GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- The Better Business Bureau of Western Michigan is offering some tips to avoid being ripped off by scams.
It reported this week that online purchases were the top source of scams in 2023.
B-B-B Marketing and Community Relations Manager Katie Grievious said on West Michigan's Morning News that education is the best way to avoid phishing scams, which is done through bogus emails, texts and phone calls.
"Because by the time law enforcement catches on, (the scammers) are already shut down, they're already moved on. Scammers are really, really smart. So, our best defense is to help educate and help show them here's what you should avoid, or just stop using your devices, at all," Grevious said.
But sometimes, it can be difficult to tell whether you're dealing with a scammer or not. Grevious mentioned the right move is to vet them thoroughly.
"You know, doing that follow-through. Calling that company, even if it sounds like the real company down the street that you know and have heard of. Double-checking; looking for little things like, are they talking to you strictly through a text or a messaging system? Or, are you going to see them face-to-face at all?" Grevious said.
The Better Business Bureau of Western Michigan says says more than half of all scams reported were done online. And more than one-third of them were from advertisements on social media.
For example, a Traverse City woman saw an ad on Facebook posing as a Home Shopping Network factory outlet. She thought she was getting a hot tub for7-thousand dollars. After receiving a questionable confirmation receipt, she tried to cancel her order. That’s when she received the run-around and realized the entire website was a scam.
Besides online purchasing rip-offs, other top scams in 2023 involved phishing and employment.
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