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BBB Marketplace Survival Guide
Southern Illinois native, Sydney Waters, is the new Regional Director of Better Business Bureau in Cape Girardeau, Mo., and is responsible for outreach efforts in Eastern & Southwest Missouri & Southern Illinois.
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BBB's Safe Shopping Tips for Prime Day and Summer Sales
Posted Wednesday, July 10, 2024, at 2:45 PMShoppers love the deals they can snag during Prime Day (scheduled for July 16-17 this year), and many other major retailers join in on the trend around this time of year by offering mid-summer savings... -
BBB's Tips to Avoid Grandparent Scams
Posted Wednesday, July 3, 2024, at 10:41 AMYou might have heard of “phishing” phone calls or messages, where a scammer pretends to be someone from your bank, tech support or a government agency to get your personal info or money. But what happens when you get a scam call that seems like it’s from someone you know?... -
BBB's Tips For Pool Owners
Posted Wednesday, June 26, 2024, at 8:35 AMSwimming season has officially kicked off, and with some hotter-than-normal temperatures in the region lately, a dip in the pool sounds extra refreshing. If you're considering adding a backyard pool to your list of summer projects, research contractors carefully before taking the plunge... -
BBB's Tips for Older Adults and Caregivers
Posted Wednesday, June 19, 2024, at 3:49 PMThis June, Alzheimer’s Awareness Month, is a good time for older adults and their loved ones to take extra safeguards against scams and fraud... -
BBB's Rise in Phishing Scam Reports Skyrockets
Posted Wednesday, June 12, 2024, at 12:49 PMPhony emails, text messages and more: Phishing is one of the oldest and most common tactics scammers use to steal money and personal information from people. A new Better Business Bureau (BBB) study shows that phishing scam reports to BBB Scam TrackerSM nearly doubled last year, reaching a record high of over 9,000... -
BBB's Tips on Hiring and Working With HVAC Contractors
Posted Wednesday, June 5, 2024, at 12:29 PMSummer is on our doorstep, and the last thing you want is for the air conditioning to stop working in the middle of a sweltering day. Good HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) contractors are in high demand during the summer, so now is a great time to make sure everything is working and catch any potential problems before temperatures heat up... -
BBB's Tips on Shopping Safely for Sports Tickets
Posted Wednesday, May 29, 2024, at 10:32 AMSports fans have a lot to appreciate right now with the baseball, XFL and soccer seasons in full swing – but be on the lookout for counterfeits and scams when you buy tickets... -
BBB's Tips on Avoiding Toll Scams and Phishing
Posted Wednesday, May 22, 2024, at 2:27 PMA cross-country road trip is an American summer staple, but if you’re hitting the road this summer, make sure you keep track of your tolls. Better Business Bureau® (BBB®) has received reports of phishing text messages that impersonate road toll collection services to trick people into paying for fake outstanding tolls... -
BBB's Tips on Recovering From a Scam
Posted Wednesday, May 15, 2024, at 5:30 PMFiguring out what to do in the aftermath of a scam can be incredibly stressful. Better Business Bureau® (BBB®)'s new Scam Survival Toolkit can help guide survivors of scams through the recovery process... -
BBB's Tips for Finding a Lawncare Professional
Posted Wednesday, May 8, 2024, at 8:55 AMAs you start to spruce up your lawn for the summer, make sure you’re working with a trusted lawn care or landscaping service. A beautiful yard takes hard work, and sometimes you need to call in the professionals. Whether you’re looking for help with spring to-do's like yard cleanup, weed control or seeding or you have a bigger landscaping project in mind, it’s important to choose a lawn care professional carefully so you can trust that your yard is in good hands... -
BBB's Tips for Avoiding Financial Aid Scams
Posted Wednesday, May 1, 2024, at 2:20 PMWhile prospective college students await their highly anticipated acceptance letters this spring, they're also starting to think about finding financial aid. Some companies offer scholarship opportunities or help finding aid for a fee, but are they really the best option for students?... -
BBB's Digital Spring Cleaning Tips
Posted Wednesday, April 24, 2024, at 10:39 AMYou may be making plans to clean up the physical clutter in your house this spring, but what about the digital clutter on your phone or computer? Spring cleaning season is a great time to check in on your digital cleanliness. Keeping your phone, computer and other devices organized and secure helps ensure your important files are safe and easy to access. Bonus: Cleaning up old files also helps your devices run faster... -
BBB's Tips for Spring Home Improvement Projects
Posted Thursday, April 18, 2024, at 6:55 AMSpring weather might inspire you to get started on home improvement projects you couldn’t complete during the winter months – and hiring the right contractor is one of the most important things you can do to make sure your project goes smoothly... -
BBB's Tips for Buying a Car Online
Posted Wednesday, April 10, 2024, at 3:01 PMIf you’re looking to buy a car online, make sure you do your research first. BBB has received reports from consumers who have come across fake cars listed on online marketplaces, or even fake websites that imitate licensed sellers... -
BBB's Tips on Finding a Safe Summer Camp
Posted Thursday, April 4, 2024, at 7:19 AMAs you and your family plan for warmer weather and all the summer fun that comes with it, make sure you vet potential summer camps for your kids carefully. Summer camp is a safe environment for kids to develop social skills, grow a bit of independence and experience the outdoors. At a top-quality camp, parents should be able to trust the staff with their children's health and safety so everyone can focus on having a great summer... -
BBB's Tips to Avoid Test Prep Scams
Posted Wednesday, March 27, 2024, at 8:16 AMSAT and ACT scores are a big deal, and high school students and their families invest significant time and money into preparing for these college admissions tests. Scammers know this, and BBB has received reports of scammers taking advantage of students by tricking their families into paying for bogus SAT and ACT prep materials... -
BBB's Tips for Safely Enjoying the April 8th Solar Eclipse
Posted Wednesday, March 13, 2024, at 10:17 AMPlanning to go see the upcoming total solar eclipse? Be wary of scams when you're shopping for eclipse glasses and lodging. The path of totality for the April 8. 2024 solar eclipse will cut through southeastern Missouri and southern Illinois. Great American Eclipse estimates that 43-172 thousand people will travel to Missouri and 68-274 thousand people will travel to Illinois to see this rare event... -
BBB's Tips to Avoid Common Wedding Planning Pitfalls
Posted Wednesday, March 6, 2024, at 9:44 AMCouples who got engaged during the holidays are likely to spend spring in a whirlwind of wedding planning, attending wedding expos, bridal shows and consultations. The last thing anyone needs during this stressful wedding planning process is to deal with a business that can’t deliver on its promises... -
BBB's Tips to Keep Your Data Safe Online
Posted Wednesday, February 28, 2024, at 9:16 AMIt’s tough to keep track of your info in an increasingly connected world – but as we rely more on online services for daily activities, it’s more important than ever to be in control of your data... -
BBB's Tips for Spotting and Avoiding Rental Scams
Posted Wednesday, February 21, 2024, at 8:52 AMFinding a new place to live is stressful, and apartment hunting moves quickly. People looking for a new rental don’t always have time to do thorough research. Scammers try to take advantage of this by creating fake rental listings that use photos and descriptions stolen from real listings to look legitimate...
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