Thieves have come to love the accessibility and convenience of gift cards just as much as harried shoppers.

Better Business Bureau of Southern Arizona is warning of a scam that stems from the wide array of gift cards many retailers – from super markets to convenience stores – display at their check out lines. For the experienced thief, these displays make for easy spoils.

Here’s how it works: A thief goes into a store, hunts down the gift card racks, and writes down numbers from the backs of the cards. They wait a few days and call the 800 number listed on the card to see if it has been activated. When they find one that is, the con artist heads over to the store’s website and starts shopping.

What’s a consumer to do?

• Ask the clerk for a card from behind the counter or buy it from the customer service desk.
• Don’t solely rely on getting your card from inaccessible stock as protection. Examine both sides of the card yourself; look for signs of tampering: make sure protective stickers aren’t pulled off or the card’s scratch off pin number isn’t exposed. If you suspect tampering, give it back to the clerk.
• Immediately after purchasing the card ask the cashier to scan it to ensure that it’s valid and holds the purchased value. This protects you against another variation of this scam in which the con swaps a valid card for his/her zero-balance card.
• Keep your receipt as proof of purchase for as long as you or your recipient has value stored on the card. Not all retailers will issue you a replacement, but some may. Be sure to ask about the replacement policy before you purchase the card.
• If you already have a gift card, call the number on the back and check the balance. If you find you’re a victim, report it to the retailer.
• Some stores give you the option of registering your gift card at their website. This allows you to check the card’s balance online and catch any misuse of the card before your balance has dwindled to nothing.

For more information contact the BBB of Southern Arizona at www.tucson.bbb.org, 520-888-5353 or 800-696-2828 outside the Tucson Metro area.

Self-storage facilities dot the landscapes of new and older communities. Folks rent units to empty overflowing basements; to stash furnishings while moving or remodeling; or to store business supplies for future use. While most facilities are operated by reputable businesses, Better Business Bureau of Southern Arizona recommends checking out the business carefully before handing over your precious belongings.

In 2011, BBB received more than 1,000 complaints, nationally, against storage units. Many of the complaints filed were from disgruntled consumers who were never able to access their storage units after paying a deposit, had goods damaged in the storage units, and even consumers that had their belongings taken from the storage unit.

Consumers are advised to shop carefully before signing on the dotted line. BBB recommends understanding 7 major factors before selecting a temporary storage facility.

Cost. Obtain written cost estimates from at least three facilities. Most will insist on inspecting your items before offering an estimate. Costs to consider include the monthly rental fee (usually there are a minimum monthly storage charge and a minimum number of month’s storage); storage preparation, padding, packing or transportation fees; and fees for extra options (electricity, pest control, insurance)
you may choose. Ask how the fees are to be paid and by what date.

Size. What size storage units are available? Is there a maximum weight limit for unit contents? Can you jam-pack the entire unit from floor to ceiling?

Climate. Consider the general climate and whether your belongings might be subject to mold or water damage. If so, you may want to consider an environmentally-controlled unit.

Insurance. Make sure your items are insured from theft, fire or other damage. The facility may provide basic insurance or you can choose to purchase insurance from an alternate source. Some homeowners’ policies cover self-storage; check with your insurance agent to be sure you are covered.

Safety. You will need a heavy-duty, secure lock protecting your storage unit. Ask if the facility has surveillance cameras on the property and if a system is in place to restrict access by strangers. Ask for contact information to reach someone at the facility in case of an emergency, both during and after business hours.

Contract. Get everything in writing – the size and location of the unit, options (such as climate-control) that you have selected, termination regulations, insurance coverage, and payment terms. Make sure the facility has several different ways to get in touch with you (home phone, cell phone, email, etc.) in case there is ever a problem with your unit or your payment.

Access. What are the hours and related charges for accessing your unit? Is there adequate room for parking and is the distance from your car/truck to the rental unit acceptable? Does the facility offer dollies or hand trucks to help you move your belongings in and out? Make sure you can easily move your possessions in and out with reasonable ease.

Lastly, pay attention to your monthly bill or credit card statement to make sure you are up-to-date on your payments. You don’t want your storage unit to be labeled “abandoned” and put up for auction.

For more tips you can trust, visit www.tucson.bbb.org.

Better Business Bureau of Southern Arizona is warning consumers about Midwest Timeshares, a Wisconsin-based timeshare reseller that has racked up 70 complaints, including two from Tucson consumers.

The company, which has also done business as National Timeshare Resale (“NTR”) and Integrated Advertising Solutions, has an “F” rating with the BBB, the lowest grade possible. Complainants tell the BBB that the company charged them upfront fees, claiming they had a waiting buyer, but the buyer never materialized and promised refunds were never received.

BBB has sent several requests to the company asking it to verify its techniques in finding buyers for timeshares and to provide name and contact information for customers whose timeshares were sold. However, Midwest Timeshares has not responded to BBB’s requests.

“If you want to sell your timeshare, contact a real estate agent”, says Kim States, BBB President. “Do not pay money to a stranger that you have only spoken with over the phone that you have never seen nor met.”
States says, “I understand that our economy has been struggling, and some timeshare owners may be desperate to rid themselves of their investment and make some money. Unfortunately, scammers are capitalizing on this desperation. And by the time they realize that they were scammed, it may be too late to get a refund through their credit card company.”

If you are interested in selling your timeshare, BBB offers the following tips:

• Be wary of too-good-to-be-true resale claims. The company’s salespeople may claim that the market in the area where our property is located is “hot” or that they have already received a buyer request. Be skeptical of these claims.
• Be careful if you’re asked to pay a large fee upfront. Smaller fees for appraisals, etc. are customary for a real estate transaction. However, if you’re asked to pay hundreds or thousands of dollars up front, this should be seen as a red flag.
• Check with the Better Business Bureau to see what type of a report it has on the firm.  Also check to see if any complaints have been processed and, if so, how did the company respond?
• Request a written contract and read it. What cancellation rights do you have? If you were promised the company would sell your timeshare, but you don’t see that clause in the contract, don’t sign it.
• Check with your state to see if the salespeople are licensed to sell timeshares or if they are licensed real estate brokers and whether there are any complaints on file against them.
• You may want to try to sell your timeshare “by owner” by placing an ad in a newspaper or magazine. Or, list your timeshare with a licensed real estate broker.

For more information or further inquiries, please contact the BBB at (520)888-5353, or visit www.tucson.bbb.org to find a business you can trust. For more consumer news, follow BBB on Twitter or like them on Facebook.