Better Business Bureau Serving Eastern Michigan

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Vacation All You’ve Ever Wanted? Keep These Tips in Mind for Your Summer Getaway

It is officially starting to feel like summer! The sun is finally starting to shine, school is wrapping up and the water is almost warm enough to go swimming. Summer is a time to relax and enjoy the nice weather while we have it. Like many of you planning a summer vacation for you and your family and friends, you’ll want to keep these tips from Better Business Bureau in mind so your relaxing vacation doesn’t turn into a headache.

When planning your trip, keep the following in mind:

· Plan ahead. The early bird gets the worm. Allow yourself the time to research hotels, flights and the area where you will be staying. Typically, the earlier you make reservations, the better the deals you will find and the lower the risk of your favorite destination being booked solid. Making reservations in advance also locks in rates and prevents you from paying higher prices later during prime spring break or holiday seasons.

· Avoid broad internet searches. Try to avoid entering phrases like ‘best deals’ into whichever search engine you use. Broad search terms like that can sometimes lead you to websites that look official but are designed solely to rip people off.

· Be alert for travel scams. Watch out for phone calls or letters claiming that you’ve “won a trip” or websites offering prices that are too good to be true. It’s easy to extend questionable offers like these, but the vast majority of them leave hopeful travelers in limbo – and out money. Learn more about travel scams here.

· Do your homework. Ask family and friends to recommend a travel agent or travel website and visit bbb.org for free Business Profiles. If you are using online services to find accommodations, be sure to research the business and read customer reviews about any rentals you are considering.

· Get trip details in writing. Before making the final payment, get all the details of the trip in writing. This should include the total cost, restrictions, cancellation penalties, and names of the airlines and hotels. Also, review and keep a copy of the airline’s and hotel’s cancellation and refund policies, as well as the cancellation policies of the travel agency or booking site you are using.

· Consider travel insurance. Travel insurance covers things like trip cancellations or medical emergencies. There are different levels of coverage based on what type of plan you purchase. Ask a lot of questions, and always read the fine print to see what’s covered and what’s not.

· Pay with a credit card. Paying with a credit card gives you additional protection if something should go wrong with the travel reservation.

Once your trip is booked, and you are ready to go, there are a few things to keep in mind. The following tips will keep you, your belongings and your home safe while you are away:

· Wait to post on social media. We all like to share our vacation adventures with friends and family but wait until you get back from your trip. Giving too much detail about when you will be away, and your home will be empty, could attract thieves.

· Check your home insurance. If your home will be unattended while you are away, make sure you know your responsibilities under your home insurance policy. Some policies do not cover damage if nobody checks on you for a certain amount of time.

· Share a copy of your itinerary with a family member or friend. Include the contact information of someone joining you on your trip.

· Take a map. People rely heavily on smartphones and GPS. Have a hard copy backup in case of technical difficulties or if you are going through an area with poor cellphone reception.

· Check the weather conditions where you will be traveling and pack appropriate supplies and clothing.

· Avoid traveling alone. Use the buddy system and stick with your friends.

· Use hotel safes to store extra cash and keep any valuables under lock and key.

To find reputable hotels or vacation rentals visit bbb.org.

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We Like to Move It Move It... Safely

The dishes are all wrapped, the boxes are all sealed and labeled and the house is empty, you are officially ready to move… now, you just need someone you trust to do the heavy lifting.

Better Business Bureau knows that finding a company you can trust with your entire house worth’s of furniture can be a difficult and unsettling task. BBB is here to provide you some tips to find a moving company you can trust.

Research Different Movers.  Ask friends and family if they’ve used a moving business before and what businesses they recommend. Always visit bbb.org to check out a business before hiring. Look for movers that are accredited, in good standing, and have few complaints. Call to inquire about references to see what they have to say about their experience with the business.

Get a Few Estimates.  Ask moving businesses for estimates months before the move. Have someone from the business visit your home to get the most accurate estimate. Find out whether the estimate is binding or nonbinding. Binding estimates do not allow the movers to charge any more than the quoted price while nonbinding is an approximate cost. Tell the movers if there are any special circumstances ahead of time to avoid extra costs added later.

