Top 10 Financial Resolutions

As you make your New Year's resolutions, here are some you may want to consider:

Resolve to get all promises in writing. Make sure the contract provisions match what the salesperson told you. Read and understand the contract and guarantee before you sign.

• Resolve to guard your personal information. Give out credit card, bank account, or Social Security numbers very cautiously. Be wary of phone calls, mail or email messages asking for such information.


• Resolve to help children become informed consumers. Counsel them on establishing a budget, help them spot signs of fraud/rip-offs, inform them about online privacy and security issues.


• Resolve to shop safely online. Cyberspace crooks have the potential to perpetuate scams quickly on the web – leaving no paper trails and bypassing geographical boundaries.
  Resolve to resist the lure of "easy money". If you are contemplating work-from-home opportunities, do your homework. Verify their promises such as "fast money", "no experience necessary," and "work from the comfort of your home". Get references, contact satisfied customers, check with the BBB.


• Resolve to be an informed investor. Scam artists tailor their investment pitches well to entice unsuspecting investors. Avoid any pitches that require you to "act now" or that "guarantee" unbelievable profits.


• Resolve to formalize a savings plan. Determine how much you need to bolster your financial cushion and develop a plan to achieve your goal.
  Resolve to tackle your debt load. Establish a debt repayment plan for the year – and keep strict records. Pay more than required on monthly debt payments.
  
• Resolve to be wary of unsolicited credit offers. Ignore ads from unfamiliar companies, especially those requiring advance fees to secure a low-interest loan or repair your credit rating (despite a bad credit history).


• Resolve to deal only with reliable merchants. Don't do business with door-to-door salesmen. Make sure that the business has a permanent address and phone number. Check customer references and contact the BBB for information on the company's marketplace record.

BBB Advice: Look for Seven Red Flags when Searching for Jobs Online

In a recent report on job searching, The Conference Board noted that people are increasingly turning to the Internet as a key tool, noting that in 2007, 73 percent of job seekers reported using the online sources compared to 66 percent in 2005.

While the Internet has made searching for jobs easier, it also provides an opportunity for ID thieves and scammers to take advantage of eager - and unsuspecting - job seekers. Better Business Bureau is providing guidance that will help people spot the seven most common red flags associated with online job search scams.

A 2007 survey by CareerBuilder.com found that 84 percent of U.S. workers are not in their dream job. Unfortunately, the search for a dream job can lead to becoming a victim of identity theft or other types of fraud. In 2007 alone, the Federal Trade Commission recorded more than 11,000 complaints about business opportunities including work-at-home scams, many of which were advertised online.

“BBB knows that the number of people who actually report being a victim of fraud when searching for a job is only the tip of the iceberg,” said Bill Moak, BBB Mississippi President. “With a tough economy and tight job market forcing both businesses and job seekers to make difficult choices, BBB expects that instances of online job search fraud will continue to grow in the coming months as unemployment rates rise.”

Following are seven red flags BBB advises jobs hunters to be on the look out for when using online resources:

• Red Flag: Employer e-mails are rife with grammatical and spelling errorsMost online fraud is perpetrated by scammers located outside the U.S. Their first language usually isn’t English and this is often evident in their poor grasp of the language which can include poor grammar and the misspelling of common words.


• Red Flag: E-mails purporting to be from job posting Web sites claiming there’s a problem with a job hunter’s accountAfter creating a user account on sites like Monster.com or Careerbuilder.com, a job hunter might receive an e-mail saying there has been a problem with their account or they need to follow a hyperlink to install new software. Phishing e-mails like this are designed to convince readers to click a link within the message to fix the issue, but actually take them to a Web site that will install malware or viruses on their computer.


• Red Flag: An employer asks for extensive personal information such as social security or bank account numbersSome job seekers have been surprised to learn they’ve gotten a job without having to do a single interview. However, when the employer then asked for personal information in order to fill out the necessary paperwork suspicions were raised – and rightly so. Regardless of the reason or excuse given by the employer, a job applicant should never give out his or her Social Security or bank account numbers over the phone or e-mail.


• Red Flag: An employer offers the opportunity to become rich without leaving home While there are legitimate businesses that allow employees to work from home, there are also a lot of scammers trying to take advantage of senior citizens, stay-at-home moms, students and injured or handicapped people looking to make money at home. Job hunters should use extreme caution when considering a work-at-home offer and always research the company with their BBB first at http://www.bbb.org/.


• Red Flag: An employer asks for money upfrontAside from paying for a uniform, it is rarely advisable for an applicant to pay upfront fees or make a required purchase to get a job. Most recently, the BBB of Metropolitan Dallas uncovered a scam where job hunters were told they had to pay $64.50 for a background check before they could be considered for a cleaning job. Predictably, after paying for the background check, the job seeker never heard from the company again.


• Red Flag: The salary and benefits offered seem too-good-to-be-trueThe adage holds true for job offers: if the deal sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Phony employers might brag about exceptionally high salary potential and excellent benefits for little experience in order to lure unsuspecting job hunters into their scam.


• Red Flag: The job requires the employee to wire money through Western Union or MoneyGramMany phony jobs require the prospective employee to cash a check sent by the company through the mail and then wire a portion of the money on to another entity. Reasons given for this requirement vary from scam to scam. Whatever the reason though, the check might clear the employee’s bank account but will eventually turn out to be a fake and the employee is out the money he or she wired back to the scammers.
  

