The Wise Consumer A Public Service of the Better Business Bureau Committed to Fairness in the Marketplace

Your Personal Information Never give personal information to an unknown telemarketer claiming to represent your bank or some other institution with which you conduct business.

Never give personal information to an unknown telemarketer claiming to represent your bank or some other institution with which you conduct business.

Bank and credit card accounts Report missing credit cards immediately Review statements, report errors promptly Never share account passwords, atm cards or pin numbers with anyone Don’t put bill payments in unsecured mailboxes Shred paperwork containing sensitive personal information before discarding

Report missing credit cards immediately

Review statements, report errors promptly

Never share account passwords, atm cards or pin numbers with anyone

Don’t put bill payments in unsecured mailboxes

Shred paperwork containing sensitive personal information before discarding

Bogus e-mail Do not respond to e-mail solicitations asking for your personal identification, such as Social Security or bank account numbers. Legitimate businesses don’t operate this way

Do not respond to e-mail solicitations asking for your personal identification, such as Social Security or bank account numbers.

Legitimate businesses don’t operate this way

Prizes, lotteries and special opportunities Never pay a “processing fee” to claim a “prize you have won” Such “fees” are illegal . You're a Winner!

Never pay a “processing fee” to claim a “prize you have won”

Such “fees” are illegal .

Electronic fraud Don’t believe everything you see on the Internet. If an offer seems too good to be true, it probably is.

Don’t believe everything you see on the Internet.

If an offer seems too good to be true, it probably is.

Work–at–home “ Red flags” for work at home offers; You are asked to pay for “supplies” or “training” You will need to meet strict “standards” for your work You will be doing “medical billing” from home

“ Red flags” for work at home offers;

You are asked to pay for “supplies” or “training”

You will need to meet strict “standards” for your work

You will be doing “medical billing” from home

Work–at–home For any work-at-home offer, check with the BBB before sending money to the company Remember: there is no easy way to earn significant income working from home

For any work-at-home offer, check with the BBB before sending money to the company

Remember: there is no easy way to earn significant income working from home

Door-to-door solicitors Home repairs, gardening, charity, etc. DO ask for street address, telephone and local references DO check on the business with your BBB DON’T pay cash up front DON’T accept the offer immediately

Home repairs, gardening, charity, etc.

DO ask for street address, telephone and local references

DO check on the business with your BBB

DON’T pay cash up front

DON’T accept the offer immediately

High-pressure Limited time offer You must act now Often an effort to get you to buy in haste, before scrutinizing the deal Be wary of such tactics Consult friends, family, professional organizations and the BBB Go at your own pace

Limited time offer

You must act now

Often an effort to get you to buy in haste, before scrutinizing the deal

Be wary of such tactics

Consult friends, family, professional organizations and the BBB

Go at your own pace

“ Insider information” Crooks claim to have special connections with suppliers, manufacturers or other businesses “ Special access” equals “great deals” Thoroughly investigate such claims with your Better Business Bureau

Crooks claim to have special connections with suppliers, manufacturers or other businesses

“ Special access” equals “great deals”

Thoroughly investigate such claims with your Better Business Bureau

Be a wise consumer! Check out an unfamiliar business thoroughly. Look for an affiliation with professional organizations and visit www.bbb.org for valuable information on marketplace activity. Trust your instincts. If it doesn’t “feel right” it probably isn’t!

Check out an unfamiliar business thoroughly. Look for an affiliation with professional organizations and visit www.bbb.org for valuable information on marketplace activity. Trust your instincts. If it doesn’t “feel right” it probably isn’t!

Federal Trade Commission Visit the Federal Trade Commission website at www.ftc.gov . Web resources at FTC have many useful articles/warnings related to a large variety of businesses

Visit the Federal Trade Commission website at www.ftc.gov .

Web resources at FTC have many useful articles/warnings related to a large variety of businesses

State Attorney General Your State Attorney General’s office is another useful resource for research or resolution A national listing can be found at; www.naag.org

Your State Attorney General’s office is another useful resource for research or resolution

A national listing can be found at;

www.naag.org

In summary Take the time necessary to establish the legitimacy of any company, service or vendor that is new to you, especially if they have approached you . Such research should include a verifiable business location telephone number and other indications of sustained commercial activity. Consult your local BBB and other sources of information. You’ll be glad you did!