BBB top ten scam list highlights on-line fraudsters
 

VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) - The Better Business Bureau's annual list of the top ten scams shows that fraudsters are going on-line more than ever, with breakthrough health claims, not-so-free trials, and easy money from the government.

Most of the top scams in 2009 involve too-good-to-be-true claims which victimize members of the online community who don't take the time to read the fine print. The bureau's list shows fraudsters are using the web, email and cell technology to trick you out of your money.

The Top 10:
1. Health Claim Scams
2. Not So “Free” Trials
3. ID Theft
4. Home Repair Rip-Offs
5. Small Business Loan and Supply Scams
6. Free Government Money Schemes
7. Business Opportunities
8. Cashback Fraud
9. Hidden Cell Phone Charges
10. Mystery Jobs Scams

BBB President Lynda Pasacreta says not only are scammers using new technology, they're also reading up on current events. Pasacreta says the H1N1 virus provided fraudsters with an excellent opportunity. "There were something like 300 websites that opened up within a few hours offering all this product and it hasn't gone away because people are buying it."

Pasacreta says the bureau received 90 complaints about text-messaging related issues over the year. "One consumer we met had been fighting with his cell phone company for his 14-year-old daughter who had unwittingly signed up for these text messages and had a very difficult time to stop the charges which added up to about $20 or more each month on their cell phone bill."

Victor Hammill with the Competition Bureau of Canada says businesses and financial institutions are aware of the danger and are working to improve safety. "I think it's a partnership between businesses and consumers, between retailers and other organizations that are making things available for sale so efficiently to us."

While the Competition Bureau of Canada is able to get to some of these criminals, it's up to consumers to trust their instincts and read the fine print to avoid getting victimized.

For more details on the list, and how to avoid getting scammed, visit the BBB website.

my friend was the victim in one of the listed items

im a victim of hidden cell phone charges

Can't forget about all the eBay and craigslist scams especially around this time of year.

^ me too. fido was wrongfully charging me for every single call i made (ie fido-fido was NOT free) for months on end. kept having to call them to correct my bill.

i think the most annoying are those god damn nigerians trying to scam money from you.

dey took r money

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2w5Jaimruw

yeah scams suck balls, my home phone was hijacked a while back and Telus don't know how to retrieve it back cuz they don't know who has that number so end result we had to get a new number, luckily it is still 604 area code not 778

home repair rip-off =/= scam?? ..just overpriced as fuck

i think the cheapest blow is phone bills by far....NO one can keep track of that and i feel so many companies take advantage of that.

i wonder what happened to that class action lawsuit against the cellphone companies for charging the system access fee.

They got off the hook on that because they were monopolizing and so they created koodo mobile with no system access fee so now they are not monopolizing it, why do you think they have such dumb commercials? They don't care how well that companie does. I believe Koodo mobile is owned by Bell & Telus? correct me if im wrong

Koodo = Telus

worst commercials ever