Consider Insurance.  Consumer’s possessions are insured by renters or homeowner’s insurance at the old home and the new home but not while the movers are between homes. If the move is a long distance, consumers can purchase relocation insurance. If consumers pay movers extra to pack their items, the business is accountable for the items up to a certain amount depending on the dollar value and weight.

Review the Bill of Lading.  A bill of lading is the contract between the movers and the consumers.  Have the movers explain all the details of the contract and answer any questions that need clarification before signing it. The bill of lading should contain the mover’s information, breakdown of charges, pickup and delivery times, what liability the movers have for the belongings, and claims protection. Make sure to save a copy of the contract for future reference. Be Present While Packing.  If the movers are also hired to pack the belongings, be present while they are packing. Set a date for packing in the contract a few days before the move. Make sure all big electronics and appliances are properly unplugged before the packers come unless the business has planned to do it as part of the packing. Make an Inventory.  Make an inventory list of all items that are being moved by the business. Make sure all the items are listed and numbered on the inventory. Make a separate inventory sheet for valuable items. Once the movers arrive at the new home, check all the crates and boxes off on the inventory list to make sure nothing was lost or damaged.

As you start searching for the right moving company, it is also important to keep these red flags in mind:

Movers who don’t make an on-site inspection of your household goods and give an estimate over the phone or by email. Such estimates often sound—and are—too good to be true.

Movers who demand cash or a large deposit before the move.

Movers who don’t provide you with a copy of “Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move,” a booklet that movers are required to supply to customers planning interstate moves.

Business websites that have no address and no information about a mover’s registration or insurance.

Movers who claim all items are covered by their insurance.

Offices or warehouses don’t exist.

On moving day, a rental truck arrives rather than a business-owned or marked fleet truck.

As mentioned above please be sure to check out https://www.bbb.org/ to find accredited moving companies and read customer reviews.

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Celebrate Good Times with Reputable Businesses

It’s almost time to flip the tassel and toss the cap! Graduation season is upon us and with that comes the end of school, prom and graduation parties. You will be working with a lot of different companies to celebrate your graduate and make sure they enjoy their time before adulthood.

But before you start renting those tents, tables and chairs BBB has some tips for identifying trustworthy rental companies.

Research businesses before hiring them. Check out bbb.org to research service providers in your area and get a list of businesses you know you can trust.

Look into customer reviews and/or complaints. Reviews offer valuable insight from fellow patrons. Helping you identify businesses liked by consumers in your area, as wells merchants to steer clear of.

Check how long a business has been operating. Find out how many people are still using their services, in order to avoid paying a business that might close before they can provide their product or service.

Double-check prices. If you've learned about a vendor at an event, make sure you ask if prices are the same after the event. Be careful of high-pressure sales tactics to make you commit to a product or service on     the spot.

Pay with a credit card. Avoid paying in cash up-front for services. If     you pay by credit cards you have protection in the event of a problem that is not available with other forms of payment.

Follow up. Confirm all services one or two weeks prior to the event and verify all the details agreed upon, including the amount and sizes of the tents, tables, chairs, etc. You don’t want any surprises.

For more party planning and graduation tips go to bbb.org

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Give Your Personal Information a Deep Clean

Cue the singing forest animals, it’s time for some spring cleaning! In between sorting through your summer clothes and dusting off patio furniture, don’t forget to declutter your personal documents, both online and physical copies. 2018 had some of the largest data breaches of all time, which included companies such as Facebook, Marriott and Under Armour, to name a few.

BBB shares some tips and resources for disposing of your personal information both physically and online.

· Keep a clean machine: Ensure all software on internet-connected devices is up to date to reduce the risk of infection from malware.

· Lock down your login: Your usernames and passwords are not enough for personal data protection. Begin your spring cleaning by enabling the strongest authentication tools available, such as security keys or a unique one-time code through an app on your mobile device.

