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Hiring Our Heroes

Hiring Our Heroes, a veteran initiative program of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, helps veterans, transitioning service members and military spouses find meaningful employment opportunities.

Better Business Bureau serving the Northwest had the honor of helping host a Corporate Fellowship Program event in DuPont, Washington for Hiring Our Heroes on April 20.

These types of events give service members the opportunity to interview for corporate management positions. These roles are often a challenge for military leaders to find when they are transitioning out of service. This program helps transitioning members have better success at landing these positions. With a more than 90 percent placement rate at Joint Base Lewis-McCord, it has helped many transitioning service members land corporate management jobs.

Many local organizations partner with Hiring Our Heroes for events. Organizations such as Starbucks, UPS and Nordstrom were involved at the DuPont event as well as Alliance Enterprises and Amazon, who are both BBB Accredited Businesses. Repeat participation from businesses is common because many businesses enjoy working with Hiring Our Heroes. It gives businesses the opportunity for community and business engagement.

For businesses who would like to get involved, visit the Hiring Our Heroes website. Hiring Our Heroes’ Veteran Employment Advisory Council and Corporate Fellowship Program are great opportunities for companies to get engaged with the members transitioning out of service. The fellowship program started in Washington at Joint Base Lewis-McCord under Rob Comer’s lead. It now operates in several locations across the nation.

BBB also wants to remind businesses of our Military Line and Accredited Charities.

Companies such as Hiring Our Heroes and Camo2Commerce are applying to become BBB Accredited Charities. Accredited Charities are a great resource for donors, businesses and others trying to find a charity that will use their funds wisely.  There is no cost to becoming an accredited charity.

BBB Military Line is an outreach program that focuses on educating service members about financial literacy and tools to navigate the marketplace. BBB Northwest is proud to support service members with opportunities such as Hiring Our Heroes.

For more information about Hiring Our Heroes, be sure to check out Western Washington’s Facebook Live interview at the DuPont event with Marketplace Manager Aly Schmidt, and Hiring Our Heroes Representatives, Rob Comer and Rob White.

Tax Day Reminders

Tax Day has been pushed to Tuesday, April 18 because of a holiday in the nation’s capital this year. This gives you an extra few days to file your tax return or pay any taxes owed to the government. With the federal tax deadline upon us, Better Business Bureau serving the Northwest wants to inform taxpayers of time extension options, how to pay owed taxes and the new IRS debt collection change.

Extension to File Your Tax Return

Need some time to get your tax return pulled together? The IRS gives people who complete the proper form by Tax Day a six-month extension of time to prepare their tax return. To prepare and e-file an extension for free, use this list of Free File software companies posted on the IRS website.

Payment Options

Although an extension gives you more time to prepare your tax return, it doesn’t give you more time to pay any taxes owed to the government. Tax Day, April 18 is the deadline for most to pay taxes owed.

Can’t pay now and want to avoid penalty and interest charges? Here are some payment options:

• Apply for an online payment agreementwith the IRS  to pay in monthly installments.
• Fill out an Offer in Compromise application to see if you can settle your tax debt for less than the full amount.
• Want to wait until your financial situation gets better to start to pay? Request that the IRS temporarily delay collection.

New Change to IRS Debt Collection

Starting this month, the IRS will begin contacting a few hundred taxpayers whose overdue federal tax accounts are being assigned one of four private-sector collection agencies. Taxpayers who have received multiple contacts from the IRS in previous years and still have an unpaid tax bill will be assigned to a private firm. These taxpayers will be receiving multiple contacts, letters and phone calls, first from the IRS about this change.

The four private groups awarded the contracts to collect on debt are:

1. CBE Group, 1309 Technology Parkway, Cedar Falls, IA 50613
2. Conserve, 200CrossKeys Office Park, Fairport, NY 14450
3. Performant, 333 N Canyons Parkway, Livermore, CA 94551
4. Pioneer, 325 DanielZenker Dr, Horseheads, NY 14845

Better Business Bureau serving the Northwest warns taxpayers to watch out for scammers posing as IRS or private collection agents. Private collection firms will only be calling about a tax debt the person has had – and has been aware of – for years and had been contacted about previously in the past by the IRS.

To find out how you can tell the difference between a legitimate debt collector and a scammer, visit www.bbb.org/irscalls.

The IRS also advised any taxpayer who wants to make a complaint about a private collection agency or about the behavior of a specific employee to contact the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA). If you run into one of these scams, let others know about your experience by reporting it to BBB Scam Tracker.

Spring Break Scams Target Grandparents & Travelers

Bring on the sunshine because it’s time for spring break! Whether you’re vacationing on the beach or keeping it simple and staying home with your family, it’s supposed to be a relaxing time. But all that fun may come to a halt when a scammer tries to fool you with a spring break scam.

