MAY 2007 • VOL. 78 - NO. 1 BBB Fights Fastest Growing Scam!!!! It works like this . . . the consumer receives a congratulatory letter and a check for the first installment of your sweepstakes or lottery winnings. Hundreds of people have called the BBB since the beginning of 2007 about their “check” with amounts ranging anywhere from $1,500 to $5,000. The check appears to have a real bank and company name printed on it . . . everything looks legit. The problem is the check is written on an actual bank account, BUT the account number was stolen. THE CHECK IS NO GOOD! In many cases a bank can’t tell a check is counterfeit at the time it is deposited. As a matter of fact, the crooks are buying bank check stock. When it does find out the check is counterfeit, the bank will come back to the consumer and ask for reimbursement of the monies lost. In one instance an out-of-state consumer called the BBB regard- ing a check in the amount of $4,500 that she had received from a company in Indiana listing a P.O. Box as their return address. The BBB learned through contact with the Postal Inspection Service that the post office box number was used by a good Indi- anapolis company that had the same post office box for decades. The crooks are stealing and using the names of good legitimate businesses and banks. The BBB is trying to help do something about this. A staff mem- ber has gotten involved in investigating these fraudulent checks and companies. The BBB knows it isn’t going to close down the fraudulent companies; but it is making headway into decreasing the number of checks sent. The BBB knows the phone numbers on the winner notification letters are Canadian Prepaid Cell Phones. The BBB staff person has found out the name of the company that legitimately owns a lot of those numbers. The owner has agreed that, if the BBB can prove to him that the numbers are being used for fraudulent purposes, he will disconnect the numbers. The owner is doing as promised — we’ve verified that the numbers are being dis- connected. ® NEWS FROM THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU OF CENTRAL INDIANA The BBB used to tell folks to just throw away the bogus checks. Now we ask that the original letter and check be sent to the BBB offices. We will then fax that information to the cell phone number owner in Canada to have the number disconnected. Please help us by sending your letter and counterfeit checks to: Better Business Bureau 22 E. Washington Street, #200, Indianapolis, IN 46204-3584 Together we can strike a blow to this scamster! ■
Transcript
MAY 2007 • Vol. 78 - No. 1
BBB Fights Fastest Growing Scam!!!!It works like this . . . the consumer receives a congratulatory letter and a check for the first installment of your sweepstakes or lottery winnings.
Hundreds of people have called the BBB since the beginning of 2007 about their “check” with amounts ranging anywhere from $1,500 to $5,000. The check appears to have a real bank and company name printed on it . . . everything looks legit. The problem is the check is written on an actual bank account, BUT the account number was stolen. THE CHECK IS NO GOOD!
In many cases a bank can’t tell a check is counterfeit at the time it is deposited. As a matter of fact, the crooks are buying bank check stock. When it does find out the check is counterfeit, the bank will come back to the consumer and ask for reimbursement of the monies lost.
In one instance an out-of-state consumer called the BBB regard-ing a check in the amount of $4,500 that she had received from a company in Indiana listing a P.O. Box as their return address. The BBB learned through contact with the Postal Inspection Service that the post office box number was used by a good Indi-anapolis company that had the same post office box for decades. The crooks are stealing and using the names of good legitimate businesses and banks.
The BBB is trying to help do something about this. A staff mem-ber has gotten involved in investigating these fraudulent checks and companies. The BBB knows it isn’t going to close down the fraudulent companies; but it is making headway into decreasing the number of checks sent.
The BBB knows the phone numbers on the winner notification letters are Canadian Prepaid Cell Phones. The BBB staff person has found out the name of the company that legitimately owns a lot of those numbers. The owner has
agreed that, if the BBB can prove to him that the numbers are being used for fraudulent purposes, he will disconnect the numbers. The owner is doing as promised —we’ve verified that the numbers are being dis-connected.
®®
N E W S F R O M T H E B E T T E R B U S I N E S S B U R E A U O F C E N T R A L I N D I A N A
The BBB used to tell folks to just throw away the bogus checks. Now we ask that the original letter and check be sent to the BBB offices. We will then fax that information to the cell phone number owner in Canada to have the number disconnected.
Please help us by sending your letter and counterfeit checks to:
Better Business Bureau22 E. Washington Street, #200, Indianapolis, IN 46204-3584
Together we can strike a blow to this scamster! ■
2
2007 LocaL charity information is now avaiLabLe onLine at
www.indybbb.orgor request a copy of our 2007 local “Charity Wise Giving Guide”
in pdf format – sponsored byDenny smith at
the mutual fund store
Give to the charity of your choice… But Give Wisely!!
