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-do's like yard cleanup, weed control or seeding or you have a bigger landscaping project in mind, it’s important to choose a lawn care professional carefully so you can trust that your yard is in good hands...

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?...

You may be making plans to clean up the physical clutter in your house this spring, but what about the digital clutter on your phone or computer? Spring cleaning season is a great time to check in on your digital cleanliness. Keeping your phone, computer and other devices organized and secure helps ensure your important files are safe and easy to access. Bonus: Cleaning up old files also helps your devices run faster...

Spring weather might inspire you to get started on home improvement projects you couldn’t complete during the winter months – and hiring the right contractor is one of the most important things you can do to make sure your project goes smoothly...

If you’re looking to buy a car online, make sure you do your research first. BBB has received reports from consumers who have come across fake cars listed on online marketplaces, or even fake websites that imitate licensed sellers...

As you and your family plan for warmer weather and all the summer fun that comes with it, make sure you vet potential summer camps for your kids carefully. Summer camp is a safe environment for kids to develop social skills, grow a bit of independence and experience the outdoors. At a top-quality camp, parents should be able to trust the staff with their children's health and safety so everyone can focus on having a great summer...

SAT and ACT scores are a big deal, and high school students and their families invest significant time and money into preparing for these college admissions tests. Scammers know this, and BBB has received reports of scammers taking advantage of students by tricking their families into paying for bogus SAT and ACT prep materials...

Planning to go see the upcoming total solar eclipse? Be wary of scams when you're shopping for eclipse glasses and lodging. The path of totality for the April 8. 2024 solar eclipse will cut through southeastern Missouri and southern Illinois. Great American Eclipse estimates that 43-172 thousand people will travel to Missouri and 68-274 thousand people will travel to Illinois to see this rare event...

Couples who got engaged during the holidays are likely to spend spring in a whirlwind of wedding planning, attending wedding expos, bridal shows and consultations. The last thing anyone needs during this stressful wedding planning process is to deal with a business that can’t deliver on its promises...

It’s tough to keep track of your info in an increasingly connected world – but as we rely more on online services for daily activities, it’s more important than ever to be in control of your data...

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...

No one likes doing their taxes, but filing early may actually 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 into paying them directly...

BBB St. Louis served consumers across Eastern and Southwest Missouri and Southern Illinois nearly 21 million times in 2023, remaining a leader in marketplace trust. We further marketplace trust by educating consumers and businesses on ethics, connecting consumers with trusted businesses and charities, and preventing and reporting scams and fraud...

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...

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...

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...

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...

Happy New Year! Your New Year’s resolutions might be financial, career or health goals, but let’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...

Returns are rarely fun or convenient, especially in the rush after the holidays. Insider Intelligence predicts that US retail returns will total over $625 billion this year, and over half of small to medium retail businesses anticipate they will receive more returns this year than in 2022...

Over ¼ of consumers reported to McKinsey that they intend to shop online more this holiday season compared to last year. With more online shopping comes more shipping – which means more delivery scams and theft...