As consumers, we certainly want to avoid being scammed. But, that is not always a simple task. Thus, we present several tips to avoid being deceived.
First, take a look at these posts about bad company practices:
- Are YOU Buying These Scam Products?
- Professions Perceived as Most Ethical – and Most Unethical
- World’s Leading Ethical Companies
- Stronger FTC Influencer Marketing Rules
- Misleading Marketing
- Impact of Company Ethics on Consumer Behavior
“In 2017, online buying scams represented the biggest type of consumer fraud, according to the BBB. Up from fourth place a year earlier. And the rise of digital shopping and growing comfort with sharing personal information online cause this growing category of fraud.”
Avoid Being Scammed
Annually, the Better Business Bureau presents a scam tracker risk report:
Last year, what was the most common marketplace scam of the year? And which scams inflicted the most financial damage to consumers? The BBB Scam Tracker Annual Risk Report provides insight into the top scams. These include risk ratings from the new BBB Scam Risk Index. It provides a three-dimensional measure of scam risk. In sum, the measure encompasses exposure, susceptibility, and monetary loss. Thus, this report can aid [consumers], policymakers, enforcement agencies, consumer groups, and academic researchers.”
BBB Scam Tracking Resources
The BBB provides three free resources regarding scams and how to avoid them.
(1) The Scam Tracker:
“In 2015, BBB Scam Tracker(c) was developed to address a need for an easy-to-use online tool to report scams in real time. Using consumer reports, this online tool collects and shares timely data that shed light on scams. As well as who’s the target, which scams have the most impact, etc. A healthy marketplace needs empowered and aware consumers. In addition to principled businesses that proactive work to stop scammers. Scam Tracker provides the crowdsourced information to make this possible.”
Click the image to access the Scam Tracker.
(2) The Scam Tracker Annual Risk Report:
“Marketplace scams represent a $50 billion drain on our economy. This robs consumers and legitimate businesses alike. Scams negatively impact one in four households and one in five individuals each year. Scammers masquerade as trusted brands, eroding consumer confidence in the marketplace. The continued fight against scams is critical to limiting the financial and emotional damage to victims. And to restoring consumer confidence in honest businesses so the marketplace can prosper.”
Click the image to access the most recent 48-page annual scam risk report.
(3) The Voices of Scam Victims:
“The personal stories of scam victims that bring home the human dimension of scams. And the BBB Scam Tracker database provides consumers’ stories in their own words. Thus, these stories provide valuable insights into the psychology of scammers and their victims.”
To see 10 scam examples, click the image.
