Your Moment of Trust

About Your Moment of Trust

The Better Business Bureau, serving the Tri-Counties, shares tips and resources on how you can help them in their ongoing mission to Advance Marketplace Trust between business and consumers. Tune in each week for valuable information that you can use each day. https://bbb.org/local-bbb/bbb-of-the-tri-counties 805-963-8657

Publisher

Better Business Bureau of the Tri-Counties

Category

business · news

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

21 Jan 2022

Latest episode

2 Jan 2024

Latest episodes

99 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   2 Jan 2024

   Wrong Number Text Scams

   A Podcast by BBB of the Tri-Counties: https://www.bbb.org/local-bbb/bbb-of-the-tri-counties  A BIG thank you to Ayers Automotive Repairs in Santa Barbara for Supporting this Podcast! Welcome to this week’s edition of Your Moment of Trust! A new text message scam seems so innocent that it’s tempting to reply. But con artists are using phony “wrong number” texts to lure victims into conversation and falling for a scam. How the scam works You receive a text that reads something like this: “Hey is this John? It’s Amanda. We chatted on Tinder before when I came to visit my cousin but we never met irl. I’m back in town if you want to meet up this time, are you free?” If you reply to a text like this, even with a polite, “Sorry, wrong number,” the stranger responds anyway, seemingly ignoring your answer. Usually, you’ll receive a few compliments and some photos of “Amanda,” who appears to be a scantily clad blonde woman. However, as the word gets out about this scam, scammers will change up the names, backstory, and photos. If you continue to engage with the stranger, who is really a chat bot, it tries to trick you into registering for dating or adult websites. Your new “friend” will encourage you to sign up for a specific website to see more explicit photos, which may involve offering up your credit card number. Considering the dubious nature of this scam, if you hand over your credit card information at any point, you could be putting yourself at risk for fraudulent charges and identity theft. Even BBB staff has received these texts. “I did a double-take,” says Pam Anson, Director of Brand Outreach for BBB Serving Greater Cleveland. “It’s a different approach than most scammers take and I didn’t think anything too seriously until more of my friends started to say that they also received it... It’s obvious that the scammers are trying to elicit a response, such as sympathy, to this woman for receiving a fake number from a friend, but we need to remind consumers that appearances can be deceiving.” How to avoid chat bot scams ● Ignore texts from strangers. Strangers on the internet can pretend to be anyone. Question motives behind both solicited and unsolicited messages. If you receive a text from someone you don’t know, simply don’t reply. It’s the safest route. If you engage with a scammer, even briefly, they will mark your number as active and you could receive even more shady texts in the future. ● Block numbers that appear to come from scammers. Unsolicited texts that look like they come from a chat bot or that ask you to click on suspicious links are probably not safe. Block these numbers to prevent scammers from contacting you through them again. Never give your personal information to strangers. Never share your credit card or banking information, your full name, home address, or social security number with someone you never met in person. Remember that any photo you upload on social media can be stolen and used by a scammer. For more information If you have compromised your personal information, you can report the incident to law enforcement and the Federal Trade Commission. For additional romance scam resources visit BBB.org/romance. Read the BBB Tip: Spot the red flags of fake text messages. Read more about similar scams, such about text messages with surprise offers. If you’ve been the victim of a text message scam, report it at BBB.org/ScamTracker. Your report can help expose scammers’ tactics so others won’t fall prey. Until next time!

2. 

   2 Jan 2024

   How Much to Tip...

