Secret shopper or mystery shopper scams usually arrive disguised as genuine job offers; recently, Better Business Bureau of Southern Arizona has been receiving inquiries from consumers who’ve received suspicious emails and letters from alleged “employers.”

With most mystery shopper job offer scams, cashiers’ checks and letters arrive in the mail.

“Congratulations! You have been selected as a mystery shopper for your area! Deposit the enclosed money order into your personal bank account and shop at the following stores … [large, well-known retailers] … rating your experience with customer service, product availability and cleanliness; wire-transfer the remaining balance back to company headquarters.”

A variation of overpayment scams, mystery shopper schemes leave depositors on the hook for the total amount when counterfeit checks ultimately bounce.

“When someone deposits a check, he or she is responsible for that check whether or not it is known that the check is a fake,” says Kim States, BBB President.

Employ caution when considering mystery shopper job opportunities and avoid offers that:

• Require upfront payments or money-wiring
• Lack verifiable contact information
• Contain unrealistic or unsubstantiated earnings claims

Visit www.tucson.bbb.org for more information on job scams

While there is no foolproof way to protect ourselves against all emerging technology-based scams, Better Business Bureau of Southern Arizona says consumers can arm themselves by understanding the two major objectives of online criminals: cheating people out of money and tricking them into divulging personal information to commit identity theft.

The evolving methods used by cybercriminals are becoming increasingly sophisticated.  However, consumers’ two most powerful tools are research and skepticism.

The most common Internet scams to cheat consumers involve obtaining credit card information and getting them to send money by wire transfer.  This type of fraud occurs in general merchandising by phony or lookalike websites, predatory offers such as credit-repair services, friendship swindles, fake check scams using online auctions and classified ads and requests for upfront payment to receive supposed lottery prizes and work-at-home kits.

The second category of cybercrime involves coaxing consumers to reveal personal information, including their Social Security number, date of birth, address and telephone numbers. This is done by sending out authentic-looking emails supposedly from government agencies, retailers, financial institutions and other businesses.   These emails typically contain hyperlinks that lead to online forms requesting personal information or download malicious software that can steal login information or passwords.

BBB offers the following recipe to stay ahead of cybercriminals:

Research before revealing – Research unfamiliar retailer and charity websites at www.tucson.bbb.org before entering a credit card number.

Be wary of unsolicited emails – Government agencies, credit card companies and banks will never ask for personal information such as a Social Security or Medicare number through email.   In addition, when you receive a link to a “special deal” or coupon through a social network site, type in the Internet address yourself.  A link’s true destination may be hidden, take you to a lookalike website or download malware onto your computer.

Use secure payment methods – Never send money by wire transfer to someone you don’t know.  Use a credit card, online payment system or escrow service to pay for auction or classified ad items.

Beware of overpayment checks – Cybercriminals use scams that involve sending a legitimate-looking check and asking that the monetary difference be returned by wire transfer.  Though the check may initially be accepted for deposit at a bank, it may take several days to bounce, resulting in the loss of the wired money and penalties.

Be selfish with personal information – Social media sites encourage sharing; however, avoid sharing your birth date, address and other information that may be used to help put together a profile that can be used to steal your identity.  Check the privacy settings for your profile and considering hiding your profile unless you approve a friendship/contact request.

Practice safe computing – Don’t use short passwords, or the same password for multiple sites.  Passwords should contain a variety of upper and lower case letters and digits or characters.  Ensure your computer anti-virus software and operating system are up to date with the latest security updates and run malware scans on a weekly basis.

There is no telling what new online threats lurk around the corner, however, common sense and an abundance of caution go a long way towards protecting yourself from online crime.

This Mother’s Day, Better Business Bureau of Southern Arizona is warning consumers to be on the lookout for unscrupulous florists called “petal pushers,” placing bogus listings online, and in local phone directories.

If a consumer mistakenly calls a petal pusher, they’re transferred to an out-of-area telemarketer who takes the consumer’s order and forwards it to a local florist, while keeping a cut of the sale for themselves.

In past years, consumers have told BBB that their flower arrangement was either never delivered, or the wrong arrangement was delivered. In some cases consumers say that their credit card was charged more than they authorized.

The best way for consumers to avoid petal pushers is to order directly from a local florist or nursery, this way consumers can ensure that they’re getting what they ordered.

“If you’re ordering locally you know you have some recourse if your order isn’t up to your standards,” said Tony Sarah, Manager of Magic Garden Nursery and Landscape.

Sarah said another option for consumers looking to do something special for Mother’s Day is to visit a local florist or nursery in person.

“When you come in you can pick out a live plant,” he said. “That way you know what you’re getting, and there won’t be any unpleasant surprises.”

Here are some additional tips from BBB to help consumers steer clear of petal pushers:

• Ask family and friends for referrals to a florist or nursery they have used.
• Check to see if a florist is a BBB Accredited Businesses at www.tucson.bbb.org.
• If you find a florist or nursery from the phone book, look for a listing that includes a local address. When you call, ask for the directions to the store – if they hesitate or refuse, hang up.
• You can also ask for a guarantee. Most professional florists should have one.

For more tips, go to www.tucson.bbb.org or call (520)888-5353.