Travel scams and family/friend emergency scams are common this time of year for consumers planning trips and even for those who aren’t taking a break. Better Business Bureau serving the Northwest recommends staying alert when it comes to any vacation situation.

Grandparent Scams

There were 42 family/friend emergency scams reported to BBB Scam Tracker throughout the Northwest. Scammers attempted to steal $42,00 and made away with an estimated $6,000.

One grandparent in Meridian, Idaho received a phone call from someone she thought was her grandson. He told her he was in jail in Hawaii and needed $4000 for a bond. He transferred the phone over to the captain of the Honolulu Detention Center to explain the whole situation in detail to her. He instructed her to purchase $4000 worth of iTunes gift cards at Best Buy and read the card numbers back to him which is what she did. The next day she called the captain and he told her to do the same thing again but with $2,000 worth of gift cards this time for court and other related fees. That day the captain said her grandson was released but not to call any other family member because her grandson wanted to tell them instead. The next day she discovered it was a scam when her real grandson called her.

The grandparent scam, also known as the stranded student scam, starts out when scammers contact seniors calling in distress. They tell them they got in a bad accident, usually somewhere out of state, and they need help. They ask the elderly person to send them money, but not to call their parents because they want to be the ones to tell them. When the grandparent asks who they’re speaking to the scammer usually says something along the lines of, “I’m your eldest grandchild!”

Some will get skeptical and ask a personal question to see if it’s really their grandchild or hang up and call their actual grandchild’s phone number or another relative to confirm their grandchild is safe. Others get nervous and follow their “grandparent instincts” and try to help their family and send money.

Relatives should follow these tips to avoid this scheme and ensure their family members are safe:

• Stay calm. Scammers want to see an emotional reaction from relatives. They intend to pull on your heartstrings to get you to transfer money quickly. Don’t fall for this. Take a few deep breaths and make sure to identify who you’re speaking with.
• Never wire money. Wiring money should be the first red flag relatives look out for. When you send money via wiring, pre-paid debit card or transferring there’s no way get it back.
• Ask a personal question. Before you make any transaction, make sure the caller is your grandchild or relative. Confirm their identity by asking a simple question that the grandchild would know instantly such as their middle name or birthday. Be careful not to reveal any personal information about either person.
• Discuss with family members. Even if the caller tells you not to contact their parents or any other family member, mention it to someone. Somehow, you’ll find out where the real grandchild is.
• Get in contact in different ways. Check your grandchild’s social media accounts. If they are excited about a vacation, chances are their millennial urges will kick in and they’ll post a picture of where they are. If they don’t post anything you could always try Facebook messaging, emailing or calling their actual cell phone number.
• Communicate. To avoid questioning this scam in the first place, make sure to have family members share their travel plans before they leave the state or country. To make sure older family members are aware of this scam, inform them on how the scam works.

Travel Scams

With over 200 travel/vacation scams reported to BBB Scam Tracker in the Northwest, an estimated $50,00 was lost by consumers.

Whether you’re a teacher, student or anyone looking to escape for spring break, it can be tempting to purchase a great deal.  BBB advises consumers planning a vacation for spring break to follow these tips:

• Use a website or company you can trust. Make sure to do your research and review business profiles and read customer reviews when picking out rentals or hotels. Check out travel agencies or search the Accredited Business Directory at bbb.org/northwest.
• Get details in writing. Confirm any reservations, costs, flights, hotel or rental reservations, cancellation policies or any other trip details in writing. This way you’ll have all your bases covered.
• Always pay with a credit card. Paying with a credit card adds additional protection if you are scammed. Other payments such as wiring money and pre-paid cards are harder to track and most of the time it’s impossible to get your money back.
• Be wary of vacation packages and deals. If you find a great deal online, remember, if a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is. Lottery/Sweepstakes scams are also very common. Watch out for phone calls, social media ads or emails telling you, “Congratulations! You have won a trip!” These are schemes to get your personal information or a couple hundred dollars, rather than actually giving you a free vacation.

Four Business Tips from a Successful, Local, Small Business

Article by Aly Schmidt, Seattle Marketplace Manager

Before I made it to the front desk at Budget Blinds in West Seattle. I was greeted with a handshake and a warm “How can we help you today?” from co-owner Kendra Hammer.

Owning a thriving small business in a market like Seattle is quite a feat. The Washington State Employment Security Department reports that King County accommodates nearly 1.28 million jobs in its very diverse labor market. However, Parrish and Kendra Hammer, the owners of Budget Blinds of West Seattle, have endured quite a bit more than Seattle’s demanding market. When they moved their young family of four to Seattle to start their business they did not know about the economic downturn or the family hardships outside of work they would soon face. Even so, they were able to succeed.