   A Podcast by BBB of the Tri-Counties: http  s://www.bbb.org/local-bbb/bbb-of-the-tri-counties     A BIG thank you to Ayers Automotive Repairs in Santa Barbara Welcome to this week’s edition of Your Moment of Trust! The end of the year is a time to show appreciation for those who provide necessary services and little luxuries in your daily life. But this year, the increased cost of goods and services means you may need to pay extra attention to your tipping budget. Even if you are limited in what you can give, there’s no need to feel uncomfortable. A little extra thoughtfulness can go a long way. Determining who to tip and how much to give can be confusing. To avoid extra holiday stress, BBB recommends the following tips to help you tip confidently while staying within your budget. Tips for holiday tipping ● Consider your budget. Begin planning your tips by looking over your holiday budget, or creating one, if you haven’t already. Tips aren’t obligatory, so if you don’t have the extra cash, consider other ways to show your gratitude. According to the Emily Post Institute, homemade gifts or a simple thank you note are perfectly acceptable ways to say “thank you” when funds are short. ● Start planning tips early. You don’t want to be scrambling through your purse to find some extra cash when you see your regular delivery driver pull up. Once you set your tipping budget, make a list of who you plan to tip and how much. Do this as early as possible, keeping in mind that tipping before the holidays are officially here means the recipient will have extra cash for holiday spending. ● Tip with cash when possible. Cash is usually the best way to give a tip. It means the recipient has access to the funds right away and won’t have to pay any fees to use the money. That said, if you regularly pay someone via an app and want to tip that way, you can. Just make sure you include a brief note letting them know the extra money is a tip for their excellent service. ● Make the tip attractive. For a classic tip, The Wall Street Journal says crisp bills in an envelope that reads “Thank You” on the outside is ideal. You can even write a brief thank you note to express your gratitude when appropriate. ● Tip according to the depth of your relationship. Match your tip amount to the quality and quantity of work the person does for you. If you hire a babysitter occasionally, an appropriate tip might be the equivalent of one evening’s pay. On the other hand, if you have a live-in housekeeper, an entire week’s pay would be suitable. Know Who NOT to Tip: Some professionals can’t accept tips because of ethical reasons, including doctors, lawyers, and government officials. Some companies don’t allow their employees to accept tips. Don’t be afraid to ask up front if a professional or company employee can accept tips if you aren’t sure. When appropriate, a gift is a good alternative. Tipping by Profession ● Personal service providers. For hairdressers, massage therapists, or any other personal-service provider you regularly tip, consider upping your tip amount during the holiday season. If you usually tip 20%, make it 40%. Depending on your budget, you may decide to tip them the cost of an entire visit. The same goes for other service providers, like your dog walker or groomer. The equivalent of one service makes for a generous end-of-the-year tip. ● Nannies, babysitters and caregivers. A similar rule applies to tipping childcare, home health aides, and similar professions. Tipping the cost of a session, such as an evening’s pay for a regular sitter, is considered standard. For a live-in nanny, consider a bonus of up to a week’s wages. For those hired through a service, make sure you check that they are allowed to accept tips before giving. ● Building staff. If you live in an apartment building, consider tipping cleaners, superintendents, security, and concierges. Somewhere between $25 to $100 each is a good range for this kind of service. ● Mail and delivery service providers. U.S. Postal Service workers may not accept gifts of cash or gift cards, but they can accept small gifts worth $20 or less. Canada Post workers can accept nominal gifts worth no more than $100. In both countries, FedEx and UPS employees are encouraged to decline cash gifts, but they can accept small personal gifts when making a delivery. ● Professional service providers. Most professionals, such as teachers, doctors, lawyers, etc., won’t accept cash gifts, so consider giving them a gift card or present instead, with a note of thanks. Until next time!

3. 

   1 Jan 2024

   Choosing the Perfect Gifts for your Pets

   A Podcast by BBB of the Tri-Counties:  https://www.bbb.org/local-bbb/bbb-of-the-tri-counties A BIG thank you to Ayers Automotive Repair for supporting this podcast! https://www.ayersrepairs.com Welcome to this week’s edition of Your Moment of Trust! Even with inflation worries this holiday season, most pet owners still plan on spoiling their fur babies with holiday gifts. According to a poll by Chewy in 2022 (Chewy is a BBB Accredited Business), more than 90% of pet owners include their pets on their holiday shopping list, and another study shows that giving to pets makes people happy. However, with thousands of pet gifts to choose from, ranging from toys and treats to doggie spa days and advent calendars, how can you choose a good gift for your pet? BBB recommends the following tips to help you find the perfect gift: one that is safe, within your budget, and one your pet will adore. Choosing the perfect pet gift ● Stay within budget. If you are making multiple gift purchases this holiday season, it’s especially important to plan your holiday budget and then stick to it. Be sure to include your pets in the budget and then shop for gifts that are within your means. ● Pick a gift that matches your pet’s personality. Just like people, every pet is different. Some are more active than others, some are food-motivated, some love to chew, and some love to run. Take your pet’s personality into consideration to choose a gift they will really enjoy. The Humane Society has ideas for toys based on your pets’ personalities and needs. ● Choose a gift that is safe. Most importantly, choose a gift that is safe. Avoid toys that are small enough to be ingested. Make sure toys don’t have any ribbons, string, rubber bands, etc., that a pet could swallow. You should also be able to clean toys, whether that means machine washing them or wiping them down occasionally. ● Know what’s inside your toys. For many dogs – and some cats – destroying a toy is much of the fun. Keep this in mind when shopping. Read labels and make sure what’s inside the toy is also safe. For example, many toy stuffings aren’t digestible and could pose a danger. ● Check the ingredients in edible gifts. Stick to treats and foods that are made specifically for dogs or cats. The FDA warns that many human treats contain ingredients that are hazardous to pets, such as xylitol. If you’re looking for treats that contribute to dental health, check the Veterinary Oral Health Council website for a list of acceptable chew treats for both dogs and cats. In addition to quality, keep an eye on quantity. If your dog or cat has a stocking full of pet treats, don’t let them gobble them up too fast, as this could lead to choking or digestive issues. ● Weigh the pros and cons of subscription services. Subscription services can be a fun way to give your pet gifts all year round, but you’ll want to do plenty of research before signing up. Get to know the company, investigate free trials, and make sure you know how to stop a subscription before you choose a service. ● Check out pet advent calendars. Pet advent calendars have become incredibly popular in recent years. These can make good gifts too, but they aren’t always a bargain. You’ll need to compare calendars to get the best deal. In addition, keep an eye out for advent calendar scams, which have become especially common through social media ads. ● Purchase gifts from reputable vendors, especially if you are making a purchase online. Read consumer reviews before doing business with a company, and keep an eye out for fake websites while you shop. If you ever need to return an item that was purchased online, see our tips for hassle-free returns. Until next time!

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