Currently… over 2,000 businesses, organizations and consumers
are participating in our
FREE E-LERts pRogRamif you, your business,
empLoyees, associates anD frienDs have not signeD up
for this program…
Do It toDaY!!!www.indybbb.org
Help us help central Indiana to become educated consumers.
®®
Membership Standards EnforcedA company’s membership is in jeopardy if the 14 standards for BBB member-ship are not upheld. The company’s case is taken to the Standards Committee on Membership Compliance of the Central Indiana Better Business Bureau (Standards Committee) for review and possible revocation. At the November 30th, 2006, meeting of the Standards Committee, the committee reviewed six companies, and after examination, revoked the membership of all six com-panies. The revoked company names are listed below under the standard that was violated. Standard 5: Promptly respond to any and all complaints forwarded by the Bureau — carefree irrigation, inc. comfort Dental of Kokomo, p c howard & sons
Standard 9: Cooperate with the Bureau in efforts to eliminate the underlyingcauses of patterns of customer complaints that the Bureau may call to the company’s attention. — great expectations
Eleven companies were revoked from BBB membership in 2006: a advance roofing and construction (Crawfordsville) all american Dish (Indianapolis) Defenders security (Indianapolis) Distinctive remodeling (Indianapolis) Distinct renovations (Whiteland) ferrellgas (Indianapolis, Anderson, Ellettsville, Mulberry) hoosier movers (Greenwood) internet promotions (Indianapolis) pro built (Cicero) the right move (Middletown) Zesco products (Indianapolis).There were 46 companies that were turned down for membership in the Better Business Bureau. ■
Light house home centernu vinyl plus, inc.
James Earl Jones to be Keynote Speaker at 2007 BBB Ethics AwardsJames Earl Jones will be the keynote speaker at the 2007 BBB Ethics Awards luncheon on November 15th at the Indiana Roof Ballroom. The luncheon will be held from 11:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. To nominate a company to participate in the BBB Ethics Program, visit our website at www.indybbb.org and click on BBB Ethics Awards or contact Wendy Dych at (317) 488-2221 x 133, (800) 488-4403 x 133 or at [email protected]. Nominations must be in by May 31. To place an entry for the Award, please getin touch with Wendy at the contact points above. Wendy must receive entries by July 13. ■
Kudos! Kudos––to Complete Office Supply, a BBB member company since 1998. They won the Elite Dealer 2006 award from a national pub- lication, Office Dealer. According to Office Dealer, “This is our annual salute to the industry’s best and brightest. Our Elite Dealers stand out because of their innovativeprograms and unique marketing campaigns and their foresight to embrace and invest in new solutions that enable them to keep pace with ever-changing customer needs.” Congratulations to Alan, Roni and Tony Bird of Complete Office Sup-ply and all of their employees. ■
Complete Office Supply, Inc.7209 E. 86th Street
Indianapolis, IN 46250(317) 845-1950
Advertisements — Effective, Deceptive, or Both?Can You Spot the Questionable Statements In This Ad?There are six things that could be problematic with the ad to the left:1. LowestPrices must be properly substantiated. If it can’t be substantiated –– don’t say it!!2. ThisWeekOnly Time limit must be listed and the regular price must be charged after the sale expires.3. Upto… Should state both the minimum and maximum savings amount. 4. Free* Information referenced by an asterisk or symbol should be clearly and prominently disclosed in the ad.5. LifetimeWarranty a clearly– and prominently–placed disclosure should be made so that complete details of the warranty can be seen prior to sale or are available free on written request and should define lifetime.6. SatisfactionisGuaranteed Should be used only if the seller or manufacturer intends to refund the full purchase price at the purchaser’s request. Any limitations or condi- tions that apply should be clearly and prominently disclosed.
3
ABC Company(317) 555-1212
We have the lowest prices in Indiana!
This week only, we’re offeringup To 75% off!
Free* Delivery • Lifetime WarrantySatisfaction is Guaranteed
The BBB is on the lookout for ques-tionable claims such as in the above ad, and they do this…every day! Of course, many of the problem ads aren’t as obvious — in fact, they can easily be overlooked! Is your ad saying what you really intend it to say? Read on…Did you know that the BBB has a staff member whose job is to read the newspaper, watch television, and listen to the radio? Sounds like a cushy job,right? Well, it’s not as cushy as you might think. She’s responsible for checking the advertisements in these and other mediums. One of the ser-vices of the BBB is to monitor adver-tisements for truthfulness, accuracy and compliance with federal, state, and local regulations/laws and com-pliance with BBB standards. The
We’re inviting you to join us for the fun and games (and maybe even a little serious golfing)
on June 14th at Heartland Crossing Golf Links in Camby, Indiana.