Kendra Hammer offers the following tips for leading a successful small local business:

Learn to Delegate

“It’s hard to hand things off to others when you know you are good at what you do,” Kendra said.

The couple knew all the functions within their business but when they needed extra hands it was often difficult to pass the workload on. To ensure a smooth transition Kendra began hands-on training with her employees. That freed the couple to begin focusing on other business priorities outside of the office. They have been able to add more jobs to the area and create more opportunities for better customer service. Delegation really came into play when their family was faced with unexpected hardship which led Kendra to tell me about another priority of hers.

Always Find the Silver Lining

“Six and a half years ago my daughter had a brain aneurysm rupture and she suffered a stroke,” Kendra said. “Six months after that, the repair they made ruptured and she had to have emergency open brain surgery.”

It was through this trying time the Hammer’s really focused on delegating to their staff, but it’s also where they learned times of hardship can create great growth. Believe it or not, this hard time helped the Hammer’s develop a new sales structure. Parrish and Kendra had to alternate their schedules so one of them could work while the other could care for their daughter. Their hours spent in sales dropped tremendously but their sales numbers seemed unaffected.

“To this day, we don’t go out on sales calls two days in a row,” Kendra said.

Unintentionally they found a more efficient way of operating. The mother of two always tries to find a silver lining in every hardship and encourages all others to do the same.

Go the Extra Mile

“A lot of our customers are moving into a new place and have nothing for their windows … we will automatically provide temporary window treatments for any bathrooms and any bedrooms that are being slept in until their order arrives,” Kendra said.

The extra effort put forth by Budget Blinds of West Seattle is meant to help customers while they get settled in. It’s also not something the Budget Blinds brand requires.

“It just makes our customers feel taken care of,” Kendra said, “That’s really important to us.”

The Hammer’s exemplify going above and beyond in more ways than one. They also follow up with each customer a few weeks after installation to ensure everything is working well, they have been a BBB Accredited Business for almost 10 years, and they have a showroom to display all the products they offer. The Budget Blinds business model is traditionally a shop-at-home-service with all their products available in vans. However, Parrish and Kendra decided a store front would give them the presence in the community they wanted and they have seen their extra investment pay off.

Get Involved in Your Community

“Sponsoring local events or becoming involved in community groups pays off in more than one way,” Kendra said.

She believes a business can grow their presence in the community while having fun. This leads to more public relations and increased clientele. Kendra feels strongly about community involvement so Budget Blinds of West Seattle has a diversified array of events and groups they support. Each year they are approached by almost a dozen schools in the area to support auctions and fundraisers. They sponsor the West Seattle Blog, Westside Baby and they even purchased ad space in programs for the local theatre and arts.

“I don’t have to search for events to help anymore, people come to us because they know we like to be involved,” Kendra said. “It’s wonderful.”

Like the Hammers, most business owners deal with growth, personal setbacks, customer service and the community in their service area. Whether you are thinking about becoming an entrepreneur, changing a few things in your existing business operations, or you are a consumer looking for types of businesses to trust, I hope this list of tips inspires you to step out and do something new or set new expectations for who you choose to do business with.

Consumer Sentinel Network Data Book Sees an Increase in Impostor Scams

Scam Alert Showing Rip Off And Sign

The Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) Consumer Sentinel Network released its annual Data Book with over 3.1 million complaints from the 2016 calendar year. Better Business Bureau is a major contributor of complaint data along with other non-governmental organizations and many state law enforcement organizations.

By sharing this report, law enforcement partners across the nation can use the database information to track emerging trends in scams and deception and to help with pending investigations.

The data book is based on unverified complaints reported by consumers with 42 percent of those complaints being fraud complaints, 13 percent identity theft complaints and 45 percent other types of complaints.

Out of the 30 complaint categories, debt collection was ranked number one with 28 percent of the overall complaints. Impostor scams and identity theft scams came in second with 13 percent each, followed by 10 percent of the complaints involving Telephone and Mobile Services.Impostor scams grew from 11 percent to 13 percent in the last year which means it’s a growing problem.

The data book includes national statistics as well as a state-by-state listing of top complaint categories in each state. Based on the consumer complaints from 2016, the breakdown of complaints from BBB Northwest states is as follows.

ALASKA

There was a total of 3,376 identity theft, fraud and other consumer complaints in Alaska. Of that, there were 2,663 fraud and other complaints.

