The new report, “Start With Trust Online: BBB Online Scams Report”, analyzes the changes in how scams are being perpetrated, including new information about impersonation and online purchase scams. The research is based on two things: analysis of reports submitted to the BBB Scam Tracker and a recent survey from July of 2022. Here’s Troy Baker, Better Business Bureau Serving Western Michigan Educational Foundation Director. says the big influx to doing business online of course grew once the pandemic hit.
“What we found in doing the research since then. Is that there wasn’t a shift back to more traditional means once things started to open back up. Scammers found that sweet spot online and they’re taking full advantage of it.”
Baker says and uptick of 87 percent rise in online scams is high. He says its due in part because consumers have become very comfortable with doing a lot of work online from banking to shopping.
“But at the same time, those phone scams we used to talk about, phone companies are doing a beter job of identifying them as potential scams. they’re doing a better job so they’ve shifted to the areas that are easier to get to people, and that’s online scams and those text messages.”
While online scams are on the rise… the tips to combat scams remain the same.
Baker says research before spending, use a credit card and remember if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
You can find more information at BBB.org.
