The document summarizes the key findings of a BBB report on scams. It identifies the top 5 riskiest scams according to a new "Risk Index" methodology that considers exposure, susceptibility, and monetary loss. Home improvement scams and fake check scams pose the greatest risk. The report also provides scam statistics by age group and gender. Men are more susceptible than women, and 18-24 year olds are most likely to lose money. However, seniors tend to lose more money on average. The report advises consumers on various digital spring cleaning and identity protection tips.

1. theMarketMonitorN E W S F O R B E T T E R B U S I N E S S B U R E A U A C C R E D I T E D B U S I N E S S E S®
B E T T E R B U S I N E S S B U R E A U S E R V I N G G R E A T E R C L E V E L A N D
Digital Spring Cleaning
• Clean out old email and
empty deleted folders
• Unsubscribe to
newsletters, alerts, etc.,
you no longer read
• Update software on
devices to reduce
malware risk
• Delete unused apps and
review app permissions
• Make new passwords
using upper and lower
case letters with numbers
or symbols
• Copy sensitive/important
data to the cloud for safe
storage
INSIDE: B2B Discounts • FacebookScams • DigitalSpringCleaning • EmailScamAlert
ShredDay • NARIContractor oftheYearAward • QuickTipTuesdays • FlashWebinar
APRIL 2017
SERVICE TO THE
COMMUNITY
Greater Cleveland BBB Activity
Report: January - March 2017
Reports issued on companies/
charities: 369,964
Customer complaints filed: 1,675
Online Accredited Business
Directory listings viewed: 32,270
bbb.org/cleveland visits: 297,539
Advertising review cases
initiated: 183
New algorithm identifies cons that are riskiest to consumers:
men more vulnerable than women, and young adults at
highest risk
The BBB Institute for Marketplace Trust (BBB Institute) has
released its BBB Scam Tracker Annual Risk Report, which
provides comprehensive insight into scams based on the more
than 32,000 reports made to BBB Scam Tracker (bbb.org/
scamtracker) in 2016. The BBB Risk Index is a paradigm shift in
how to calculate the true impact of different scams. In the past,
virtually all involved organizations used volume alone to create
“top scam” lists, but this approach ignored two other equally
critical factors: the susceptibility of the population and dollar
losses.
The data revealed that men were more vulnerable than women
in seven of the top ten scam categories; and consumers 18-24
are the most likely to lose money to a scam. While seniors tend
to lose more money than Millennials when they are scammed,
they fall for scams far less often. And the biggest takeaway is
that no one is immune from the risk posed by scams.
The BBB Risk Index measures risk along three dimensions:
• Exposure (how likely are you to be exposed to the con?)
• Susceptibility (if you are exposed, how likely are you to lose
money?) and
• Monetary loss (if you do lose money, how much is it likely to
be?).
Exposure X Susceptibility X Monetary Loss = Risk Index
Based on the BBB Risk Index, the riskiest top five scams overall
(U.S. and Canada combined) are:
1. Home improvement scams (bbb.org/homescam)
2. Fake checks and money orders (bbb.org/fakecheckscam)
3. Employment scams (bbb.org/employmentscam)
4. Online purchase scams (bbb.org/webpurchasescam)
5. Advance fee loan scams (bbb.org/loanscam)
Visit bbb.org/scamtracker to report scams and to see what
others have submitted from your area.
BBB IDENTIFIES TOP SCAMS
USING NEW “RISK INDEX;”
HOME IMPROVEMENT AND
FAKE CHECK SCAMS HEAD
THE LIST
HIGHLIGHTS BY AGE2
SNAPSHOT OF 2016
Total Number of BBB
Scam Tracker Reports
32,781
Susceptibility (i.e., % of
reports that included $ loss)
18.8%
Median Dollar Loss
$274
TOP 5 MOST RISKY SCAMS1
Travel & Vacation Scams
Home Improvement Scams
Charity Scams Fake Check/
Money Order ScamsDebt Collection Scams Employment Scams
Business E-mail
Compromise
Online Purchase Scams
Advanced Fee
Loans Scams
Home Improvement Scams
Door-to-door solicitors offer
quick, low-cost repairs and
then either take payments
without returning, do shoddy
work, or “find” issues that
dramatically raise the price.
Fake Check Scams
You deposit a phony check
and then return a portion by
wire transfer to the scammer.
The stories vary, but you
will often be told you are
refunding an “accidental”
overpayment.
Employment Scams
You are led to believe you
are applying or have just
been hired for a promising
new career while you have,
in fact, given personal
information or money to
scammers for “training”
or “equipment.”
Online Purchase Scams
These cons often involve
purchases and sales on
direct seller-to-buyer sites.
A buyer may send a fake
check, or a seller may simply
never deliver the item.
Advance Fee Loan Scams
A loan is guaranteed but, once
you pay upfront charges, such
as taxes or a “processing fee,”
the loan never materializes.