The top 10 fraud and other complaint categories by Alaska consumers were:

1. Prizes, Sweepstakes, and Lotteries (Complaints: 599, Percentage: 22%)
2. Impostor Scams (Complaints: 472, Percentage: 18%)
3. Shop-at-Home and Catalog Sales (Complaints: 177, Percentage: 7%)
4. Banks and Lenders (Complaints: 172, Percentage: 6%)
5. Telephone and Mobile Services (Complaints: 154, Percentage: 6%)
6. Debt Collection (Complaints: 143, Percentage: 5%)
7. Auto-Related Complaints (Complaints: 105, Percentage: 4%)
8. Credit Bureaus, Information Furnishers and Report Users (Complaints: 69, Percentage: 3%)
9. Internet Services (Complaints: 64, Percentage: 2%)
10. Credit Cards (Complaints: 58, Percentage: 2%)

There was a total of 713 identity theft complaints from Alaska victims.

The following are the types of identity thefts reported:

1. Employment- or Tax-Related Fraud (Complaints: 349, Percentage: 49%)
2. Credit Card Fraud (Complaints: 169, Percentage: 24%)
3. Bank Fraud (Complaints: 88, Percentage: 12%)
4. Phone or Utilities Fraud (Complaints: 48, Percentage: 7%)
5. Government Documents or Benefits Fraud (Complaints: 42, Percentage: 6%)
6. Loan or Lease Fraud (Complaints: 33, Percentage: 5%)
7. Other (Complaints: 71, Percentage: 10%)
8. Attempted Identity Theft (Complaints: 1, Percentage: <1%)

IDAHO

There was a total of 9,148 identity theft, fraud and other consumer complaints in Idaho. Of that, there were 7,800 fraud and other complaints.

The top 10 fraud and other complaint categories by Idaho consumers were:

1. Impostor Scams (Complaints: 1,849, Percentage: 24%)
2. Debt Collection (Complaints: 1,000, Percentage: 13%)
3. Telephone and Mobile Services (Complaints: 713, Percentage: 9%)
4. Prizes, Sweepstakes, and Lotteries (Complaints: 700, Percentage: 9%)
5. Banks and Lenders (Complaints: 477, Percentage: 6%)
6. Shop-at-Home and Catalog Sales (Complaints: 386, Percentage: 5%)
7. Auto-Related Complaints (Complaints: 347, Percentage: 4%)
8. Internet Services (Complaints: 231, Percentage: 3%)
9. Television and Electronic Media (Complaints: 221, Percentage: 3%)
10. Credit Bureaus, Information Furnishers and Report (Complaints: 176, Percentage: 2%)

There was a total of 1,348 identity theft complaints from Idaho victims.

The following are the types of identity thefts reported:

1. Employment- or Tax-Related Fraud (Complaints: 509, Percentage: 38%)
2. Credit Card Fraud (Complaints: 371, Percentage: 28%)
3. Loan or Lease Fraud (Complaints: 183, Percentage: 14%)
4. Bank Fraud (Complaints: 116, Percentage: 9%)
5. Phone or Utilities Fraud (Complaints: 113, Percentage: 8%)
6. Government Documents or Benefits Fraud (Complaints: 47, Percentage: 3%)
7. Other (Complaints: 176, Percentage: 13%)
8. Attempted Identity Theft (Complaints:-, Percentage: -)

MONTANA

There was a total of 5,311 identity theft, fraud and other consumer complaints in Montana. Of that, there were 4,600 fraud and other complaints.

The top 10 fraud and other complaint categories by Montana consumers were:

1. Impostor Scams (Complaints: 1,222, Percentage: 27%)
2. Prizes, Sweepstakes, and Lotteries (Complaints: 695, Percentage: 15%)
3. Debt Collection (Complaints: 400, Percentage: 9%)
4. Telephone and Mobile Services (Complaints: 385, Percentage: 8%)
5. Shop-at-Home and Catalog Sales (Complaints: 279, Percentage: 6%)
6. Banks and Lenders (Complaints: 236, Percentage: 5%)
7. Auto-Related Complaints (Complaints: 159, Percentage: 3%)
8. Foreign Money Offers and Counterfeit Check Scams (Complaints: 107, Percentage: 2%)
9. Internet Services (Complaints: 101, Percentage: 2%)
10. Television and Electronic Media (Complaints: 88, 2%)

There was a total of 711 identity theft complaints from Montana victims.

The following are the types of identity thefts reported:

1. Employment- or Tax-Related Fraud (Complaints: 292, Percentage: 41%)
2. Credit Card Fraud (Complaints: 226, Percentage: 32%)
3. Bank Fraud (Complaints: 70, Percentage: 10%)
4. Phone or Utilities Fraud (Complaints: 50, Percentage: 7%)
5. Government Documents or Benefits Fraud (Complaints: 37, 5%)
6. Loan or Lease Fraud (Complaints: 31, Percentage: 4%)
7. Other (Complaints: 84, Percentage: 12%)
8. Attempted Identity Theft (Complaints: 2, Percentage: <1%)

OREGON

There was a total of 26,697 identity theft, fraud and other consumer complaints in Oregon. Of that, there were 22,385 fraud and other complaints.

