Heather Clary “Spot, Avoid, and Report Scams” MEETING DATE: Thursday, July 27, 2023 6:45PM - 8:45PM (Zoom meeting room opens at 6:45 PM; Meeting starts at 7 PM) via Zoom virtual meeting.

Description

The bad guys keep trying to get ahold of your wallet and steal your hard-earned dollars. You'd be surprised how often they succeed. Internet-related crimes and scams are climbing yearly, reports the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3). “Criminals are getting so sophisticated. It is getting harder and harder for victims to spot the red flags and tell real from fake,” says Donna Gregory of the IC3. In fact, in 2019, there were nearly 1,300 complaints daily by individuals and businesses in the U.S. Just like a fish swallowing the hook, many intelligent Americans are being duped. One place you can go to learn how to protect yourself from these never-ending 24/7 scams is the Better Business Bureau. Nearly all of us use PCs, Macs, smartphones, and tablets, and we're constantly trying to dodge bullets from these scammers. The best way to avoid being a victim is to remain vigilant and recognize the latest scams, schemes, and charades. Heather discusses current scams and how not to become a victim. She says, “Online shopping fraud has exploded in the past couple of years in the wake of the pandemic. The “puppy scam” where people get hoodwinked by phony sites advertising expensive pets that don't exist also continues. And social media…. that's a huge issue. So many things to talk about.” She tells us about the non-profit BBB and how to take advantage of its free services.

Background of Heather Clary

Heather Cleary is a media and community outreach coordinator for the Better Business Bureau serving greater Kentucky and South Central Indiana. She joined the bureau in September of 1999 after working as a radio news reporter in Kentucky. Heather served as a volunteer arbitrator for the BBB for 10 years before coming on board at the BBB full time.