Your Moment of Trust
A Podcast by BBB of the Tri-Counties: A BIG thank you to Ayers Automotive Repairs in Santa Barbara for Supporting this Podcast! Welcome to this week’s edition of Your Moment of Trust! A new text message scam seems so innocent that it’s tempting to reply. But con artists are using phony “wrong number” texts to lure victims into conversation and falling for a scam. How the scam works You receive a text that reads something like this: “Hey is this John? It’s Amanda. We chatted on Tinder before when I came to visit my cousin but we never met irl. I’m back in town if you want...
info_outline How Much to Tip...Your Moment of Trust
A Podcast by BBB of the Tri-Counties: http A BIG thank you to in Santa Barbara Welcome to this week’s edition of Your Moment of Trust! The end of the year is a time to show appreciation for those who provide necessary services and little luxuries in your daily life. But this year, the increased cost of goods and services means you may need to pay extra attention to your tipping budget. Even if you are limited in what you can give, there’s no need to feel uncomfortable. A little extra thoughtfulness can go a long way. Determining who to tip and how...
info_outline Choosing the Perfect Gifts for your PetsYour Moment of Trust
A Podcast by BBB of the Tri-Counties: https://www.bbb.org/local-bbb/bbb-of-the-tri-counties A BIG thank you to Ayers Automotive Repair for supporting this podcast! https://www.ayersrepairs.com Welcome to this week’s edition of Your Moment of Trust! Even with inflation worries this holiday season, most pet owners still plan on spoiling their fur babies with holiday gifts. According to a poll by Chewy in 2022 (Chewy is a BBB Accredited Business), more than 90% of pet owners include their pets on their holiday shopping list, and another study shows that giving to pets makes people happy....
info_outline Sticking to your Holiday BudgetYour Moment of Trust
A Podcast by BBB of the Tri-Counties A BIG thank you to Ayers Automotive Repair for supporting this podcast. https://www.ayersrepairs.com Welcome to this week’s edition of Your Moment of Trust! Supply chain problems, shipping delays, and inflation can make it even tougher to create and stick to a budget during the holidays. This meansthat planning ahead and knowing your sp ending limits are more important than ever. How can you build a holiday budget that will cover buying for everyone on your list while keeping you out of debt? BBB recommends the following steps for...
info_outline Sports Memorabilia Scams (Warnings from BBB)Your Moment of Trust
Welcome to this week’s edition of Your Moment of Trust! When shopping for a team jersey or other sports memorabilia, Watch out for fakes. Scammers know that authentic game-used and/or autographed items can fetch big bucks – especially for items commemorating big games. When shopping online, it can be hard to trust that a seller or product is genuine. Follow these tips when buying sports memorabilia: “Game-used” items are highly sought after. Buyers prize items that saw action on the court or field as valuable parts of sports history. Consumers should be aware that there is a...
info_outline BBB's Holiday Tips on Scoring Hard to Find ItemsYour Moment of Trust
Welcome to this week’s edition of Your Moment of Trust! National experts are predicting an increase in spending this holiday season. There is also a concern if many of the items on consumers' holiday lists will be available on the shelf or online and are faced with the disappointing words: “Sorry, this item is currently out of stock.” That’s especially true when there are challenges with supply chains. But does that mean the words “out of stock” are the end of the line? Not at all. With a little determination and some creative thinking, the item might be found and purchased....
info_outline Class Action Lawsuit Scams to Watch Out For!Your Moment of Trust
A podcast by A BIG thank you to in Santa Barbara for supporting this podcast! Welcome to this week’s edition of Your Moment of Trust! You’ve likely heard ads on the TV or radio about the Camp Lejeune class action lawsuit for U.S. military veterans and their families exposed to tainted water at the camp. Marketing agencies and law firms spent over $40 million advertising the lawsuit. Now, scammers are jumping on board too, hoping all the media attention makes it easier to trick people, especially military personnel, into falling for common scam tactics. How the scam...