The top 10 fraud and other complaint categories by Oregon consumers were:

1. Impostor Scams (Complaints: 5,363, Percentage: 24%)
2. Debt Collection (Complaints: 3,717, Percentage: 17%)
3. Telephone and Mobile Services (Complaints: 2,279, Percentage: 10%)
4. Prizes, Sweepstakes and Lotteries (Complaints: 1,758, Percentage: 8%)
5. Banks and Lenders (Complaints: 1,671, Percentage: 7%)
6. Shop-at-Home and Catalog Sales (Complaints: 1,052, Percentage: 5%)
7. Auto-Related Complaints (Complaints: 737, Percentage: 3%)
8. Television and Electronic Media (Complaints: 520, Percentage: 2%)
9. Internet Services (Complaints: 518, Percentage: 2%)
10. Credit Cards (Complaints: 510, Percentage: 2%)

There were a total of 4,312 identity theft complaints from Oregon victims.

The following are the types of identity thefts reported:

1. Credit Card Fraud (Complaints: 1,571, Percentage: 36%)
2. Employment- or Tax-Related Fraud (Complaints: 1,506, Percentage: 35%)
3. Bank Fraud (Complaints: 511, Percentage: 12%)
4. Phone or Utilities Fraud (Complaints: 356, Percentage: 8%)
5. Government Documents or Benefits Fraud (Complaints: 221, Percentage: 5%)
6. Loan or Lease Fraud (Complaints: 168, Percentage: 4%)
7. Other (Complaints: 513, Percentage: 12%)
8. Attempted Identity Theft (Complaints: 8, Percentage: <1%)

WASHINGTON

There was a total of 48,733 identity theft, fraud and other consumer complaints in Washington. Of that, there were 40,423 fraud and other complaints.

The top 10 fraud and other complaint categories by Washington consumers were:

1. Impostor Scams (Complaints: 9,783, Percentage: 24%)
2. Debt Collection (Complaints: 6,463, Percentage: 16%)
3. Telephone and Mobile Services (Complaints: 4,234, Percentage: 10%)
4. Banks and Lenders (Complaints: 3,042, Percentage: 8%)
5. Prizes, Sweepstakes and Lotteries (Complaints: 1,994, Percentage: 5%)
6. Shop-at-Home and Catalog Sales (Complaints: 1,923, Percentage: 5%)
7. Auto-Related Complaints (Complaints: 1,593, Percentage: 4%)
8. Internet Services (Complaints: 1,213, Percentage: 3%)
9. Television and Electronic Media (Complaints: 961, Percentage: 2%)
10. Credit Cards (Complaints: 871, Percentage: 2%)

There were a total of 8,310 identity theft complaints from Washington victims.

The following are the types of identity thefts reported:

1. Credit Card Fraud (Complaints: 3,421, Percentage: 41%)
2. Employment- or Tax-Related Fraud (Complaints: 2,478, Percentage: 30%)
3. Bank Fraud (Complaints: 1,052, Percentage: 13%)
4. Phone or Utilities Fraud (Complaints: 696, Percentage: 8%)
5. Government Documents or Benefits Fraud (Complaints: 452, Percentage: 5%)
6. Loan or Lease Fraud (Complaints: 356, Percentage: 4%)
7. Other (Complaints: 1,098, Percentage: 13%)
8. Attempted Identity Theft (Complaints: 19, Percentage: <1%)

WYOMING

There was a total of 2,874 identity theft, fraud and other consumer complaints in Wyoming. Of that, there were 2,437 fraud and other complaints.

The top 10 fraud and other complaint categories by Wyoming consumers were:

1. Impostor Scams (Complaints: 489, Percentage: 20%)
2. Prizes, Sweepstakes, and Lotteries (Complaints: 315, Percentage: 13%)
3. Debt Collection (Complaints: 291, Percentage: 12%)
4. Telephone and Mobile Services (Complaints: 216, Percentage: 9%)
5. Banks and Lenders (Complaints: 155, Percentage: 6%)
6. Shop-at-Home and Catalog Sales (Complaints: 153, Percentage: 6%)
7. Auto-Related Complaints (Complaints: 92, Percentage: 4%)
8. Television and Electronic Media (Complaints: 68, Percentage: 3%)
9. Internet Services (Complaints: 64, Percentage: 3%)
10. Foreign Money Offers and Counterfeit Check (Complaints: 55, Percentage: 2%)

There was a total of 437 identity theft complaints from Wyoming victims.

