With over 14 years of experience in construction and painting, Chris and Alicia Traver- owners of Red Stag Painting in Tucson-decided it was time to go their own way, and start their own business. The Traver’s bring not only a wealth of experience to the industry, but a passion for color and design, and a wholehearted commitment to fostering trust between them and their clients.

BBB met with Alicia and Chris in Tucson to find out more about their passion for their craft, and to learn more about their philosophy on business and customer service.

Red Stag Painting is a BBB Accredited Business, and currently boasts an ‘A-’ rating with BBB- the highest rating a new business is eligible for.

Better Business Bureau of Southern Arizona is warning consumers of a scammer calling consumers offering a free Rosetta Stone English program, claiming all you have to do is pay the shipping.

A consumer was offered the “free Rosetta Stone English program” and agreed to pay the shipping charges. The caller was supposed to get back to the consumer to collect the shipping charges but never got that call. The call the consumer did get was from someone identifying themselves as an agent with US Citizenship and Immigration Services. The caller demanded that the consumer pay $800 for the Rosetta Stone program or they would be arrested and deported by an immigration officer.

BBB called the number, 909-939-4126 and spoke to the scammer, who was posing an immigration officer. As soon as he found out the BBB was calling, he hung up. We called the number again and there was a recording saying US Citizenship and Immigration Services, press one for English and two for Spanish. We pressed one, the phone was answered by a man saying “Justice Department, FBI, how can I help you?” When we started asking questions, he hung up.

This man is not working for the Justice Department, the FBI or the Citizenship and Immigration Services. He is using scare tactics to get people to pay $800 for the Rosetta Stone program.

Immigrants can be particularly vulnerable to these type of scams. There are language barriers, separation of family and friends, lack of understanding of US laws, fear of deportation, fear of law enforcement and cultural differences.

If you are interested in purchasing Rosetta Stone, go directly to the company, your local bookstore or your local computer software company. You can also check with your local library to see if they may have a copy you can check out.

Remember if it sound too good to be true, it probably is. If you have to pay anything at all, it’s NOT FREE. And never let anyone pressure you into giving them money for something that you think is not legitimate. If you or anyone you know has received a similar call, contact your local BBB and your local police department to report them.

Better Business Bureau of Southern Arizona is warning businesses and consumers of fraudulent solicitations from scam artists posing as real law firms online. The FBI says it has received numerous reports from legitimate attorneys who say their firms’ identities have been stolen online.

The FBI is asking that anyone who becomes aware of one of these fraudulent websites report them promptly to their state Bar Association, and to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.IC3.gov.

If you receive a suspicious solicitation from an attorney, BBB recommends consumers and businesses check their status with BBB by visiting, www.tucson.bbb.org/Find-Business-Reviews, and with the State Bar of Arizona by visiting www.azbar.org/findalawyer. Any attorney practicing in Arizona must register with the State Bar.

It’s also recommended that businesses and consumers use the contact information provided to them- by BBB or the State Bar- to contact the attorney to make sure they’re the same firm that initially solicited them.

For more business and consumers news and alerts, visit www.tucson.bbb.org.

UPDATE: BBB was contacted by a Tucson attorney who said that in addition to being registered with the State Bar, any Attorney soliciting business in Arizona must include the following disclosure in their solicitation:

“NOTICE: This email and its attachments may contain PRIVILEGED OR CONFIDENTIAL information and is intended only for the use of the specific individual to whom it is addressed. It may contain information that is privileged and confidential under state, federal and tribal law. This email is specifically covered by the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, 18 U.S.C. §2510-2521. This email may contain attorney-client privileged information or work product information and is intended only for the use of the individuals named herein. This information may be used or disclosed only in accordance with the law and you may be subject to penalties under the law for improper use or further disclosure of the information in this email and its attachments. If you have received this email in error, please immediately notify the person named above by reply email and then delete the original email. Thank you.“