As students across the state are on their way back to school, many of them will carry cell phones, iPads, iPods, laptops and other electronic devices everywhere from the classroom to the car. Better Business Bureau reminds students and their parents to talk about ways to keep electronics and personal information out of the wrong hands.

College campuses, cafeterias, local hang outs and even classrooms can be an easy target for those looking to “score” expensive electronic devices. Not only can thieves steal your personal property, they could gain access to sensitive information such as emails, text messages, calendars, bank account information, Social Security Numbers photos, and even social media network logins.

“These electronics- and especially the information stored on them- should be treated like a pile of cash,” said Kim States, BBB President. “It’s a significant financial investment that should be protected at all times.”

BBB offers the following advice to students and parents on how to keep personal property and sensitive information safe at school:

• Use password protections. Even if a thief steals your electronic device, having password protections could limit their access to your personal information. Avoid sharing passwords with friends or carrying them around on paper.
• Avoid entering sensitive information into your device on unencrypted public wireless networks. Even novice hackers can download simple programs that allow them to track your movements online when you’re using unprotected wireless networks. If you can avoid it, wait until you can use an encrypted connection to type passwords and other sensitive information into your web browser.
• Use bells and whistles. Depending on your security needs, an alarm can be a useful tool. Some laptop alarms sound when there’s unexpected motion, or when the computer moves outside a specified range around you. Or consider a kind of “lo-jack” for your laptop: a program that reports the location of your stolen laptop once it’s connected to the Internet.

For more consumer tips and news you can trust, visit BBB’s news center at www.tucson.bbb.org.

Despite rising public awareness of problems in the nation’s vehicle service contract industry, consumers continue to tell Better Business Bureau they feel tricked by misleading advertising or duped into spending thousands of dollars for contracts with little or no value.

Typical is a complaint received last month from a Fort Lauderdale, Fla., consumer: “I pay on time and follow all terms of the policy but they won’t cover anything.”

Another consumer, from South Holland, Ill., made a similar claim last month: The company has “fraudulently taken my money with no thought of ever (paying for repairs).”

A consumer from Ladson, S.C., who said she received a misleading mailer from a vehicle service marketer in April, was more blunt: “These guys were slime.”

BBB suggests caution to consumers who may be considering purchasing a vehicle service contract.

In the past 12 months, the BBB has received nearly 800 complaints involving 24 auto service contract companies in the St. Louis area.  While now-defunct US Fidelis has received the biggest number of complaints – 200—three other firms have received at least 60 complaints during the 12 months. Those companies are:

• National Dealers Warranty, doing business under the name Stop Repair Bills, of St. Peters, Mo. Consumers have filed 187 complaints and reports about this company during the 12-month period and 523 in the past 36 months.
• Service Protection Direct or Protection Direct with headquarters in downtown St. Louis. Consumers have filed 76 complaints and reports about the company in the 12-month period and 298 in the past 36 months.
• Car Safe or Dealer Preferred Warranties, of St. Charles, Mo. The company has been the focus of 68 consumer complaints over the 12 months and 167 in the past 36 months.

Each of these businesses has an “F” grade with BBB, the lowest grade possible and all have been the (more…)

Better Business Bureau of Southern Arizona is warning businesses that companies across the country are receiving phony telephone calls claiming to be from the BBB, asking if the businesses are planning to move.

“The calls are not from BBB, and the source and purpose of the calls are unknown,” said Kim States, BBB President. “BBB advises businesses to proceed cautiously with any unknown callers.”

This week, Better Business Bureau in Dallas heard from a law firm that received over a dozen calls in the past two weeks. The callers said they were from Better Business Bureau and were updating records, and wanted to know if the law firm is moving. Although the business told the callers it wasn’t moving, the callers continued to call back. The law firm told BBB that the caller ID on the calls displayed all zeros.

Similar bogus calls have been reported to BBB in Minnesota over the last few months, and BBB serving Alaska, Oregon and Western Washington has heard from several businesses about the calls.

Businesses who received the calls, and were actually planning to move their office soon, said the callers asked for their new addresses and additional details. However, none of the businesses that were called have been able to obtain more information from the callers.

To date, BBB has not received any reports that businesses in Southern Arizona have been targeted, but warns businesses to be on the lookout for suspicious callers claiming to be with BBB.

BBB does not call to ask if businesses are moving, and all calls from BBB are clearly identified. Businesses can call (520)888-6161 to verify any calls claiming to be from BBB, or to report questionable calls.

Businesses can be targeted by a number of different schemes, including wire transfer scams, directory schemes, office supply schemes, and more. For BBB tips on schemes against business click here.