For more reliable advice on job searching and for what to do if a job hunter becomes a victim of ID theft or fraud related to a job opportunity, go to http://www.bbb.org/

Don’t Get Duped When Donating to Myanmar

As evidence of the devastation in Myanmar continues to mount, many Americans are looking for ways to help by donating to a relief organization or charity. The Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance warns that—as occurred following the tsunami disaster in 2004—fraudulent charities will likely emerge to try and scam donations from well-meaning Americans. The recent earthquakes in China and other disasters around the world are expected to create new opportunities for fraudsters.

“Whenever there is a major natural disaster, be it home or abroad, there are two things you can count on. The first is the generosity of Mississippians to donate time and money to help victims, and the second is the appearance of poorly run and in some cases fraudulent charities,” said Bill Moak, President/CEO of the BBB Mississippi. “Not only do Mississippians need to be concerned about avoiding fraud, they also need to make sure their money goes to competent relief organizations that are equipped and experienced to handle the unique challenges of providing assistance in Myanmar.”

The BBB Wise Giving Alliance offers the following eight tips to help Americans decide where to direct donations and ensure that their money provides the most benefit to the victims in Myanmar:

• Rely on expert opinion when it comes to evaluating a charity.Be cautious when relying on third-party recommendations such as bloggers or other Web site references, as they might not have fully researched the listed relief organizations. The public can go to www.bbb.org/charity to research charities and relief organizations to verify that they are accredited by the BBB and meet the 20 Standards for Charity Accountability.


• Find out if the charity has an on-the-ground continuing presence in Myanmar.Because of the stringent conditions in Myanmar, unless the charity already has staff inside the country, it will be difficult for new aid workers to attain visas and ultimately accomplish aid assistance in the country. Check out organizations at http://www.interaction.org/—the nation’s largest coalition of international relief organizations—to verify which aid organizations are currently active in Myanmar.


• Find out who will benefit in Myanmar and what type of assistance they will be provided. The immediate needs in Myanmar are food, water, shelter, transportation and clean-up efforts. Because it has not been determined how long organizations will be permitted to operate in Myanmar, long-term goals might not be achieved.


• Be wary of claims that 100 percent of donations will assist Myanmar victims.Despite what an organization might claim, charities have fund raising and administrative costs. Even a credit card donation will involve, at a minimum, a processing fee. If a charity claims 100 percent of collected funds will be assisting Myanmar victims, the truth is that the organization is still probably incurring fund raising and administrative expenses. They may use some of their other funds to pay this, but the expenses will still be incurred.


• Find out if the charity is providing direct aid or raising money for other groups that are active in Myanmar.Some charities may be raising money to pass along to relief organizations that are already active in the region. If so, you may want to consider “avoiding the middleman” and giving directly to charities that have a presence in the Myanmar. Or, at a minimum, check out the ultimate recipients of these donations to ensure the organizations are equipped to effectively provide aid.


• Be cautious when giving online.Be cautious about online giving, especially in response to spam messages and emails that claim to link to a relief organization. In response to the tsunami disaster, there were concerns raised about many Web sites and new organizations that were created overnight allegedly to help victims.


• Gifts of clothing, food or other in-kind donations are not recommended.In-kind donation assistance is not practical. Most foreign relief organizations prefer cash donations so that supplies can be purchased near the relief site. In-kind drives for food and clothing—while well intentioned—will not end up being delivered to those in need in Myanmar.


• If tax deduction is a concern, donate domestically.To help ensure your contribution is tax deductible, the donation should be made to a U.S.-based charitable organization that is tax exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Go to IRS Publication 78 on http://www.irs.gov/for a current list of all organizations eligible to receive contributions deductible as charitable gifts.

For information, visit the BBB Mississippi's website at http://www.ms.bbb.org/.

Mississippi Consumer Protection Laws Should be Stronger

A couple of years ago, we learned that a number of "colleges" and "universities" with questionable credentials had set up shop in Mississippi, especially in the areas of the state nearest the New Orleans metro area. When we did a little investigating, we found that Louisiana had strengthened its consumer protection laws regarding so-called "diploma mills." They were coming here because of the increased pressure from Louisiana, where they had previously been based.

You may or may not know it, but Mississippi law has a glaring loophole in its laws regarding college accreditation standards. All colleges which grant degrees are required to hold accreditation from a recognized accrediting body, such as the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Yet, the law specifically grants an exemption for private, for-profit institutions. The statute (37-101-241, Mississippi Code of 1972), reads in part, ... (6) The provisions of this section shall not apply to private schools that are accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) or to the proprietary schools as defined in Sections 75-60-3, 75-60-4 and 75-60-5.

This is one of many areas in which Mississippi consumer protection laws leave much to be desired. In the wake of Katrina, we have seen evidence of lax licensing laws for contractors. Recently, after the funeral home industry has come under scrutiny, we have found that there are insufficient standards for cemeteries.

While Mississippi has some good and tough requirements for some industries, we are way behind in others. There should be a concerted effort to look at all of Mississippi's consumer protection laws. Contrary to popular belief, consumer protection laws do not hurt business; they help business by ensuring that high standards are enforced. Tough consumer protection laws are good for everyone -- businesses and consumers alike.

