Heads up, Facebook users! Facebook never intends to create a way for a user to see who has viewed their profile. If an application claims to do so, do not trust it, Better Business Bureau of Southern Arizona warns.

Once you allow access, the app will begin posting on your page telling others to download the app. The app also has the potential to obtain personal information from your profile.

How the Scam Works:

Apps such as “Facebook Profile Viewer” and “Profile Visitor” are sending users messages stating that Facebook has a new update enabling them to see who has viewed their profile. If you click on the given link, you are asked to allow the app to have access to your profile.

Tips to Avoid Falling for this Scam:

• Review all of your installed Facebook applications periodically
• Always be cautious when allowing applications access to your profile
• Remember that Facebook will never enable users to see who has viewed their profile; any application claiming to do so is a scam.

More Information

For Facebook’s policy on these scams, see this entry on its Q&A.

For more information about scams in Southern Arizona and around the country, check out BBB’s complete scam directory.

Better Business Bureau complaints against Washington State-based companies VoodooMan Switches and Black Label Switches are resonating; musicians are sounding off about late or undelivered footswitches, pedals and acoustic equipment.

Most complainants also cite unreturned phone calls and emails after products are purchased from voodoomanswitches.com or blacklabelswitches.com.

Though VoodooMan Switches has been responsive to some BBB complaints, 40 of 53 complaints remain unanswered. To date, BBB serving Alaska, Oregon and Western Washington has recorded 261 inquiries on VoodooMan in 2012—surpassing the 221 inquiries received in 2011 and 156 in 2010. Black Label Switches has four unanswered complaints and 77 inquiries since April 2012.

While the equipment is the bait, the business name is the switch; James Britt is believed to be the owner of both companies.

When searching for amplifiers and other sound gear:

• Boost search efforts. Listen to other customers; research business names, Web addresses and phone numbers in search engines to read reviews.
• Turn down high volumes. Be wary if companies have excessive complaints.
• Listen to instincts. Missing licensing records and privacy policies are blaringly obvious turn-offs.
• Back-peddle. Hang on to order confirmations and pay by credit card, in case purchases need to be disputed.

Sound off if it doesn’t seem right. Voice complaints at bbb.org, ftccomplaintassistant.gov and ic3.gov.

Better Business Bureau of Southern Arizona is warning businesses of misleading invoices being mailed to companies all over the country- including Southern Arizona- by an Ontario, California-based company, US Telecom (UST).

The invoices are actually solicitations for USTs services, but appear to be standard invoices, billing companies $425 for services rendered. Nowhere on the solicitation does UST disclose that the invoice is actually a solicitation.

It is against U.S. Postal Service regulations to mail a bill or invoice that is actually a solicitation, unless it bears a clear disclaimer that such unsolicited invoice is for information only and not a request to pay.

The U.S. Postal Service requires solicitations that look like invoices, bills, or account statements to carry one of the following notices:

1. “THIS IS NOT A BILL. THIS IS A SOLICITATION. YOU ARE UNDER NO OBLIGATION TO PAY THE AMOUNT STATED ABOVE UNLESS YOU ACCEPT THIS OFFER.”

2. “THIS IS A SOLICITATION FOR AN ORDER OF GOODS OR SERVICES, OR BOTH, AND NOT A BILL, INVOICE OR STATEMENT OF ACCOUNT DUE. YOU ARE UNDER NO OBLIGATION TO MAKE ANY PAYMENTS ON ACCOUNT OF THIS OFFER UNLESS YOU ACCEPT THIS OFFER.”

UST has accrued 461 consumer complaints with the Los Angeles BBB in the past year, including 182 unanswered complaints. In September, 2011 the Los Angeles BBB conducted an Advertising Review on USTs solicitations and requested that the company include a Disclosure Statement to let businesses know that the mailer is a solicitation.

BBB also requested U.S. Telecom alter the composition and layout of the solicitation so that businesses wouldn’t confuse it with an invoice. U.S. Telecom did not respond to either of BBB’s requests.

In February the North Dakota Attorney General’s Office filed a Cease and Desist order against U.S. Telecom, and its principal, David Bell, for “engaging in unlawful acts or practices” by mailing businesses solicitations that could “reasonably be interpreted” as a bill or invoice.

BBB encourages businesses in southern Arizona that receive or mistakenly pay this invoice to file a complaint with the Arizona Attorney General’s office at http://www.azag.gov/AllComplaints.

BBB tips for avoiding invoice scams:

• The best protection against phony invoices is knowledge and vigilance- never pay a bill unless you’re sure you have a service agreement or contract with that company.
• Businesses should alert its accounts payable department to be on the lookout for disguised solicitations
• Carefully review invoices from companies you do not normally do business with
• Establish effective internal controls for the payment of invoices, and verify all invoices with the person who gave authorization

For more information on scams affecting businesses or to sign up for our free business newsletter visit www.tucson.bbb.org.