Scams That Steal Our Money & Our Dignity Michael Lauf Director of Communications & Public Relations Tri-State Better Business Bureau © 2007 Evansville BBB

Who we are and what we do BBB started in 1912 to combat deceptive advertising In addition to advertising review, we also offer: Reliability Reports Charity Evaluation Dispute Resolution Consumer Education Media Alerts 130 BBBs across USA & Canada, Tri-State BBB covers 11 IN Counties, 2 KY Counties and 5 IL Counties © 2007 Evansville BBB

BBB started in 1912 to combat deceptive advertising

In addition to advertising review, we also offer:

Reliability Reports

Charity Evaluation

Dispute Resolution

Consumer Education

Media Alerts

130 BBBs across USA & Canada, Tri-State BBB covers 11 IN Counties, 2 KY Counties and 5 IL Counties

Never Pay to Win © 2007 Evansville BBB

Signs of Bogus Sweepstakes Offers © 2007 Evansville BBB

Don’t Do it Opt Out List: 1-888-5-OPTOUT or www.optoutprescreen.com © 2007 Evansville BBB

Opt Out List: 1-888-5-OPTOUT or

www.optoutprescreen.com

Foreign Lotteries Postal Fraud Hotline 1-800-372-8347 © 2007 Evansville BBB

Free Cash Grants “ Free Money” “ Never repay cash grants for personal needs, medical bills, education, business, debt consolidation & more.” **** FREE CASH Grants! $25,000++ **2006!** Never Repay! Personal/Medical Bills, Business, School/House. Almost Everyone qualifies! Live Operators! Avoid Deadlines! Listings, Call 1-800-785-9615, Ext. 98. © 2007 Evansville BBB

“ Free Money”

“ Never repay cash grants for personal needs, medical bills, education, business, debt consolidation & more.”

Advanced Fee Loans “ Guaranteed Loan” Up-front “insurance,” “security” or “processing” fee Against the Law Contact BBB, State Attorney General and the Federal Trade Commission © 2007 Evansville BBB

“ Guaranteed Loan”

Up-front “insurance,” “security” or “processing” fee

Against the Law

Contact BBB, State Attorney General and the Federal Trade Commission

Protect against home improvement scams Check out all licenses Check out insurance Avoid quick decisions Avoid large down payments © 2007 Evansville BBB

Check out all licenses

Check out insurance

Avoid quick decisions

Avoid large down payments

Seniors are the most likely to be victimized and the least likely to report the crime. Embarrassment Fear of losing independence Fear of losing control over their financial decision-making © 2007 Evansville BBB

Embarrassment

Fear of losing independence

Fear of losing control over their financial decision-making

Signs of Victimization Weight-loss Depression Become secretive Refuse to turn on heat or air conditioning even when needed © 2007 Evansville BBB

Weight-loss

Depression

Become secretive

Refuse to turn on heat or air conditioning even when needed

Identity Theft Credit Bureaus TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289 Equifax: 1-800-525-6285 Experian: 1-888-EXPERIAN Federal Trade Commission: 1-877-ID-THEFT © 2007 Evansville BBB

Credit Bureaus

TransUnion:

1-800-680-7289

Equifax:

1-800-525-6285

Experian:

1-888-EXPERIAN

Federal Trade Commission:

1-877-ID-THEFT

Do Not Call Do Not Call List: 1-888-382-1222 © 2007 Evansville BBB

Do Not Call List:

1-888-382-1222

Scams That Steal Our Money & Our Dignity Tri-State Better Business Bureau 5401 Vogel Road. Suite 410 Evansville, Indiana 47715 812-473-0202 or toll free 800-359-0979 www.evansville.bbb.org © 2007 Evansville BBB