info_outline Beware of Holiday Job Scams!Your Moment of Trust
A Podcast by A BIG Thank you to for Supporting this Podcast Welcome to this week’s edition of Your Moment of Trust! Retailers and shippers traditionally hire seasonal workers to fulfill holiday shoppers' demands, whether online or in person. These jobs are a great way to make extra money, sometimes with the possibility of turning into a long-term employment opportunity. However, they are sometimes not all that they seem. When looking for something part-time or to fill the gap until a better opportunity comes, the Better Business Bureau has some suggestions to make the seasonal job...
info_outline ZOMBIE DEBT...Don't Let it Come Back to HAUNT YOU!Your Moment of Trust
A Podcast by BBB of the Tri-Counties: A BIG thank you to Ayers Automotive Repair in Santa Barbara, for supporting this podcast. Welcome to this week's edition of Your Moment of Trust! Zombie debt is defined as debt that has been “raised from the dead,” so to speak. It could even be something you never owed at all. When a person doesn’t pay a debt, the lender will take action – by phone, letter, or even a court case – to collect the money they are owed. In some cases, though, the debtor simply can’t pay or can’t be found. In other cases, the debtor files...
info_outline Did you Make this Purchase? DON'T ANSWER THIS TEXT!Your Moment of Trust
This Podcast is Brought to you by A BIG thank you to of Santa Barbara for supporting this podcast! Welcome to this week’s edition of Your Moment of Trust! One of scammers' favorite tactics is impersonating a person or organization you know and trust. That's the premise of this new text message scam, which has been popping up in recent BBB Scam Tracker reports. This time, con artists are impersonating your bank. How the scam works You receive a text message that looks like a fraud alert from your bank. It claims there is some unusual activity in your...
info_outlineA podcast by BBB of the Tri-Counties A BIG thank you to Ayers Automotive Repair in Santa Barbara for supporting this podcast!
Welcome to this week’s edition of Your Moment of Trust! You’ve likely heard ads on the
TV or radio about the Camp Lejeune class action lawsuit for U.S. military veterans and
their families exposed to tainted water at the camp. Marketing agencies and law firms
spent over $40 million advertising the lawsuit. Now, scammers are jumping on board
too, hoping all the media attention makes it easier to trick people, especially military
personnel, into falling for common scam tactics.
How the scam works
You receive an email or phone call telling you you qualify for compensation for the
Camp Lejeune class action lawsuit. The email may claim you are entitled to tens of
thousands of dollars. You need to click a link or call a number to get your compensation.
For example, one recent target told BBB Scam Tracker: “[The caller] said they were
representing Camp Lejeune and needed information about my brother who served in
the military. Since he died years ago from cancer, they said I had $5,000,000 waiting in
compensation from the Marines.”
From here, the scam takes several different forms. Clicking the link could download
malware onto your computer or mobile device, putting you at risk for identity theft. In
other versions, scammers direct you to a website with a form that asks for personal
information. In yet another variation, the scammers are after your money and personal
details. They claim you need to pay an upfront fee, so they can file your case and
receive your money. If you pay them, they’ll continue to ask for more “filing fees” until
you become suspicious. As soon as you realize the con, the scammer will disappear
with your information and money.
How to avoid class action lawsuit scams
● Don't believe in promises of quick cash with minimal effort. Scammers love to
promise that fast cash is in your immediate future. The reality is even
well-deserved compensation will take time to receive. It’s worth noting, too, that
veterans who served at Camp Lejeune can apply for VA disability compensation
and health care benefits without filing a lawsuit or getting help from a lawyer.
● Never click on links in suspicious emails. Be wary of unsolicited emails in
general. Please don’t click on the links they contain, as they could lead you to
fake websites or download malware onto your computer.
● Stay alert to variations of this scam. Emails aren’t the only way scammers may
try to contact you about this and other class action lawsuits. Keep your eye out
for similar scams sent via text messages, phone calls, or even mail.
● If you think you deserve compensation, apply through official channels. Visit
VA.gov/CampLejeune for official information on how to apply for compensation.
You can file for disability compensation online and learn what steps to take to file
a Camp Lejeune lawsuit.
● Only work with reputable representatives. If you are ready to file a claim or
appeal and need help, don’t settle for working with the first lawyer who pops up
on a TV ad. Instead, do thorough research before choosing a legal representative. Get to know all your options, including working with an accredited attorney or a Veterans Service Officer (VSO).
Until next time!