The following are the types of identity thefts reported:

1. Employment- or Tax-Related Fraud (Complaints: 162, Percentage: 37%)
2. Credit Card Fraud (Complaints: 124, Percentage: 28%)
3. Bank Fraud (Complaints: 49, Percentage: 11%)
4. Phone or Utilities Fraud (Complaints: 40, Percentage: 9%)
5. Loan or Lease Fraud (Complaints: 33, Percentage: 8%)
6. Government Documents or Benefits Fraud (Complaints: 21, Percentage: 5%)
7. Other (Complaints: 55, Percentage: 13%)
8. Attempted Identity Theft (Complaints: 1, Percentage:  <1%)

 

 

 

February Scam Wrap-Up

By Veronica Craker, Content and Communications Director

The following are scams that were reported to Better Business Bureau serving the Northwest in February. In most instances names and locations have been omitted to protect the victims’ privacy.

ALASKA 

This month there were 13 scams reported in Alaska with an estimated $1,300 lost.

Inheritance Scam 

An Anchorage woman reported she lost $1,200 in a fake inheritance scam. The woman reports she was contacted by the email alansotosotos@gmail.com letting her know a relative had passed away and left their estate to her. But in order to obtain the inheritance she needed to send money totaling $1,200 via MoneyGram to three separate people for legal fees and a death certificate. She was also convinced to send a copy of her 2015 income tax return.

Publisher’s Clearing House Scam

An Anchorage man reports he was targeted by a Publisher’s Clearing House scam. The man reports he was told he had won $250,000 six years ago, and the deadline to collect was expiring. The man was told to pay a $250 filing fee and the check would be delivered to his house. The man did not pay the fee.

IDAHO

This month there were 109 scams reported in Idaho with an estimated $2,400 lost.

Lottery Winner Scam

A Homedale woman reports she lost $1,700 to a lottery scam. The woman reports she was told she won $3.5 million and a new car. She was instructed to send two money orders to a woman in Florida and a man in Utah. After sending to money orders, one for $699 and another for $1,099 the Post Office stopped her from sending anything else. She soon realized it was not legitimate.

Tax Collection scam

A Nampa woman reported she was the target of a tax collection scam. The woman reports she received a recorded message saying she owed money to the IRS. These types of scams increase during tax season.

MONTANA

This month there were 26 scams reported in Montana with an estimated $950 lost.

Fake puppy website

A Hamilton man reports he lost $700 when he tried to purchase a puppy online. The man states he tried to purchase a puppy from Jiminies Shetland Sheepdog Kennels. He paid $700 via MoneyGram for the dog. Then he was told he needed to pay an additional $1,200 for insurance. The Hamilton man contacted local law enforcement and has not sent any additional money.

Advance Loan Scam

A Missoula woman reports she lost more than $200 when she tried to get a payday advance loan from 60mincash.com. She reports, she paid $200, but never received her loan. Now she is being contacted for more money to pay back the loan she never received.

OREGON

This month there were 100 scams reported in Oregon with an estimated $200 lost.

Fake Invoice Scam

A Portland woman reported she lost $45 in a fake invoice scam. The woman reports her office received hard-copy invoices to renew multiple domains expiring in the upcoming months. The invoice states: “This notice is not a bill, it is rather an easy means of payment should you decide to switch your domain name registration to Internet Domain Name Services.” One of the invoices was paid before the mistake was discovered.

Utility Scam

A Portland woman reported they were the target of a solar power program scam. The woman reports they received a pre-recorded call asking them if they were interested in reducing their energy bill by 14 percent. She clicked “1” for “yes” and then spoke with a man who requested personal information for billing. The woman asked what company this was and was told “Community services” and then “Solar Power Program.” When she pushed the caller with more questions they became angry with her and hung up on her.

WASHINGTON

This month there were 246 scams reported in Washington with an estimated $4,650 lost.

Can You Hear Me Now? 

A Seattle man reported he lost $100 to the “Can You Hear Me Now?” phishing scam. The man reports his wife received a call and since she doesn’t speak English he answered the phone for her. He reports the caller said they were adjusting their headset and asked him if he could hear her. The man checked his credit card statement the next day and found an unauthorized transaction for $100.79 for a California hotel.

Online Purchase Scam

An Auburn woman reported she lost $559.45 in an online purchase scam. The woman reports she purchased medical products through www.evamedicals.com. She was unable to pay for the order online, but was sent an email from the company requesting she make a payment via Western Union or MoneyGram. The woman sent the payment, but never received her products. She tried calling the number listed, but it was not working.

