In recent weeks BBB’s across the country have fielded hundreds of calls from consumers regarding door-to-door salespeople selling, upgrading, or ‘checking on’ residential alarm systems. Six different business names and/or affiliations have been reported: Stryke Alarm, LLC, Vision Security, Pinnacle Security, LLC, Honeywell, GE Securities, and Devcon Security.

One customer, in the state of Washington, reported that a salesperson used high-pressure tactics to gain access to their home and deceived them with a ‘free’ offer that came with a $300 installation fee and 60 month service contract.

BBB of Southern Arizona cautions consumer that representatives are not always truthful and may use well known, legitimate company names in order to gain your trust.

If you encounter a door-to-door salesperson, BBB offers the following tips to stay safe and confident:

• Always think safety first. If you’re home alone and don’t recognize the person, don’t open the door. If they are a legitimate company, they will leave a brochure or business card.
• Be aware that because you have a security sign or other type of sign in your yard, you could be a target for this type of unethical selling practices.
• Always, always check with your own security company, or other company, first. You can even ask the sales representative to wait outside while you do. If they are telling the truth, why would they mind waiting?
• Scare tactics may not work on everyone but they can on our senior citizens and others who have no one to turn to for advice. If you believe this type of business practice is happening in your neighborhood, please call the police and let them know. At least there will be a record on file.
• Tell your Neighborhood Watch if there is one established. BBB can come out and speak to your group on this matter and other scams to advise you of the red flags to be aware of.
• Finally, if there will be any changes to your service you will be contacted by your company. You won’t hear this information from someone who knocks at your door, and especially someone who tries to scare you. Try and remember the name of the company the person is representing and file a complaint with BBB. Trust and truth in the marketplace is all of our responsibility.

If you have any questions about door-to-door sales or scams, call (520)888-5353 or visit www.tucson.bbb.org.

May 20-26 is National Small Business Week and a time to celebrate the growing business demographic in our country. Entrepreneurs and small business owners are the backbone of the U.S. economy: 60 to 80 percent of the new jobs in the country are created by the approximately 27.2 million small businesses in the U.S.

It is estimated that over half of Americans either own or work for a small business. In honor of National Small Business Week, Better Business Bureau of Southern Arizona is encouraging small business owners to take advantage of the many resources for small businesses from BBB and from the Federal Trade Commission:

BBB Code of Business Practices

The BBB Code of Business Practices represents sound advertising, selling and customer service practices that enhance customer trust and confidence in business. Even for businesses that are not BBB Accredited, this Code should be a roadmap for creating and managing an ethical business.

BBB Code of Advertising

100 years ago, BBB was founded on the principles of truth in advertising, which rests first and foremost with the advertiser. All BBBs review local ads, and BBB’s New York office reviews national ads. The BBB Code of Advertising lays out principles, definitions and suggestions for ethical advertising that all businesses can adopt.

BBB Data Security – Made Simpler
With data breaches becoming all too common in the news, BBB partnered with data security experts at Symantec Corporation, Visa Inc., Kroll’s Fraud Solutions and NACHA – The Electronic Payments Association to produce free, easy-to-understand data security guidelines, with checklists and links to data security resources for small businesses. BBB’s Data Security – Made Simpler arms small business owners with the information they need to protect their customers and their business. For more information, visit www.bbb.org/data-security.

BBB Tips on Direct Selling
BBB and the Direct Selling Education Foundation partnered to create a series of articles, videos and PSAs to educate direct sellers, their customers and even those considering a career path in direct selling. Free tips and advice you can trust on direct selling are available at www.bbb.org/us/dsef-tips.

Federal Trade Commission
Wondering what kind of proof you need to back up the claims in your ads? Planning on using email to publicize your company? Thinking about buying a franchise or business opportunity? Concerned about your legal obligation to keep information secure? The FTC has free resources on best practices for complying with the law, many of which you can order in bulk for your employees at no charge. Written with a minimum of legalese, the FTC offers online tutorials, videos, and more than 100 to-the-point publications created with the small business owner in mind: http://ftc.gov/bcp/business.shtm

More advice for small business owners can be found online from BBB at www.tucson.bbb.org/Business-Resources and for more information on National Small Business week, visit www.nationalsmallbusinessweek.com.

Want to know how not to become a victim of a scam? Better Business Bureau of Southern Arizona advises consumer to just say “no.”

Sounds easy enough. And it should be. But every day thousands of consumers do just the opposite. A few examples:

• A supposed telemarketing or survey call begins with the question: “Are you over age 18?” “Yes, of course.” You’ve just given the caller permission to take advantage of you.
• A rich widow in an African country wants to share her inherited wealth with you. “Yes!” you respond, not hesitating a second in providing your bank account number so she can deposit the funds.
• You spot the car of your dreams online for a fraction of the cost you’ve seen it elsewhere. The out-of-state seller instructs you to wire the funds and the car will be shipped. “Yes!” you respond, counting the days until the convertible arrives.

Maybe you recognized yourself in one of these scenarios, or perhaps there are others that tripped you up, such as the out-of-town contractor who left mid-job with your money or the phishing email that, as it turns out, wasn’t from your bank after all.

“Just say ‘no,’” says Larry D. Newman, a former Secret Service agent and retired senior director of corporate security for Western Union. Newman advises consumers to do what he and his wife do.

“When we get a call and they ask if we’re over age 18, we hang up.” In fact, any question that aims to solicit a “yes” is instead answered by a click.  Never – ever! – say “yes” to anyone you don’t know who calls, emails or sends a letter, he advises.

And by saying “no,” Newman adds, you effectively eliminate one of three requirements for any scam to be successful: the scammer, a non-bank financial outlet (money-wire service, for example) and you.

Below are three additional situations that tend to trip up unsuspecting consumers with suggested actions from your BBB:

Scenario No. 1

With the political season heating up, you should be extra wary of the intended purpose of all those calls you get. Is it really a candidate’s survey about health care costs? Is it really an honest request for a campaign donation? Or is it a scammer sitting in Indonesia posing as a political volunteer?

What to do? Just say “no.” You can donate to the candidate on his or her website or even by snail mail, should you wish to do so.

Scenario No. 2

You get a phone call or email from your grandson who claims to have run into a bit of trouble overseas and needs you to wire $2,500 or some other amount to bail him out of jail, fix a rental car and/or acquire a new passport and plane tickets home. And, he pleads, don’t tell Mom or Dad.

What to do? Just say “no.” If you think it might really be your grandson or granddaughter or best friend from high school, contact that person’s immediate family or coworkers. It’s almost guaranteed they’ll tell you there is no cause for alarm.

Scenario No. 3

You receive a letter announcing that you’re the winner of a mega millions sweepstakes! To receive your winnings, you’re instructed to wire $29.99 to cover taxes and fees.

What to do? Just say “no.” Or rather, toss the letter along with the rest of your junk mail. If you choose to wire the $29.99 – what if this is the real deal, right? – the only thing that will come of it is that your address will be added to the mailing lists of numerous other sweepstakes scams.

And the scammer? If he gets enough people wiring him $29.99, $2,500 or $25,000, he’ll be able to purchase a fleet of luxury sedans and sports cars and not wince at paying full asking price. After all, they’ll look nice sitting in the driveways of his vacation villas scattered across the globe. Paid for, in part, by you.

And you? Don’t you wish you just said “no”?

For trustworthy consumer tips and information, visit www.tucson.bbb.org or call (520)888-5353.