What's In a Website?

Today marks a real milestone in the history of the BBB Mississippi, with the launch of our new website at www.ms.bbb.org. This "new and improved" site features a design which will be much easier to use. You may notice also that there is an intermix of local and national content. Photos of some of the people who run BBB accredited businesses are featured, for example, along with access to information from across the U.S. and Canada.

We have spent much time and effort on getting this site functional. That's because online access is so crucial to many of today's consumers. We also understand, however, that the people and businesses we serve might never use a computer. The website is not the sum total of our services; it is just one linkage between this organization and the community of businesses and consumers we serve.

I hope you will spend some time getting to know our new site. Bookmark it and use it often, because it can help you become a more educated and knowledgeable consumer. Thanks for visiting!

2008 Business Integrity Awards Winners Announced

Jackson, Miss., April 2, 2008 – Three Mississippi companies have received Business Integrity Awards by the Better Business Bureau of Mississippi and the Mississippi Business Journal.
The winners were announced on Friday, March 28 at the annual luncheon held at the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and Museum in Jackson. An estimated 120 people were on hand to witness the presentation of the 6th Annual Mississippi Business Integrity Awards. The 2008 recipients of these prestigious awards were:

• Community Bank, Meridian


• Magnolia Gardens Assisted Living, Laurel


• Trinity Investment Services, LLC, Gulfport
  

Two individual awards were also presented – the Torchbearer Award and the CEO of Integrity Award. The Torchbearer Award, recognizing a business leader who has demonstrated integrity and ethics over a career, was presented to Aubrey Patterson, President of Bancorp South in Tupelo. The recipient of the CEO of Integrity Award was Dan Modisett, General Manager of WLBT in Jackson.

This year’s winners become part of the “Circle of Honor”. Other 2008 Circle of Honor inductees include: Duran Homes (Jackson), Joe E. Fountain, Jr. & Company (D’Iberville), Madison Planting & Design Group (Canton), McLaurin Carpets, Inc. (Soso), Pride Hyundai (Batesville), Two Men and a Truck (Ridgeland), and Waveland Furniture Liquidators (Waveland).

“We had a wonderful response to the Business Integrity Awards this year,” said Bill Moak, President of the Better Business Bureau of Mississippi. “The judges had many great entries. “They prove that success in business does not mean that you must make ethical compromises, and that a company’s ability to survive challenges is directly related to its commitment to a strong commitment to being a good corporate citizen.”

The BBB Mississippi serves consumers and businesses in 76 Mississippi counties with a variety of services including issuance of business Reliability Reports; dispute resolution, including handling of complaints, arbitration and mediation; advertising review; charity review; consumer education. The organization is supported by its nearly 2,500 Accredited Business members. The BBB’s services are available online at www.ms.bbb.org or by calling (800) 987-8280.

Don't Let Scammers Take Advantage of Your Tax Rebate!

The BBB of Mississippi is warning Mississippi consumers to watch out for con artists looking to profit from the tax rebate checks that are expected later this year.

“Every time there is a general tax rebate program, there are reports of people who attempt to take money from consumers,” said Bill Moak, BBB Mississippi president. “While we haven’t yet heard reports from Mississippi consumers about possible scams, federal officials have noted suspicious activity in Missouri and other areas of the country.”

In Missouri, for example, con artists have begun calling consumers, claiming to be from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). They are asking for personal information, which could possibly be used for identity theft purposes. “No legitimate agency or organization is going to ask you for personal information over the phone or via email,” Moak said.

Moak noted that, in the past, scammers have collected fees from consumers to “expedite” or “speed-up” their refunds, only to have the consumers find out that the checks will arrive only when they are sent out by the Treasury Department. In one case a company collected a $29.00 fee (drafted directly from the victim’s bank account) in exchange for assistance in obtaining the refund.

Consumers are also cautioned to carefully consider programs which “loan” you your anticipated rebate. “While you might get your money before you ordinarily would, you are going to pay fees – in essence, you are being charged to access your own money,” Moak said. “If you can, it’s best to wait for your check to arrive.”

Watch for "Verified by Visa" Scam

Identity thieves are constantly looking for ways to make scam emails more plausible, so they are now attempting to add credibility to such emails by including a “Verified by Visa” scheme.

The wording may be something like this: “Your credit card (specified) has been automatically enrolled in the Verified by Visa program. To ensure your card’s security, it is important that you protect your card online with a personal password. Please take a moment to activate Verified by Visa now.”

According to Bill Moak, President/CEO of the Better Business Bureau (BBB) of Mississippi, “Verified by Visa is a legitimate service that adds an additional layer of security to online credit card transactions. It is unfortunate that it has begun to appear as a topic of phishing emails.”

These scam emails contain links to bogus sites, under the control of the hackers, that prompt consumers to enter their credit card information. The messages usually end with a threat that failure to respond may temporarily disable the credit card in question. “Such threats should be a dead giveaway that the emails are scams,” Moak continued. “Consumers should always be on guard when sharing their personal information in any way.”

