Better Business Bureau

The Better Business Bureau is warning consumers that financial losses are on the rise from schemes involving phony lotteries and sweepstakes during the coronavirus pandemic. According to the BBB, the bureau has seen a decline in complaints since it conducted a 2018 study on sweepstakes and lottery-based fraud, but financial losses have surged by more than 35% in terms of…

With another round of COVID-19 stimulus checks on the way to select Americans, the Better Business Bureau warned consumers Tuesday of a potential increase in scams.

Giant lottery jackpots could bring scammers looking to prey on honest players, according to the Better Business Bureau. NBC 5’s Sandra Torres reports.

The Better Business Bureau warned against reselling and buying pre-owned gift cards following the Christmas holiday last week.

There’s been a lot of pandemic puppy love happening this year as many families taking advantage of the time at home to get a pet. But fraudsters are taking advantage of the pandemic, telling buyers they can’t meet the animals before sending money. The Better Business Bureau says puppy and kitten scams have more than doubled this year, with projected...

The top Chicago-area headlines you need to know from Dec. 2, 2020.

The Better Business Bureau is warning dog lovers in search of a pandemic buddy about a sharp rise in online puppy sale scams this year.

The Better Business Bureau warned of online puppy scams taking rise in 2020 as swindlers take advantage of the global coronavirus pandemic. NBC 5’s Kate Chappell reports.

Editor’s note: Since the publication of this article, Hyperfavor has resolved “some complaints” initially noted by the Better Business Bureau, according to the BBB, and continues to work with the Bureau to resolve others. According to the BBB, the company’s rating is currently set to NR because of the open complaints. The BBB will issue a rating “once the...

It was billed as the “Ultimate Labor Day Weekend Getaway” party at a five-star resort in the Dominican Republic.     And the party host, was none other than TV talk show host and comedian Steve Harvey.  But Steve Harvey’s Sand and Soul festival was also a chance for Genelle Betterson to celebrate retirement after 33 years of work in Georgia. ...

Imagine moving half way across the country, only to start living in an empty home with none of your furniture in sight.  Now, couple is speaking out after their dispute with a suburban Chicago-based moving company. Eber and Bianca Beck recently relocated from Kansas City, Kansas to Ithaca, New York for Eber’s new job.  They said they hired a...

One couple moved halfway across the country only to find themselves in an empty house with no belongings due to the failure of a moving company from Chicago suburban Carol Stream. NBC 5’s Chris Coffey reports.

The Better Business Bureau warned homeowners who need to get their driveway sealed, that a scam is making its way through the Chicago area. The BBB’s Scam Tracker received numerous reports of contractors who trick people with supposedly good deals, according to a news release by the agency. The contractors have allegedly been showing up at people’s doors or...

With more people at home during the coronavirus pandemic, the demand for puppies has skyrocketed, and with that demand comes a new warning about thieves targeting people seeking companionship. “The Better Business Bureau (BBB) has seen a sharp increase in complaints not only locally but nationally regarding puppy scams,” said Steve Bernas, the CEO of the BBB serving Chicago and…

Scams involving pet breeders advertising their services online are on the rise, and NBC 5’s Kate Chappell has a warning from the Better Business Bureau.

Online thieves are preying on the anxiety surrounding the coronavirus pandemic to make a quick buck, according to the Better Business Bureau. “When you have a pandemic type situation, you have panic,” said Steve Bernas, President and CEO of the BBB of Chicago and Northern Illinois. “Unfortunately, this is a scammer’s paradise right now.” From masks to at-home test...

Debt collection scams sit atop the Better Business Bureau of Chicago and Northern Illinois’ Top 10 Scams of 2019. The annual report analyzes data gathered through the organization’s Scam Tracker, which encourages consumers to report fraudulent activity to help BBB monitor nationwide and local trends more effectively. According to the BBB, phony debt collectors have the rise of robocall and…

The Better Business Bureau is warning of a new “free child safety kit” scam that targets sensitive information about children.

The BBB is issuing a scam warning for apartment seekers, saying that the perfect listing may be too good to be true. NBC 5’s Charlie Wojciechowski has the story.