In addition to the regular festivities of the day, Brian Pachciarz of the onsite Golf Academy
at Heartland Crossing will provide a FREE clinic to our golfers. ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
The clinic will run from 11:00-12:00 on the driving range. All of our participants are invited to attend andreceive great tips on hitting the ball properly.
Please see the registration form enclosed for more details.
2007 BBB Annual Golf Tournament
®®
Better Business Bureau helps promote self-regulation in the marketplace, and that begins with truthful advertising. Our goal is to increase the confidence that customers feel when they read or listen to an advertisement. Since your company is a BBB mem-ber, the BBB offers advertising review services to you, as part of your membership benefit package. Your company can contact us to review your advertisement before you release it to the media, so that you can rest assured that, by the time your cus-tomers see or hear it, it is in compli-ance with regulations for advertising — this can save you time, money, and lots of hassle! Additionally, every advertisement is potential competi-tion for your business; those ads that are unscrupulous or deceptive prevent the reader from spending their money with good, honest companies. So, we encourage you to contact us if you notice an advertisement that is ques-tionable — we’ll look into it!For more information, you can con-tact Jennifer Kirchhofer, Advertising Review Coordinator, via phone at 317-488-2221, ext. 122 or toll free at 800-488-4403, ext. 122. Or, you can reach her via e-mail at [email protected]. ■
Join Us In
CelebratingThe . . .
Join Us In
CelebratingThe . . .
June 14th, 2007June 14th, 2007
6701 S. Heartland Blvd.Camby, IN 46113317-630-1785
The BBB Legal Lineprogram throughBingham McHale, LLP,provides quick, no-charge answers to limited-research,business-related legal questions. Call your BBB Legal Line at (317) 686-5233.
■
1. Work-at-HomeCompanies
2. Mortgages 3. GeneralContractors
4. RoofingContractors
5. HomeBuilders
6. InsuranceCompanies
7. UsedCarDealers
8. Book/Record/TapeClubs
9. Movers10. NewCarDealers
1. Book/RecordTapeClubs
2. MajorAppliancesDealers
3. RoofingContractors
4. UsedCarDealers
5. GeneralContractors
6. NewCarDealers
7. TelephoneCompanies
8. Manuacturers&Producers
9. Furniture–Retail
10. MusicalInstruments
TOP 10cOmPlainTS
TOP 10inQUiRiES
CONSUMER DISCOUNT PROGRAMThe Consumer Discount Program can generate exposure and new customers for your company. Just let us know the discount you want to offer and it goes on the Better Business Bureau website.
For more information, contact Terry Davis at (317) 488-2221, toll-free at (800) 488-4403 or at [email protected].
To view the
BBB Newsletter
online, go to
http://
www.indybbb.org
and click the
“Focus on Business”
icon.
SITE OF 2007 BBBGOLF TOURNAMENT!
®
®
®
®
®
ThursdayJune 14, 2007
Sign Me Up for the Golf Tournament!Contact Name:
Company:
Address:
City: State: Zip:
Phone: Fax:
E-Mail:
I would like to donate a door prize. Please contact me!
Registration • 11:00 am Tee Off • 12:30 pm
MAIL ENTRIES TO
Terry Davis • Better Business Bureau22 E. Washington Street, #200 • Indianapolis, IN 46204-3584
or fax entry to Terry’s attention at 317-488-2224E-mail: [email protected]
Check your level of participation…
PAYMENT OPTIONS
❒ Enclosed is a check (payable to the Better Business Bureau)
❒ Please charge my: (circle one)
Visa Master Card American Express
Total $ Signature
Card # Exp. Date:
✔
Camby IndIana
Tournament Sponsor $2,500 — Foursome; recognized on tee/green signage; company name appears in event program, newsletter, banner & web page. Recognized as a major event sponsor; company representative will be involved with tournament awards.
Eagle Sponsor $1,000 — Foursome; recognized on tee/green signage; company name appears in event program, newsletter & web page; on banner; recognized as an event sponsor in all corre- spondence about tournament.
Meal Sponsor $600 — Company name appears in event program; newsletter, on lunch box labels & web page; on buffet table signage & banners at the awards dinner.
Birdie Sponsor $500 — Foursome; company name appears in event program; newsletter & web page.
Par Sponsor $250 — Tee/green signage; company name appears in event program; newsletter & web page; banner. Single Player $150 — Company name appears in event program; newsletter & web page.