 

Google’s “Mobilegeddon” and What it Means for Your Website

Written by Jordan Stambaugh, Owner of Stambaugh Designs 

Google recently updated their search algorithm to include one important new metric – mobile devices. It was rumored that an update was coming that would totally change the online search landscape and the rumors were right.

What are the risks of not having a mobile friendly website?

Google’s search algorithm looks at over 200 factors when choosing which website to rank over another. Now one of those factors, and arguably the most important variable, is mobile-friendliness. Before the search algorithm update in 2015, all websites were created equal – a mobile-friendly website was not favored over one that was not.

This is no longer the case.

If your tree service website is not optimized for mobile devices then you run the risk of not showing up in search results when people search for your “Tree Service + Your City” on their mobile devices.

Many businesses are starting to realize the importance of ranking well on Google. If you don’t show up on the first page of Google, you’re practically invisible.

What makes a website mobile friendly? 

A mobile friendly website is a website that responds to the size of the user’s screen. There’s a Bellingham, Washington tree service website that is mobile friendly. The navigation, text and images all respond nicely to the size of the user’s screen.

You can test if your website is mobile friendly by using Google’s Mobile Friendly Test Tool.

A quicker way to see if a website is mobile friendly is to resize your browser window (on a desktop or laptop computer). If the text, images, and forms all scale down to fit nicely in the smaller browser window then congratulations! Your website is mobile friendly.

If you discover that you have over set text and images are cut off by the browser’s window, then unfortunately your website isn’t optimized for viewing on mobile devices.

About a year ago it was official – people search for things more on their smartphones than desktop computers. If your website isn’t mobile friendly then you’re bumped out of those search results.

It’s not too late to update your website. 

Let’s face it – more and more business is being conducted online. By not showing up on the first page of Google you could be leaving a lot of business on the table. But there is good news!

It’s not too late to update your website to have a mobile friendly design. By getting a mobile friendly website you will start to perform better in mobile search results which can bring you more business leads.

Your website should be viewed as your best employee – only if it’s optimized. A website works 24/7/365 with no over time. It’s also more effective than canvassing a neighborhood with a few of your crew members because people searching for your business on Google already want what you offer.

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Jordan M. Stambaugh has a degree in Digital Media Design and specializes in website creation and SEO services for local businesses.

He has helped numerous businesses rank in local search results, generating more revenue for companies in the tree service, home improvement, dental, plumbing, painting, repairs, beauty, solar industries and more.

 You’ll find him at Stambaugh Designs helping companies grow their business and at his business and design blog writing about website design and internet marketing.

Confessions of an Online Fashion Scam

By Jade Garcia, PR Coordinator

You’re browsing Facebook and see an ad on the side of the screen with the shoes you’ve had your eye on for a while. You glance at it because it’s just an ad. But then you do a double take because the website is selling it for a lot less than other retailers! You get so excited about the deal that you decide to put two pairs into your shopping cart and click the checkout button and enter your debit card to purchase them both.

The next day you check your email to see if your purchase has shipped, but you never received a confirmation email. Back on the website you find a phone number. When you try calling, it rings and leads you to a voicemail. Next you check your bank account to see if they charged you for the shoes. Instead there’s a random transaction from a company you have never heard of before. What’s going on?

This is just a scenario of what could happen to you when you run into an online purchase scam.

Consumer Experience

A consumer reported to Better Business Bureau serving the Northwest that she experienced a similar scam on sportsfanatic.co.

“I first saw their posts on Facebook ads- which now I know that should’ve been a sign,” she said.

She adds that she went to the Sports Fanatic website and saw the BBB shield, but never clicked on it to see a review.

When a couple weeks passed with no confirmation email and no package arriving with her sweatshirt, she tried looking up their phone number. She didn’t see one on their website so she emailed support@sportsfanatic.co. When she never received a call or email back she looked at her bank account and noticed a fraudulent charge listed as Summit View LLC.

Luckily, this consumer reported the incident to the BBB Scam Tracker and her bank. Through her bank, she was able to get her money back and change bank accounts so this business couldn’t charge her again. By reporting this scam to Scam Tracker, she warns other consumers to look out for these online shopping scams.

 

To dodge these scams, BBB warns to look out for the following red flags:

Spot Look-alike Sellers

 Watch out for URLs that use the names of well-known brands along with extra words or letters. It’s easy for scammers to mimic a famous retailer’s website. Even the confirmation email can be deceiving and seem legitimate. Check out retailers at bbb.org before you shop.

Look for the BBB Seal.

Some websites are misusing the BBB seal. To check if a company is truly accredited click on the blue BBB torch icon and you should be redirected to bbb.org to view the company’s business review. If not, it’s likely a fake.