#1 #2 #3
#4 #5
BBB SCAM TRACKER
Annual Risk Report
DATAat a Glance
Most Risky Scam Types by Age
65+
Family/Friend
Emergency
55-64
Home
Improvement
45-54
Home
Improvement
35-44
Investment
25-34
Employment
18-24
Fake Check
Susceptibility
decreases with age,
but when losses
occur, they are
higher in the older
age groups.
Median $ Loss
% Susceptibility
HIGHLIGHTS BY GENDER
Gender differences in
susceptibility are small,
but the dollar losses
reported are much
higher for men.
Median $ Loss
% Susceptibility
Most Risky Scam
Types by Gender
Online
Purchases
F
M
Investment
Females
$249
18.8%
$361
19.9%
Males
MEANS OF CONTACT3
PAYMENT METHODS
1
The formula for calculating the BBB Risk Index is Exposure X Susceptibility X Median Loss/Overall Median Loss X 1,000.
2
Excludes scam types with less than 30 reports for the specified group.
3
Excludes reports where no monetary loss occurred.
Report scams. Learn about scams. Protect yourself. Visit bbb.org/scamtracker
12%
$390
65+
15.4%
$300
55-64
20.2%
$273
45-54
25.3%
$225
35-44
27.9%
$227
25-34
37%
$200
18-24
Credit
Card
(34%)
Bank Account
Debit (16%)
Wire
Transfer
(12%)
Check
(9%)
Other
(8%)
Cash
(7%)
Online
Payment
System (6%)
Prepaid
Card
(5%)
Money
Order
(3%)
Phone
(23%)
Website
(19%)
E-mail
(18%)
Social
Media
(11%)
In Person
(7%)
Internet
Messaging
(6%)
Other
(5%)
Text
Message
(3%)
Postal
Mail
(2%)

2. ®
Follow usat:
FACEBOOK SCAMS TARGETING BUSINESSES
WITH PHONY GRANT OFFERS
Do not be misled by Facebook messages claiming that
your small business is eligible for a grant. Scammers
often pose as your Facebook friends to promote
fraudulent grants. Your “friend” may even claim he has
already received funds from the grant. Don’t believe it.
The Federal Trade Commission offers this advice:
• The government won’t contact you through social
media to offer you money.
• Real government grants don’t require that you pay
first. Stay away from any deal that makes you pay to
get your “business grant.”
• If someone tells you they need your passwords to give you a “business grant,” they’re
just trying to hack into your accounts to steal your money or impersonate you and scam
others.
• If the only way to communicate with the person offering you a “business grant” is
through social media or text, that is a red flag.
TIME FOR A DIGITAL SPRING CLEANING
The National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA) and
Better Business Bureau (BBB) are encouraging
consumers to get their online lives in good order
by conducting a thorough cleanse of their cyber
clutter and make “digital spring cleaning” an
annual ritual to help protect valuable personal
data. A NCSA survey found that preventing
identity theft is a top safety concern for
Americans, but there are several easy steps that
everyone should do that will go a long way in
tidying up digital disorder.
“Chances are that over the years you’ve accumulated lots of digital clutter that can impact
your cybersecurity posture. It’s critical to remember that just as you shred sensitive paper
documents before discarding, you should properly destroy important electronic data,” said
Michael Kaiser, NCSA’s executive director. “By following a few easy-to-use digital spring
cleaning tips, you can be significantly safer and more secure online. In addition, you will
have a renewed peace of mind that you are helping to protect yourself, your family and the
community at large. NCSA and BBB want everyone to enjoy the internet’s extraordinary
benefits with increased confidence.”
“Just as we urge people to safely shred old paper records, BBB is also urging consumers
and businesses to make sure that electronic files are properly disposed of when no longer
needed,” said Bill Fanelli, chief information officer with the Council of Better Business
Bureaus. “Old hard drives, data sticks, cell phones, tablets...anything that contains sensitive
data should securely destroyed. Digital spring cleaning also means deleting old files,
updating passwords and taking other steps to make sure your private information stays
private.” Many BBBs are hosting Secure Your ID Day shredding events in April.
Need to safely destroy old documents? BBB is having a free shredding event on April 29th.
(See notice on page 3). Bring up to 3 boxes or bags of paper for secure shredding.
B2B DISCOUNTS FOR
BBB ACCREDITED
BUSINESSES
KnowYourCustomers.com
is offering a 30% discount
on its service you can
use to report non-paying
customers and to research
reported non-payment of
potential customers. Enter
promo code CLEBBB at
knowyourcustomers.com.
Easton Telecom Phone service
rates ranging as low as 5% off
most retail services. For a no-
obligation cost comparison and
service analysis, contact Jim
Butler at (800) 222-8122.
All Ohio Secure Shred will
shred documents on site for
$25/month for one container.
Also, one-time bulk purge for
10 cents/lb. $50 minimum. Call
(330) 659-0840 or
(888) 747-3394.
Intellicorp Records, Inc. offers
online criminal checks for
$17.07 each. Other reports also
discounted. Call
(800) 539-3717.
