BBB Scam Tracker

Unwanted phone calls, e-mails, texts, and other solicitations are frequent occurrences in our lives. Many times it is obvious when an offer is a scam and we quickly disregard it. Sometimes offers are appealing and further research is needed before a decision can be made.

If you think an offer sounds suspicious, Better Business Bureau has a new Scam Tracker tool that allows you to report a scam or check out suspicious phone calls, emails or texts. Scam Tracker was developed by a consortium of nine local BBBs along with the Council of Better Business Bureaus under a grant from Target Corp. It is being rolled out gradually nationwide.

The tool allows consumers and BBBs to share alerts about suspected scams, regardless of whether they lost money or simply received a suspicious offer. Consumers can search scams by name or type, spot trends or track scams using demographic data. Consumers can access the site at http://www.bbb.org/scamtracker/us.

Scam Tracker is useful in helping consumers avoid losing money or giving up sensitive personal or financial data. BBBs can share information on scams they're seeing, helping others avoid fraud.

BBB offers the following advice to consumers who suspect fraud:

* Don't turn over control of your computer or give your computer password to someone you don't know.

* Do not give banking, credit card or other personal information to a strange caller or in response to an email.

* If a deal sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

* If you are asked by a caller or email contact to wire money for fees or to resolve a debt, it's probably a scam. If the person threatens you, hang up.

* Before you sign a contract or do business with an unfamiliar company, check for a BBB Business Review by going to www.bbb.org or by calling 573-803-3190. You also can call BBB to find out whether an offer is legitimate.