Don O'Brien
QUINCY — Buy now, pay later is a service that many stores 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…
Read Full Article QUINCY — Holiday shopping is closer than you may think. With Thanksgiving on Nov. 28 – quickly followed by Black Friday sales – the shopping season may seem shorter this year. Stores are likely to advertise deals well before Black Friday and extend store hours to maximize shopping days. Deloitte is predicting an increase of…
Read Full Article QUINCY — Hurricanes Milton and Helene have caused severe damage in the southern U.S., especially on Florida’s west coast, during the past couple of weeks – leaving many people displaced, without power or recovering from damages to their property. If you’d like to support hurricane recovery efforts with a donation, it’s best to give to…
Read Full Article QUINCY — It can take effort to prepare your home and car for colder weather. However, taking the time to winterize during the fall months will save you from headaches later. A few preventative measures can help you avoid waking up to a broken furnace, frozen pipes or a deflated tire. Planning ahead also gives…
Read Full Article QUINCY — If you’re a music lover, you may find yourself looking for last-minute deals on fall festivals or tickets to a sold-out show. However, extra fees, resale pricing for high-demand shows and tactics by unscrupulous sellers can all make ticket prices skyrocket. You should also keep an eye out for counterfeit tickets. You’re more…
Read Full Article QUINCY — Finding a mechanic can be intimidating, especially for people unfamiliar with the inner workings of their car – but it’s a necessary part of keeping your vehicle running smoothly for years to come. Auto service is often costly, so working with a business you can trust is important. BBB received more than 9,600…
Read Full Article QUINCY — If someone you met online starts telling you they have a great investment opportunity or encouraging you to buy cryptocurrency, it should raise red flags – even if it’s someone you’ve been talking to for a long time. This scenario could be the start of an investment scam. Scammers often spend weeks or…
Read Full Article QUINCY — If you see a heart-wrenching post about a lost pet, a senior in need or a missing child on your Facebook feed, think twice before you share. It could be the setup for a bait-and-switch scam. Bait-and-switch scam posts are often made in local “buy and sell” Facebook groups that have limited administrative…
Read Full Article QUINCY — If you have a college student who just started classes, now’s a good time to talk about avoiding fraud while they’re on campus. One might be tempted to assume that scammers mostly go after older adults, but BBB’s 2023 Scam Tracker℠ Risk Report shows this isn’t necessarily the case. Young people are also…
Read Full Article QUINCY — As your kids get older, they’ll spend more time online. Now is a good time to start teaching them about protecting their personal information. Adults aren’t the only ones who can be targeted by a scam online: Children are at risk too. While Better Business Bureau does not collect information from people under…
Read Full Article Are you looking for a trustworthy tutor for your child this school year? Each student’s academic needs are unique, but many kids can benefit from having a tutor to help keep them motivated and learning. A wide variety of tutoring options are out there to personalize support to each student. Tutors can specialize in different…
Read Full Article QUINCY — What’s a verification code, and why are they so important? Six-digit verification codes are a form of two-factor authentication, a process that helps keep your important online accounts secure. For example, you might get a text message or email with a six-digit code that you must enter when you log into your bank…
Read Full Article QUINCY — It’s almost time to go back to school, and families are stocking up on everything their kids need to have a great year. School supplies can add up, so it makes sense to search for the best deals. Make sure you’re not falling for a too-good-to-be-true price from an untrustworthy vendor. Plenty of…
Read Full Article What do you do if someone pretending to be a worker from a utility company knocks on your door? This is known as a utility impostor scam, which can happen any time of year. They are especially common during extremely cold or hot weather when people can’t go without their heat or air conditioning. A…
Read Full Article QUINCY — It’s tempting to blast the air conditioning in the muggy July heat, but for many, running the AC at full tilt all day is cost-prohibitive. Air conditioners eat up a lot of energy, accounting for six percent of the nation’s electricity use and costing homeowners a collective $29 billion annually. Steps can be…
Read Full Article QUINCY — Shoppers love the deals they can snag during Prime Day (scheduled for July 16-17 this year), and many other major retailers join in on the trend around this time of year by offering mid-summer savings. When you’re on the hunt for deals this summer, make sure you’re extra aware of scammers who might…
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FOWLER, Ill. — Dorothy Williams says just because she’s old doesn’t mean she will fall for a scam. “I am tired of people thinking it’s OK for them to come out here, I’ll give you money and they can do whatever the hell they want to my house,” she said. “I may be 82, but…
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'They really got me': Golden man explains how phishing scam starting on YouTube page cost him $7,200
GOLDEN, Ill. — One of the customer service employees at GameStop in Quincy finally helped convince Jason Blentlinger he might be the victim of a scam. Blentlinger, who lives in Golden, recently visited GameStop four times in four days to buy various gift cards. He was sending them to someone imitating a person connected with…
Read Full Article QUINCY — Phishing is one of the oldest and most common tactics scammers use to steal money and personal information from people. A new Better Business Bureau (BBB) study shows that phishing scam reports to BBB Scam Tracker nearly doubled last year, reaching a record high of more than 9,000. Phishing has been around for…
Read Full Article QUINCY — Summer is on our doorstep, and the last thing you want is for the air conditioning to stop working in the middle of a sweltering day. Good HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) contractors are in high demand during the summer, so now is a great time to make sure everything is working…
Read Full Article QUINCY — Sports fans have a lot to appreciate right now with the baseball, UFL and soccer seasons in full swing – but be on the lookout for counterfeits and scams when buying tickets. There’s plenty of team spirit to go around this spring and summer, and buying online is the easiest way for many…
Read Full Article QUINCY — A cross-country road trip is an American summer staple, but if you’re hitting the road this summer, make sure you keep track of your tolls. Better Business Bureau (BBB) has received reports of phishing text messages that impersonate road toll collection services to trick people into paying for fake outstanding tolls. The texts…
Read Full Article QUINCY — Figuring out what to do in the aftermath of a scam can be incredibly stressful. Better Business Bureau’s Scam Survival Toolkit can help guide survivors of scams through recovery. Scams affect people of all walks of life. BBB often shares tips on how to avoid scams, but you might still be at risk…
Read Full Article As you start to spruce up your lawn for the summer, make sure you’re working with a trusted lawn care or landscaping service. A beautiful yard takes hard work, and sometimes you need to call in the professionals. Whether you’re looking for help with spring to-dos like yard cleanup, weed control or seeding, or if…
Read Full Article While prospective college students await their highly anticipated acceptance letters this spring, they’re also starting to think about finding financial aid. Some companies offer scholarship opportunities or help finding aid for a fee, but are they really the best option for students? For students struggling to pay for tuition, a sudden scholarship offer or a…
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