The BBB urges consumers to continually be vigilant whenever they receive solicitations for identity verification by phone, mail or email. To block solicitations, consumers should register on:

• National Do Not Call Registry: 888-382-1222 or www.donotcall.gov




• Opt Out Mail Registry: 888-567-8688 or http://www.optoutprescreen.com/

The BBB of Mississippi has been serving consumers since 1964 by providing Reliability Reports on businesses and charities, assisting with business complaint resolution, monitoring advertising, and offering alerts on current scams. The BBB may be reached by calling 800-987-8280 or online at http://www.ms.bbb.org/.

Community Shred Days

Attorney General Jim Hood, Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann and President/CEO Bill Moak of the Better Business Bureau are pleased to announce Mississippi's Community “Shred-It” Days, February 8 & 9, 2008. The purpose of the event is consumer protection and awareness concerning identity theft, one of the fastest growing crimes in the country and the state. Consumers are invited to bring up to 5 bags of their sensitive documents to be shredded for free. Joining the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office, the Secretary of State's Office and the Better Business Bureau are Shred-It, Wal-Mart, The Home Depot, BancorpSouth, Coca-Cola, the Leadership Council on Aging, Mississippi State University Extension Service, and other Mississippi Consumer Education Partnership members.

Dates, Times, Locations

February 8, 2008

7:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Tupelo

Wal-Mart Supercenter

3929 N. Gloster Street

Tupelo, MS

Jackson

The Home Depot

6325 I-55 North

Jackson, MS 39213

Hattiesburg

Wal-Mart Supercenter

6072 Highway 98 W

Hattiesburg, MS 39402

February 9

Gulfport

Wal-Mart Supercenter

9350-A Hwy. 49

Gulfport, MS

7:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

BBB: Be Careful When Choosing a Tax Preparer

With tax season upon us, it is certainly tempting to hire someone to prepare your tax return. And, in many cases, hiring an expert can save you a lot of time and money.

Since you are legally responsible for your tax return, whether or not it is prepared by someone else, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) of Mississippi offers the following guidelines when selecting a tax preparer:

• Be skeptical of any preparer claiming to be able to get you a larger refund than others. Every legitimate preparer should have fairly similar tax results.
• Beware if the preparer bases tax preparation fees on the percentage of the amount of your refund. This is not allowed under IRS regulations.

“Choose a preparer to whom you will have easy access,” suggests Bill Moak, President/CEO of the BBB Mississippi. “If the firm delegates your work to someone with less training – or to an unknown worker – take your business elsewhere. Also, make sure that the preparer will not be sending your return to a foreign country for processing since the appropriate security and privacy laws may not exist outside of the U.S. This could mean that you may forfeit your recourse rights should your information be compromised out of the country.”

The IRS offers these additional tips:

• Be sure that your preparer signs the return and fills in his appropriate information
• Never sign a blank return
• Never sign a return in pencil

The BBB of Mississippi suggests that you check a preparer’s record with them before you hire anyone. This can be done online at www.ms.bbb.org or by calling the Automated Response Line (800-987-8280)

Mystery Shopper Scam Leaves Consumers Strapped for Cash This Holiday Season

After all the shopping is done for this holiday season, consumers may find themselves in a strap for cash. Schemers are very aware of the draw-in of “easy” money. A “Secret Shopper” scam using the company name Master Research claims a Maryland address and is swindling consumers across the country out of their savings. The Better Business Bureau (BBB) of Mississippi urges consumers to be aware of work-at-home scams like Master Research.

Master Research posts help wanted ads in CraigsList.com, CareerBuilder.com, and newspapers seeking Customer Service Evaluators, Secret Shoppers, and temporary positions.

In the advertisements, no company name is given. Once a job-seeker speaks to a company representative, they are asked only for their name and address; victims report no company name is provided. Within a week, the candidate receives a package in the mail that explains they have been selected to participate in the Master Research program. In the package is a check for $2,990.00 for use in the “training process”.

The participants are advised to go to Wal-Mart and wire money to a person in Canada. They are instructed that as a participant, they get to keep $300.00 for their services. Thus far, consumers have reported losses as great as $7,990.00 as a result of cashing these fraudulent checks.

The checks are falsely issued under a real financial institution, Chesapeake Bank, but include a phony Baltimore, MD address and phone number. Upon calling the toll-free number, BBB discovered a bogus “collections” agency who acknowledged Master Research as a “credible client.” The BBB representative was asked if she needed to verify a check number.

A Chesapeake Bank representative in Baltimore, alerted BBB that the FBI has had an open investigation on Master Research since April, 2007.

The BBB offers these tips to help you avoid being swindled by fake check scams:

• Be suspicious of any check from an individual or business that you do not know.
• Independently verify that the check is drawn from an actual account at a legitimate financial institution.
  
• Do not rely on the telephone number listed on the check. Use directory assistance to get the telephone number of the financial institution and call them to verify the check.
• When a company claims to be a “Secret Shopper,” like Master Research, check with the Mystery Shopper Provider Association at http://www.mysteryshop.org/ to learn more about Mystery Shopping and to confirm the legitimacy of a company.
• Do not rely on the money until the funds have been finally collected by your financial institution. Funds 'available’ is not good enough.

# # #

Privacy Issues and ID Theft are Top Concerns of Online Shoppers, According to New Survey by BBB

A new Better Business Bureau (BBB) survey conducted by Kelton Research finds that six in 10 (60 percent) American adult online shoppers are worried about their personal information being sold or reused when asked what has ever made them hesitant about completing a transaction online. Nearly the same amount (59 percent), admit they’ve had anxiety about their credit card information being stolen.

