization or individual to steal a person's mone...

A Podcast by BBB of the Tri-Counties: https://www.bbb.org/local-bbb/bbb-of-... Wireless technologies such as Bluetooth® and Wi-Fi have forever changed the way people not only interact with one another, but also how they complete day to day activities such as shopping, researching, banking, eating, and communicating. The more everyone is online, the more there are opportunities for hackers to get i...

A Warning from BBB of the Tri-Counties ( https://www.bbb.org/local-bbb/bbb-of-... ) Welcome to this week's edition of Your Moment of Trust! Some consumers have recently been getting text messages stating a major delivery carrier needs them to"update delivery preferences" on a package by clicking on a link. The problem? The text is a scam, and the link results in the theft of personal information....

A Podcast by BBB of the Tri-Counties; https://www.bbb.org/local-bbb/bbb-of-the-tri-counties Advent calendars have become a fixture of the holiday season. Once a religious tradition for children, these calendars are now big business. They are targeted at all ages and contain anything from luxury beauty products to Lego sets to a variety of wines. With so many options, some costing hundreds of dolla...

BBB of the Tri-Counties podcast: The BBB Institute for Marketplace Trust (BBB Institute) is partnering with Amazon and Capital One to help people learn about scams, report them, and avoid losing money and/or personal information by enhancing the capabilities of the BBB Scam Tracker online reporting tool. The new features make it easier for consumers to identify scams and report them while arming p...

A Podcast by BBB of the Tri-Counties: Fake gaming app ads have become rampant in recent years. They may feature videos that have little (or nothing) to do with the actual gameplay. Or make misleading claims like, "If you score 400, you can go to Disneyland." Game manufacturers run these ads because that's what gets clicks and downloads. But the practice has resulted in many frustrated gamers, who...

BBB of the Tri-Counties Podcast, Your Moment of Trust: Welcome to this week's edition of Your Moment of Trust! The 2022 holiday shopping season promises to be an unpredictable one. High inflation rates and 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 struggli...

A Podcast by Better Business Bureau of the Tri-Counties: Consumers are gearing up to celebrate Halloween. The National Retail Federation expects people will spend $10.6 billion, up from $10.1 billion in 2021. Among Halloween celebrants, 67 percent plan to buy candy, 51 percent plan to purchase decorations, and 47 percent will get costumes. Those numbers can seem daunting for a single day, especial...

This episode by BBB of the Tri-Counties reports about various scam types perpetrated online So far in 2022, scams perpetrated online are more prevalent (55%) than other delivery methods, with a higher percentage of people losing money when targeted (75%). When breaking out scams perpetrated via phone with a monetary loss, scams perpetrated via text message rose from 11% in 2015 to 30% in 2022. Sca...

A Podcast by BBB of the Tri-Counties New technology makes it nearly impossible to tell fake video or audio clips from real ones. Now, as the software used to create these "deepfakes" becomes more widespread, scammers are using it to steal money and sensitive information. What is a deepfake? Deepfakes use artificial intelligence technology to create a seemingly real video or audio clip that mimics...

Brought to you by BBB of the Tri-Counties: Welcome to this week's edition of Your Moment of Trust. If you want solar panels, be very careful when evaluating installation offers. Con artists use misleading sales tactics and outright lies to trick homeowners out of money and personal information. If you've received an offer for "free solar panels," it's likely a scam. In this episode, you'll learn w...

Brought to you by BBB of the Tri-Counties: Welcome to this week's Your Moment of Trust! Even before the pandemic, the United States had a shortage of qualified contractors. Canada also faced a similar situation. However, the COVID-19 pandemic and supply chain issues have made hiring for home remodel and repair projects even harder - and it's likely to get worse. What's a homeowner to do? In this e...

A Warning from BBB of the Tri-Counties: Cannabidiol (CBD), an active ingredient of cannabis, is now legal in many US states and Canadian provinces. If youwant to try it, watch out for scams. BBB Scam Tracker received dozens of reports from frustrated consumers who thought they bought discounted CBD online but ended up with hundreds of dollars in credit card charges.  Don't miss this important epis...

Older adults are often targeted by con artists. Many victims don't ask for help until it is too late! Help your friends, family, clients, or patients avoid fraud by knowing the signs of current or impending fraud. Brought to you by BBB of the Tri-Counties and sponsored by Ayers Automotive Repair .

From BBB of the Tri-Counties:   While Covid-19 attendance restrictions have been lifted, schools are still streaming games. Unfortunately, the scammers have followed. The scammers' goal is to capture personal information, including credit card and Social Security numbers, as fans log in to watch their team play. How the scam works: You want to watch the local high school's football game, or your n...

Tips to Keep Kids Safe from BBB of the Tri-Counties :  As your children head back to school this year, buying new supplies and clothes is not enough. In this podcast the BBB gives tips on how to help them stay safe online and avoid being easy targets for online scammers.  A BIG thank you to Ayers Automotive Repairs in Santa Barbara for sponsoring this podcast.  

BBB of the Tri-Counties reminds us that owning a pet can bring your family much joy, but taking care of a dog, cat, or other animal comes with significantcosts too. Unfortunately, this year, many pet owners have found themselves in a heartbreaking situation, forced to give up their pets for financial reasons. If you are thinking about taking home an adorable furry friend, it's wise to check your b...

Electric bicycles— or e-bikes –allow riders to go farther and faster than a standard bicycle. Riding an e-bike instead of driving a car can help you lower your carbon footprint, save on gas money, and stay active. E-bikes come in many models and price ranges, so finding the right one for your needs requires research. BBB recommends the tips in this episode to help you pick the right e-bike. https:...

Airline travel is back in full swing, but scammers are taking advantage of increased flight cancellations with a new con. BBB Scam Tracker has received multiple reports of scammers creating fake airline ticket booking sites or customer service numbers to charge travelers for rescheduling fake flights. If you are buying airfare, use caution and double-check the URL or phone number before providing...

If your driveway needs paving or repairs, don't trust just anyone to do the job. BBB Scam Tracker has numerous reports of unscrupulous contractors who trick homeowners with supposedly good deals. Homeowners end up with shoddy pavement -- or nothing at all -- to show for what they paid and, in some cases, have lost over $8,000 in the process. In this episode you'll learn how the scam works and how...