Advertisement on Social Media

Forty percent of the scams reported to BBB Northwest were advertised on social media or used it as a means of contact. Remember, anyone can create a Facebook, Instagram or Twitter account. Check to see if the social media accounts have links to websites to make sure the business is legitimate.

Security Settings.

If the site is secure there should be an “s” in “https://” and a lock icon in the address bar on the purchase or shopping cart page.

 

Still not sure if the site is a scam or not? Before checking out and typing in a form of payment, make sure to follow these tips:

Unusual Forms of Payment.

Be wary of anyone who asks you to pay for purchases using prepaid debit cards, gift cards, wire transfers, third parties, etc. These payments cannot be traced and cannot be undone.

Declined Card at Purchase.

Multiple consumers have reported to BBB that when they make a purchase on the site, their card claims to be declined and within hours their cards are charged several times.

Be Wary of Signing Up for an Account.

Some websites require credit card information when creating an account. By creating an account and providing personal information, it may mean signing up for an unknown subscription, charge or for scammers to hack your card information.

To find out more about scams or to report one go to BBB Scam Tracker.

Washington Company Supports Employee Growth

Written by Kirstin Davis, Marketplace Director Eastern Washington/North Idaho

Tenaciously smart, no jerks, be real, bold regard and coolness.

These could be considered adjectives or community pool rules, but instead they are the core values of Zerorez Spokane. The words stand life size inside the company building in Spokane Valley.

Skateboards, beards, massage loungers, mascots and Foosball.

These could be things you see on fraternity row at a University, but instead they are the visuals you see as you wander the Zerorez Spokane warehouse. When 23-year-old Jeremy McGee decided he was going to honor his entrepreneurial spirit, he started with the fortitude and energy of all the above.

“I just wanted to have something I could build, something that would allow me to work with people, grow my talents and theirs too,” he said.

McGee climbed into his first and only cleaning truck in 2004. But he didn’t have many jobs that first day. So, he got out and started knocking on doors.

Eventually his perseverance and customer service skills paid off and one truck turned into multiple trucks. As McGee matured so did the business and McGee knew things were progressing to another level.

“The most monumental tipping point was moving from being a technician and actually doing the work to being the leader,” McGee said.

Eventually, McGee stepped away from operations and marketing and hired directors for the roles. This allowed him to focus on mentoring his team so they could make day-to-day decisions independently. Today, Zerorez Spokane employs 30 people and has a fleet of 14 trucks.

The Zerorez warehouse is a playground of support, creativity and elbow grease. Company culture is a priority for McGee, who fosters personal and professional growth for all team members. Many technicians clean carpets for two to four years and don’t imagine being in the position long term.

“We are completely transparent when techs come on board,” McGee said. “This is an opportunity for them to grow in a span of time and then move on to bigger and better things, and that’s what we hope for them.”

Tyson Chapman was one of the first cleaning technicians for McGee. He worked his way up to a technician leader and became part of the management team. Eventually, Chapman was ready for more and McGee was more than happy to continue supporting his ambition.

In 2014, they strategized a plan to take the Zerorez brand to the Tri-Cities, with Chapman taking on the leadership role. McGee would provide the start-up funding, hiring and marketing resources while Chapman took to the streets with a cleaning van. The first month was the most successful in franchise history. Last year Chapman bought McGee out and today Chapman has five trucks servicing the Tri-Cities.

“If you are about yourself and try to make a buck, that can work.,” Chapman said. “If you in turn do something for others, you will grow.”

You won’t find a community service policy at Zerorez, however it is big part of the culture and authentic. It may be in the form of a food drive, pink shoe covers in October or donated cleaning services.

“If they see a need to take care of somebody that is in grief or need, they can act on it,” McGee said. “Technicians feel empowered by this ability to give back. It’s not a mandate —we don’t regulate it.”

McGee’s products are simplified with alkaline based and oxidized empowered water.

“We were green before green was cool,” McGee said.

High temperature water and efficient equipment allows them to clean without using soaps or shampoos, which are designed to attract dirt.

Cleaning inside people’s homes is a very personal service and requires excellent customer service and trust. Legitimacy and reputation is a priority for McGee and was one of the reasons he decided to become a BBB Accredited Business in 2011. According to McGee, customer service satisfaction for the industry is on average 30 percent, but Zerorez sits at 82 percent. McGee said they set goals to improve the customer experience.

“It’s helped us really know how we can better serve the customer,” he said. “It gives us something else to watch and learn from.”

Even as an established entrepreneur with a young family, McGee sleeps well.

“It is a simple industry,” he said. “What allows me to sleep at night is knowing that we’re being honest and doing the right thing and the customer gets to see that happen personally.”