Despite concerns, consumers are increasingly turning to the convenience of online shopping during the holiday season. In a recent 2007 holiday spending forecast, Forrester Research, Inc. estimated online shoppers would increase seasonal spending nearly 20 percent, to $33 billion, this year. The National Retail Federation recently published a survey noting that 72 percent of retailers are planning special offers to entice online shoppers on Cyber Monday (the Monday after Thanksgiving). In 2006, Cyber Monday sales beat Black Friday sales (the day after Thanksgiving) by nearly 25 percent, $608 million versus $457 million.

“Even though increasingly more holiday shoppers have confidence in making online purchases, basic trust in business issues such as privacy and ID theft are clearly still top concerns for many consumers,” said Steven Cole, president and CEO, Council of Better Business Bureaus. “Survey results show that fears over the use and safety of personal information including credit card numbers, telephone numbers, and home and e-mail addresses are the main reasons online shoppers second-guess their decisions when making online purchases.”

In addition to privacy and identity theft concerns, many online shoppers also indicated that they have hesitated shopping online over the concern of receiving spam and/or junk e-mails (45 percent). Less online shoppers were concerned about the difficulty of navigating the site (26 percent) and the amount of time it takes to ship the item (25 percent).

“Although online shopping is fast and convenient, unfortunately, you can’t tell just by looking at a Web site whether a company is trustworthy and dependable, much less even legitimate. Consumers want a safe online environment, and they can help themselves by being a savvy online shopper this holiday season with a little research and by taking a few safety precautions,” added Cole.

BBB offers the following advice to help make your online shopping a safe and easy experience this holiday season:

• Protect your computer – Update your computer system with the latest spam filters, anti-virus and anti-spyware software, and a secure firewall.
  
• Use trustworthy Web sites – Always start with BBB to check on the seller’s reputation and record for customer satisfaction. Look for a “trustmark” from BBBOnLine and click on that seal
• to confirm that it’s valid.
  
• Protect your personal information – Read the site’s privacy policy to understand what personal information is being requested and how it will be used. If there isn’t one posted, consider that a warning that your personal information may be sold to others without your permission.
  
• Trust your gut – Offers on Web sites and in unsolicited e-mails can often sound too good to be true. Always go with your instincts and don’t be afraid to pass up a “deal” because it might cost you in the end.
  
• Beware of phishing – Legitimate businesses do not send e-mails claiming problems with an order or an account to lure the “buyer” into revealing financial information. Pick up the phone and call the contact number on the Web site where you made the purchase to ask if there was a problem with your transaction.
  
• Confirm your online purchase is secure – Look in the address box for the “s” in https:// and in the lower-right corner for the “lock” symbol before paying. If you have doubts about a site, right-click anywhere on the page and select “Properties.” This will let you see the real URL (Web site address) and the dialog box will reveal if the site is not encrypted.
  
• Pay with a credit card – It’s best to use a credit card because under federal law you can dispute the charges if you don’t get what you were promised. You also have dispute rights if there are unauthorized charges on your credit card, and many card issuers have “zero liability” policies under which you pay nothing if someone steals your credit card number and uses it.
  Keep documentation of your order. When you’ve completed the online order process, there may be a final confirmation page or you might receive confirmation by email – don’t delete these, save them!
  
• Check your credit card statement often – Don’t wait for a paper statement; check your credit card statements for suspicious activity by either calling the credit card company or by checking your statement online.
  
• Know your rights – Federal law requires that orders made by mail, phone or online be shipped by the date promised or, if no delivery time was stated, within 30 days. If the goods aren’t shipped on time, you can cancel and demand a refund. There is no general three-day cancellation right, but you do have the right to reject merchandise if it’s defective or was misrepresented. Otherwise, it’s the company’s policies that determine if you can cancel the purchase and whether you can get a refund or credit.

Avoiding Problems with Merchandise Returns

While many recipients of holiday gifts will no doubt be ecstatic about the gifts they receive, many others will head to the store to return gifts the first chance they get. Unfortunately, many people find there are unpleasant consequences if they do not know the store's return policy. Among common myths are that stores must take back any item they sell. Consumers should know that there are no laws requiring stores to take back merchandise, unless it is defective or misrepresented. Stores' return policies should be clearly posted.

Here are some things to remember when giving or returning gifts:

• Make sure to keep receipts. If giving a gift, ask for a gift receipt and enclose it with the present.


• Read the retailer’s policy before you purchase products. Make sure you understand whether you or the recipient of your gift can get a refund, exchange or store credit for unwanted merchandise. Also, if returns are permitted, ask what procedures and timeframe need to be followed.


• Understand what the return policies are for on-sale and clearance items, which may be different than merchandise sold at full price.


• Don’t remove electronics or similar products from their boxes before wrapping because the original packaging may be required for a return.


• Some merchants charge a restocking or "open box" fee for returns of electronics products or large-ticket items. Ask if that is their policy.


• Be sure to look for return policies when buying online or from catalogs. Sometimes merchandise can be returned to a store; otherwise, you may be charged a shipping fee to return or exchange an item.


• Remember that many things purchased online, such as software downloads, are not refundable. Therefore, be absolutely sure you are prepared to pay for anything you download.

