Better Business Bureau
QUINCY — It’s tough to keep track of your info in an increasingly connected world. As we rely more on online services for daily activities, it’s more important than ever to be in control of your data. Quite a bit of personal information is already shared on the internet by cell phones, tablets, laptops or…
Read Full Article QUINCY — Finding a new place to live is stressful, and apartment hunting moves quickly. People looking for a new rental don’t always have time to do thorough research. Scammers try to take advantage of this by creating fake rental listings that use photos and descriptions stolen from real listings to look legitimate. Rental scammers…
Read Full Article QUINCY — No one likes doing their taxes, but filing early may help you avoid tax fraud this year. Tax scams are among the types of fraud most frequently reported to BBB, and scammers often impersonate the IRS. Their goal is either to get your personal information for tax identity theft or to trick you…
Read Full Article QUINCY — Better Business Bureau Quincy welcomed two new Advisory Board members to its ranks, effective Jan. 1. “Our new board members share BBB’s commitment to making sure Quincy is a great place to live, give and do business,” Don O’Brien, BBB Quincy Regional Director, said in a press release. “I look forward to working…
Read Full Article QUINCY — Success stories in ads for online dating services can make it sound like true love is just a click (or swipe) away. But all dating services have their limitations – and costs. Plenty of people find happiness using a dating website or app, but some may end up disappointed in the number or…
Read Full Article QUINCY — Taxes can be complicated. If you’ve experienced major life changes, own a business or simply want reassurance that your taxes are being done properly, it might make sense to seek the guidance of a professional tax preparer. You’ll need to trust your tax preparer with your finances and sensitive personal information, so it’s…
Read Full Article QUINCY — If you’re looking to declutter in the New Year and make a few extra bucks along the way, you might want to try selling some of your used items online. Online marketplaces like Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, eBay, Poshmark and more make it easy to sell unneeded items, sometimes without even leaving your home.…
Read Full Article QUINCY — On New Year’s Day 2024, a magnitude 7.6 earthquake and aftershocks hit Ishikawa prefecture in western Japan, leaving at least 62 dead and causing serious damage. Donors wishing to support relief efforts in Japan should look for trusted, experienced organizations that are transparent about how donations will be used. It’s important to do…
Read Full Article QUINCY — Happy New Year! Your New Year’s resolutions might be financial, career or health goals, butlet’s resolve to be scam-free this year, too. The best way to protect yourself all year long is to know the signs of scams and fraud. Each year, BBB publishes its Scam Tracker Risk Report, an analysis of the…
Read Full Article QUINCY — Returns are rarely fun or convenient, especially in the rush after the holidays. Insider Intelligence predicts that U.S. retail returns will total more than $625 billion this year, and more than half of small to medium retail businesses anticipate they will receive more returns this year than in 2022. Stores have unique return…
Read Full Article QUINCY — Throughout the holiday season, many people travel to visit friends and loved ones or enjoy a winter vacation. According to Deloitte’s 2023 holiday survey, nearly half of Americans intend to travel for the holidays in 2023, up from last year. Travelers also reported they had fewer concerns about health, finances and flight delays…
Read Full Article QUINCY — If you haven’t started already, now is the perfect time to prepare your home and car for winter weather. It can be overwhelming to decide how to winter-proof your life and what contractors you might need to hire for help. However, a few preventative measures can help you avoid waking up to a…
Read Full Article QUINCY — Better Business Bureau (BBB) Quincy is honoring three businesses with TORCH Awards for Ethics in 2023. BBB TORCH Awards recognize organizations committed to exceptional standards for ethical business practices and service to their customers, employees, suppliers and communities. In a press release, Don O’Brien, BBB Quincy regional director, said, “We’re excited to honor…
Read Full Article QUINCY — A busy holiday shopping season is fast approaching — and with it comes holiday shopping scams. Holiday spending is expected to surpass pre-pandemic figures for the first time this year, and shoppers are starting earlier than ever, especially younger ones. Major stores are offering sales even before Black Friday. The chaos of the…
Read Full Article Don O’Brien from the Better Business Bureau joins Ashley to talk about holiday online scams and then David Adam and Maggie Flowerree reminisce about the Pink Monkeys soccer team, but then get you ready for this weekend’s Holiday Gift Show at the Oakley-Lindsay Center.
Read Full Article QUINCY — Presidents have designated November as National Family Caregivers Month since 1997 to celebrate the millions of Americans caring for those who need support and medical assistance. In Missouri, one in five adults are caregivers to a friend or family member. In Illinois, that figure is one in six. Around 20 percent of caregivers…
Read Full Article QUINCY — Buy now/pay later is a service that many retailers offer to allow shoppers to space out smaller payments on an item over time, rather than paying the full cost up front. Read the fine print before agreeing to one of these services. In recent years, buy now/pay later plans have become particularly common…
Read Full Article QUINCY — TikTok recently launched a new online store, TikTok Shop. Before you shop, check out these smart online shopping tips to avoid scams on the new platform. TikTok is a social media app with a reputation for trendsetting, and many small businesses already use the platform to advertise their products. More than half of…
Read Full Article QUINCY — Facebook Marketplace can be a great resource for buying and selling, especially within your local community. However, scams are nothing new on this platform, since it can be difficult to vet sellers and buyers. Last year, 18.7 percent of people who reported to Better Business Bureau that they lost money in a scam…
Read Full Article Childhood Cancer Awareness Month is recognized every September by organizations around the world to raise funds for children affected by cancer. If you’re planning to donate to the cause this month, do your research first. That way, you can be confident your donation is being put to good use. Major charitable movements can sometimes attract…
Read Full Article QUINCY — September is National Preparedness Month – a great time to check in and see if there’s anything you need to do to make sure you and your family know what to do in case of an emergency or natural disaster. Part of being prepared for a disaster is having a plan for repairs…
Read Full Article QUINCY — If you have a college student who just started classes, now’s a good time to talk about preventing fraud while they’re on campus. Young adults are often less experienced with credit and finances. They are navigating financial life events like loans, scholarships or budgeting for the first time – making them a popular…
Read Full Article QUINCY — As a new school year kicks into gear, be on the lookout for scam streaming links when you’re watching a high school sports event online. While many pandemic-era adjustments to high school athletic events have vanished, live streaming has stuck around. Live streams can be a great way for fans to join in…
Read Full Article QUINCY — People struggling with debt or seeking to fix their credit score often turn to credit relief companies. And some of these companies make big promises, but then don’t deliver, leaving people further in debt. Debt is not inherently bad, but many people find themselves underwater as monthly payments and interest stack up, leading…
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