Consumers turn to the Better Business Bureau when researching the legitimacy and reliability of a company but what happens when the BBB becomes part of a new scam?

The Better Business Bureau organization is warning consumers about a new scam that has been showcasing the organization’s own name in order to steal thousands from unsuspecting consumers who are led to believe they have won a lottery prize. The scammers are posing as representatives and employees of the BBB have been using phone and email contact to solicit the money. Consumers are being asked to wire money to the so-called organization in order to collect their prize. Many victims do not realize they are being scammed because the con artists are using the real names and biographical information from BBB employees, which were likely obtained from the organization’s website. When consumer do a search for a BBB employee, the names and information are often consistent, making the scam appear more believable.

As more people are struggling to make ends meet and many more are still looking for work, a lottery win is a tempting offer. The Better Business Bureau is hoping to get the word out that by no means are they associated with a lottery. The company is also supplying consumers with a list of tips to help thwart scammers from getting consumer information. These tips include:

Gut Instinct is Usually Right
Many people will receive a warning from their subconscious about situations that do not feel right. As the old adage goes ‘if it looks too good to be true, it probably is.’

Money Doesn’t Bring More Money
Any situation that asks for money in exchange for a free prize or cash prize should be avoided. Victims are often easily convinced that just a few bucks will net a few thousand bucks. However, once the money is sent via a wire transfer, there is no way to track it or get it back.

Don’t Cash Checks
Scammers have been using the fake check for years to dupe consumers. Even popular sites like ebay and craigslist where people sell to other people have brought on fake check schemes. Typically a check is sent to the victim as payment for an item or with instructions to cash the check, retain a certain amount for themselves, and wire the rest back. In the case of online sales, the check is made out for more than the amount of the item purchased with instructions to ‘keep the rest’. Once a victim deposits the check into their own account, they become responsible for the money. When the check bounces or is identified as a fake, the victim has usually already used funds from the check to wire to scammers, leaving them responsible for the cash. Essentially, victims are sending money to scammers they don’t have in their own pockets. The checks being used look incredibly real.

Double-Check Red Flags
Even if a solicitation appears to be from the most reliable of companies, contact the company directly to inquire about the claim. If contacted by phone, hang up and contact the organization back by dialing the number yourself. Anyone on the phone can say anything they want to convince you of falling for the scam. One phone call to the company being represented may save you from financial ruin.