Consumer Charitable Giving Guide for the Holidays for the Holiday Season

Tis’ the season for giving and there are many ways you can give back to your community this holiday season. Whether you’re donating money, gifts, or your time, the BBB Wise Giving Alliance has guidance to help make sure your contributions have the most benefit for those in need this holiday season.

According to the Giving USA Foundation, donations totaled $295 billion in 2006; individuals accounted for 83.3 percent of this amount. In addition to donations, more than 61 million Americans volunteered their time for charitable and national service organizations.

If you plan on being one of the millions of Americans to donate time or money this holiday season, the BBB Wise Giving Alliance offers the following advice:

When in doubt, check it out. When an unfamiliar organization asks you for a donation, don’t give without gathering details about the charity, the nature of its programs and its use of funds. Also contact the BBB Wise Giving Alliance or go to www.bbb.org/charity for a BBB Wise Giving Report on the charity.

• Think before you give. If you are solicited at the mall or on the street, take a minute or two to “think.” Ask for the charity’s name and address. Get full identification from the solicitor and review it carefully. Ask to see written information on the charity’s programs and finances.


• Giving later might be better. Never feel pressured to give on the spot. Legitimate charities will welcome your money tomorrow. If the solicitor pressures you with intimidation or harassing phone calls, don’t hesitate to file a complaint with BBB.


• Watch out for cases of mistaken identity. With more than one million charities in the U.S., it’s not surprising that some charity names sound alike. Be careful that the one soliciting you is the one you have in mind.


• Don’t accept vague claims. If something is being sold to benefit a charity, be wary of vague statements such as “all proceeds go to charity” or “your purchase will benefit a charity.” Look for a disclosure that indicates the actual or estimated amount of the purchase price that the charity will receive to fund its programs.


• Unordered merchandise is free. If a charity sends you greeting cards, address labels or other merchandise with an appeal for donations, you are not obligated to make a donation or pay for the items.


• Watch out for charity fraud. Legitimate charities do not demand donations; they willingly provide written information about their programs, finances or how donations are used; and they never insist you provide your credit card number, bank account number or any other personal information.


• Donate toys, food or services. Consider donating food, toys, clothing or other items needed during the holidays. Volunteering your time is another useful and much appreciated option.


• Remember, not all soliciting groups are charities. If you want to take a charitable deduction for federal income tax purposes, make sure to verify the organization’s tax-exempt status first. You can check out a charity’s tax-exempt status at http://apps.rs.gov/app/pub78.

For more trustworthy information and advice from the BBB Wise Giving Alliance on how to make informed donor decisions this holiday season go to www.bbb.org/charity.

Consumers Encouraged to Avoid Debt “Hangovers”

BBB Offers Tips to Use Credit Cards Responsibly

Ridgeland, Miss. November 5, 2007 – With holiday shopping in full swing, credit card charges are surging. Consumers appreciate the convenience and safety of credit card transactions. The “buy today, pay later” philosophy has become a holiday tradition.

“Credit cards are useful tools when used responsibly," said Bill Moak, President/CEO of the Better Business Bureau (BBB) of Mississippi. "The challenge is to remember the ‘pay later’ part of your credit card agreement. The BBB encourages consumers to carefully review credit card options in order to avoid a post-holiday credit ‘hangover’.”

This is particularly important if you are considering applying for a new credit card. US households receive an average of six card solicitations per month which can be tempting this time of year, the BBB advised.

“Our BBBTips™ on Credit Cards is designed to help guide consumers to make credit card decisions that are right for their particular financial circumstances,” said Moak. The BBB system's new educational resource is available online at www.bbb.org/tips/clearpoint. BBBTips™ on Credit Cards is intended to assist experienced cardholders as well as those seeking to qualify for their first credit card.

Topics include:

• Various types of credit cards, reward programs and other enhancements;
• The pros and cons of credit cards;
• Credit terms and definitions;
• Understanding credit card solicitations and applications;
• Deciding which credit card is right for your situation;
• Evaluating balance transfer offers;
• Steps to take if you cannot make a payment.

“Consumers need to carefully examine all credit card offers before deciding what suits their budget and spending patterns. We join with the BBB to provide practical information about credit cards to help consumers be credit ‘wise’ and creditworthy," said Dan Oelrich, President and CEO of ClearPoint.

The BBBTips™ program supplements other helpful information provided by Better Business Bureaus to promote an ethical marketplace. In 2006, BBBs in the United States and Canada provided more than 90 million instances of service to consumers and businesses. At the Mississippi headquarters, more than 400,000 information requests and 2,700 complaints were handled during the past 12 months.

For assistance from the BBB of Mississippi, visit http://www.ms.bbb.org/ or call 800.987.8280.
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BBB Advises Caution with Wildfire Donations

Many Americans want to help the thousands of Southern Californians displaced by the wildfires, and the most common way people across the country can do this is by making donations to the many relief agencies and charities already at work.

However, as with every natural disaster, there are some unscrupulous people who will attempt to take advantage of the public’s eagerness to help victims and the BBB Wise Giving Alliance offers the following advice for donors to ensure their donations go to trustworthy relief efforts.

“In the face of any disaster, Americans will immediately step forward with donations to aid the victims and their families,” said Art Taylor, CEO of the BBB Wise Giving Alliance.