PartnerShip®
offers discounts
on select FedEx®
services
including express packages,
ground packages, and
residential delivery, on both
new and existing FedEx®
accounts. Also save at
least 70% on standard and
guaranteed LTL freight
shipments with UPS Freight,
YRC Freight, Con-way Freight,
and other reputable carriers,
including competitive pricing
on truckload, expedited, and
tradeshow shipments. Call
(800) 599-2902.
Some member discount programs
generate revenue which BBB reinvests
into the organization’s operations.

3. bbb.org/cleveland
theMarketMonitor
SCAM ALERT: CREEPY EMAIL CON CLAIMS
TO BE WATCHING YOU ONLINE
You receive an email informing you that you’ve
been caught performing fraudulent activities
online. One version claims you’ve been using
PayPal to illegally transfer funds. The accusation is
false, of course, but the email has your real name
and address (although targets report that the
address is frequently out of date).
The email’s author warns that someone has been
monitoring your online activities and collecting
evidence to take to the police. Luckily, the
scammer has attached the incriminating evidence
to the email, so you can see it and respond. How kind!
No matter how curious you are, don’t download the file! The attachment adds malware
to your device, which scammers then use to capture passwords or hunt for sensitive
information.
How to Spot an Email Scam:
• Be wary of unexpected emails that contain links or attachments. Do not click on links or
open files in unfamiliar emails.
• Check the reply email address. One easy way to spot an email scam is to look at the reply
email. The address should be on a company domain, such a jsmith@company.com.
• Don’t believe what you see. Just because an email looks real doesn’t mean it is.
Scammers can fake anything from a company logo to the “Sent” email address.
• Consider how the organization normally contacts you. If an organization normally
reaches you by mail, be suspicious if you suddenly start receiving emails or text
messages without ever opting into the new communications.
• Be cautious of generic emails. Scammers try to cast a wide net by including little or no
specific information in their fake emails. Be especially wary of messages you have not
subscribed to or companies you have never done business with in the past.
SHED A FEW POUNDS (OF UNWANTED
PAPER) AT BBB’S FREE SHREDDING EVENT
Bring up to 3 boxes or bags of
documents and have them securely
shredded at BBB’s Secure Your ID Day.
The event happens Saturday, April
29th at RadAir locations in Lorain and
Solon. BBB has conducted this event
for nine years resulting in 119 tons of
shredded paper. This is a perfect time
to clean personal and business files
and be assured that confidential
information does not get into
the hands of scammers. BBB thanks All
Ohio Secure Shred for providing the
shredding services. Their trucks are
equipped with video cameras if you
wish to watch your documents get
shredded. Hope to see you there!
CONGRATULATIONS!
The following BBB Accredited
Businesses were recognized as
the “best of the best” at NARI’s
Contractor of the Year Award
(COTY) ceremonies held in March.
Absolute Roofing and Construction
B. Legrand Design::Build
Dover Home Remodelers
Hurst Design-Build-Remodel
Jemm Construction
Kitchens by LoGrasso
Northeastern Residential
Odell Construction
Perrino Builders & Remodeling
R. B. Schwarz
Remodel Me Today
Tamer Construction
Mini webinars (under 15 minutes)
to help you maximize your BBB
accreditation.
May 2nd @ 9:00 am
Are you using BBB’s Customer
Review Button?
May 16th @ 9:00 am
Does your business have a Five
Star Rating?
June 6th @ 9:00 am
Event Marketing Tips for Better
Events
June 20th @ 9:00 am
Effectively Advertise your
Accredited Business
Watch your email for registration!
You and your employees are
invited to tune into FREE, 30
minute webinars that get straight
to the point and cover important
details on helpful topics. So grab
your computer and let your BBB
help advance your business in the
time it takes to enjoy your morning
coffee! Stay tuned for upcoming
webinars.
Interested in presenting a BBB
Flash Webinar? Have questions?
Contact Brigid at (216) 623-8964
x206 or brigid@cleveland.bbb.org.
BBB FLASH Webinar

4. The Market Monitor
Better Business Bureau
2800 Euclid Avenue, 4th Floor
Cleveland, OH 44115-2417
The Market Monitor (ISSN 1085-5122). April 2017. Volume 13 No. 2. Published bimonthly in February, April, June, August, October and December by the Better Business Bureau, Inc. 2800 Euclid Avenue, 4th Floor,
Cleveland, OH 44115-2417, Periodicals postage paid at Cleveland, OH. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: The Market Monitor, 2800 Euclid Avenue, 4th Floor, Cleveland, OH 44115-2417.
Periodicals Postage Paid
A special thank
you to our
BBB Accredited
Businesses for
supporting our
booth at the
2017 Home +
Remodeling Expo
The Market Monitor
Better Business Bureau
2800 Euclid Avenue, 4th Floor
Cleveland, OH 44115-2417
Periodicals Postage Paid
APRIL 2017