“Unfortunately, as we saw after Hurricane Katrina, scammers will try to take advantage of the generosity of the public; that’s why it’s important to take your time and do your research before donating to a charity relief effort.”

The BBB Wise Giving Alliance offers the following advice to make sure your donations go to worthy charities and relief efforts:

• Before making a contribution, go to www.give.org to obtain detailed evaluative reports on many of the relief organizations providing assistance.


• Be wary of charities that are reluctant to answer reasonable questions about their operations, finances and programs.


• Do not hesitate to ask for written information that describes the charity’s program(s) and finances such as the charity’s latest annual report and financial statements.


• Find out what the charity intends to do with any excess contributions remaining after they have fully funded the disaster relief activities mentioned in solicitations.


• Do not give cash. Checks or money orders should be made out to the name of the charitable organization, not to the individual collecting the donation.


• Keep an eye out for fake charities that imitate the name and style of well-known organizations in order to confuse people and potentially steal personal information such as credit card numbers.


• Don’t give in to excessive pressure for on-the-spot donations. Be wary of any request to send a “runner” to pick up your contribution.


• Think twice about donating to any charity that is inexperienced in carrying out relief efforts but is suddenly soliciting for aid for Southern California. Although well intentioned, such organizations may not have the ability to quickly deliver aid to those in need.


• Be wary of appeals that are long on emotion, but short on describing what the charity will do to address the needs of victims and their families.


• Do not give your credit card number or other personal information to a telephone solicitor or in response to an e-mail solicitation.


• To help ensure your contribution is tax deductible, donations should be made to charitable organizations that are tax exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Go to IRS Publication 78 on www.irs.gov for a current list of all organizations eligible to receive contributions deductible as charitable gifts.

For more information on the BBB Wise Giving Alliance and to view more than one thousand BBB Wise Giving ReportsTM on charities across the nation go to http://www.give.org./

BBB: Carefully Consider Online Degree Programs

Online degree programs are an option in an emerging trend for those interested in adding credentials and qualifications to their resumes. In 2006 more than three million students were enrolled in at least one online course. It is estimated that in 2008 one in 10 college students will be enrolled in an online university.

Although an online education can be convenient and popular, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) of Mississippi warns that some can also be a source of fraud and frustration.

“What used to be a small-time ‘mom-and-pop’ fraud is now a professional criminal operation,” says Bill Moak, President/CEO of the BBB Mississippi . “There are now more than 400 diploma mills and 300 counterfeit diploma web sites doing business of more than $500 million annually. Many of these fraudulent web sites portray beautiful, picturesque campuses with many students when, in reality, the degree diplomas are possibly printed in someone’s basement.”

The BBB reminds prospective online students to watch for the following signs that the could actually be dealing with a diploma mill:

• Little or no work is required to be completed in order to receive a degree.


• Special pricing is offered to those receiving more than one degree at a time (such as combined bachelor’s and master’s degrees).


• The name of the degree program is very similar to the name of a well-known, prestigious college or university.


• Administration building addresses include P.O. boxes or suites.


• Pricing is stated per degree instead of per credit hour.

The most important step in choosing an online degree program is to make sure that the college or university is accredited by one of the six regional accreditation boards. The
U S Dept. of Education maintains a data base of accredited post-secondary schools at www.ope.ed.gov/accreditation.

Do-Not-Call List Numbers Not Expiring (Yet)!

An urban myth is circulating that the federal “Do Not Call” listings are about to expire. Internet emails would have you believe that the federal list, which went live in 2003, is about to expire. In truth, the first expirations will occur in 2008, five years after the numbers were registered. More than 3.4 million people visited the new DoNotCall.Gov Web site on the day it launched, June 27, 2003. Twenty-three million people had signed up within the first month.


Here are some important facts for consumers:

• The Do Not Call registry is good for any home or business telephone number.


• Phone numbers which are changing due to the new area code will be automatically changed within the Do Not Call database. There is no need to re-register these numbers.


• Cell phone numbers may be registered, although presently they are prohibited from being targeted by telemarketers.


• The Do Not Call list is available at http://www.donotcall.gov/ or by calling 1-888-382-1222.


• If you want to find out when your registration expires, visit https://www.donotcall.gov/FAQ/FAQConsumersNew.aspx and click “Verify Your Registration.”

Remember, the Do Not Call list will not stop the following calls: Companies with which you have a “prior business relationship”; political organizations; charities and polling or survey companies.

Business Travelers Beware: Free Wi-Fi Scam Strikes at Airports

In order to keep up in today’s world, a business needs to make sure its employees stay connected, even on the road. Many airports and other public spaces offer free wireless, or Wi-Fi, connections for the public to log onto the Internet from their laptop computers. The Better Business Bureau (BBB) warns that hackers are now taking advantage of this convenience and setting up fake Wi-Fi connections designed to steal your personal information and files without you even knowing.


How it works
Although hackers can and have set up fake Wi-Fi connections in a number of venues, usually they will target consumers at airports. When searching for connections, consumers may see a network connection available that could be simply named “Free Wi-Fi.” Thinking it’s the free connection offered by the establishment, they’ll log on. Unfortunately, the network may actually be an “ad-hoc” network, or a peer-to-peer connection. The user will be able to surf the Internet, but they’re doing it through the hacker’s computer. And the whole time, the hacker is stealing information like passwords, credit card and bank account numbers, and social security numbers. Beyond simply stealing keystroke information as the user enters various types of data, if the PC is set to share files, the hacker could even steal whole documents from the computer.

Airports across the nation continue to report on Wi-Fi security issues. Officials in Atlanta, New York LaGuardia and Los Angeles airports have all reported the existence of ad-hoc networks advertised as free Wi-Fi connections. An investigation revealed that Chicago O’Hare had 20 ad-hoc networks present that were potentially designed with the intent of hacking into unsuspecting user’s computers and networks.

The BBB offers the following advice on how to keep yourself safe when you go wireless:

• Never connect to an unfamiliar ad-hoc network—even if the name sounds genuine. A hacker can change the name of his network to anything he wants, including the name of the legitimate Internet connection offered by the airport. Just because it has the same name as the Wi-Fi advertised in the airport, don’t believe it. For more information on how to distinguish between an ad-hoc network and a normal Wi-Fi network with Windows Vista or XP visit http://support.microsoft.com/.


• Make sure that your computer is not set up to automatically connect to non-preferred networks. Otherwise your computer could automatically connect to the hacker’s network without your knowledge.


• Turn off file sharing when you’re on the road to prevent hackers from stealing entire documents, files and unencrypted e-mail from your computer.


• Create a Virtual Private Network (VPN) for your business. A VPN establishes a private network across the public network by creating a tunnel between the two endpoints so that nobody in between can intercept the data. Many companies allow remote users to connect to corporate networks as long as they use VPN. This keeps the users' communications just as secure as if they were sitting at a desk in the building.

BBB Warns College-Bound Students and Parents to Beware of Financial Aid Schemes

The Better Business Bureau (BBB) is warning college-bound students and their parents to be wary of financial aid fraud perpetrated by companies promising big bucks for college tuition, but who ultimately take your money and leave you with nothing.

Consumer complaints against scholarship, loan and grant services to the 114 BBBs across the U.S. increased by 60 percent in 2006.

“Funding a college education is expensive, and finding money for college can be an intimidating process,” said Bill Moak, President of the BBB Mississippi.. “The fallout from this year’s student loan scandal, combined with the efforts of tireless scammers, means there is a real trust crisis in the financial aid industry. There are many unscrupulous businesses and outright scams taking advantage of overwhelmed parents who are just trying to put their child through school.”

Along with a significant rise in complaints in 2006, the BBB has seen a steady flow of loan, grant and scholarship complaints so far this year from consumers fed up with the industry. Following are the most recent examples of complaints and common scams taking advantage of college-bound students and their parents.

Financial Aid Seminar Scams
Parents from New York to California have contacted the BBB saying they paid a Utah-based company as much as $1,000 for help finding financial aid and never heard from the company again.

Parents report their college-bound child received an email from College Money Matters stating they’d “been accepted” to attend a free financial aid seminar. The seminar was essentially a sales pitch and, for a fee, the company would submit the student’s Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form and find college scholarships and grants for the student. Victims report they paid $700 to $1,000 and never heard from the company again. Not only did they not receive the promised help for finding grants and scholarships, but many discovered that their child’s FAFSA form was never even filed.

College Grant Scams
The BBB continually hears from consumers who have received emails or letters with offers for “Free Grant Money” – saying they qualified for private or government grant money as financial aid for debt relief or to help pay off college bills.

When victims received the grant in the form of a check, they were instructed to deposit the check and then wire a smaller amount of money back to cover processing fees. Because checks looked professional, it often took several weeks for banks to discover they were counterfeit. Not only did victims have to pay the banks back for money they withdrew on the counterfeit checks, they were also out the money they had wired to the scammers.

The Wisconsin BBB reports that a University of Wisconsin student was recently a victim of a grant scam. The student was promised $25,000 in grant money. After initially receiving a counterfeit check for $5,000, he was told that in order to receive the remaining grant money he had to send them $2,500 through stored-value cards. He had transferred $500 and was planning to transfer the rest but the scam was discovered by his bank.

“Parents nationwide are devastated and very angry about being taken advantage of,” added Moak. “Some have saved for years to help give their children a college education. And now, money that could have gone directly toward tuition and expenses has instead gone toward lining the pockets of scammers.”

How to Avoid Scholarship Scams
The BBB offers advice to avoid being snared in scholarship traps, recommending that you be suspicious if a representative tells you:

• "The scholarship is guaranteed or your money back." In reality no one can guarantee that they will get you a grant or scholarship. And the refund guarantees that are offered usually have so many conditions or strings attached that it is almost impossible for consumers to get their money back.


• "You cannot get this information anywhere else." Actually, scholarship information is widely available in books, from libraries and financial aid offices and on the Internet, if you are willing to search for it.


• "We will do all the work." Only parents and students can really determine and provide the financial information needed to complete the forms.


• "You have been selected by a national foundation to receive a scholarship." If you have not entered a competition sponsored by the foundation, this claim is highly unlikely.


• "May I have your credit card or back account number to hold this scholarship?" This is never a requirement for a legitimate scholarship offer.


• "The scholarship will cost some money." Legitimate scholarship offers never require payment of any kind.

For more advice and information on how to avoid scholarship and grant fraud, and for objective Reliability Reports on companies in the financial aid industry, go to http://www.bbb.org/.