· Declutter your mobile life: Delete unused apps and keep others current, including the operating system on your mobile device. Actively manage your location services, Bluetooth, microphone and camera to make sure apps use them appropriately.

· Do a digital file purge: Perform a thorough review of your online files. Start removing digital clutter by doing the following:

                  o Clean up your email: Only save emails you really need and unsubscribe to emails you no longer need/want to receive.

                  o Back it up: Copy important data to a secure cloud site or another computer or drive where it can be safely stored. Make sure to back up your files before getting rid of a device.

· Own your online presence: Review the privacy and security settings on websites you use.

· Know what devices to digitally “shred”: Computers and mobile phones aren’t the only devices that capture and store sensitive, personal data. External hard drives and USBs, tape drives, embedded flash memory, wearables, networking equipment and office tools like copiers, printers and fax machines all contain valuable personal information and require personal data protection.

· Clear out stockpiles: If you have a stash of old hard drives or other devices – even if they’re in a locked storage area – information still exists and could be stolen. Wipe and/or destroy unneeded hard drives as soon as possible.

· Empty your trash or recycle bin on all devices and be certain to wipe and overwrite: Use a program that wipes the data from your device and then overwrites it by putting random data in place of your information.

· To be “shredded,” a hard drive must be chipped into small pieces: Use a trusted shredding company to dispose of your old hard drives.  

Fifty-six percent of identity theft victims traced the theft to something that was stolen from their own possession. So, when it comes to physical documents here’s the first rule: If you don’t need it, shred it. Here is a list of how long you should be holding onto certain documents.

· Documents to shred immediately: sales receipts (after the policy/warranty expires), ATM receipts, credit offers, canceled checks, expired warranties and junk mail.

· Keep for up to 1 year: Pay stubs, bank statements, paid, undisputed medical bills and paid bills.

· Keep for 7 years: tax-related receipts, tax-related canceled checks, W-2s and records for tax deductions taken.

· Keep while active: most contractors, auto titles, home deeds, disputed medical bills, home improvement receipts (until sale), insurance documents and records of pensions and retirement plans.

· Keep permanently: birth certificates, social security cards, marriage certificate, divorce decree, citizenship papers, adoption papers, death certifications, tax returns and wills.

If you are looking for an opportunity to shred your documents, BBB is here to help with Secure Your ID Day. On Saturday, May 18, 2019, BBB Serving Eastern Michigan & the Upper Peninsula will host this helpful identity theft prevention event featuring FREE on-site shredding, along with tips to protect your identity. Mobile shredding trucks will be on-site accepting three bags or boxes of unwanted documents. Any bag or box beyond the three, BBB will be accepting $10.00 donations toward our Educational Foundation.

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Don’t Bust Your Bracket... Or Your Bank Account

It’s madness, March Madness that is. After endless hours of research, you have finally put together your winning bracket, with your favorite team going all the way of course! To show support for your favorite team having a jersey with your favorite player’s number on the back is a must, so you start looking online for the best jersey, with the best price tag. Every site you browse has similar prices expect one. You come across a site that appears to be selling the same apparel as all the rest but at a significantly lower price.

Though you’ve never heard of this company before the site looks authentic, why not buy the cheaper jersey?

BBB shares what to look out for when shopping for sports apparel.

Watch out for too-good-to-be-true pricing. Fake websites advertise cheap prices to attract and encourage consumers to "purchase" their products and provide sensitive information. In many of these cases, either the items do not exist, or they are counterfeit.

Look for contact information. Find out the business name, physical address, phone number and email address and verify that the physical address matches the business name. If no contact information or verifiable business information is listed, it's a red flag. Make sure you read the terms and conditions of sale carefully before placing an order.

Know the seller. Research the company if you've never made a purchase on the website before. Check out the company on bbb.org and conduct a Google search on the website name and the word "scam." If the website is claiming to be an official site, authorized to sell licensed products, confirm this directly with the team, league or source it is claiming to be authorized by. Check website security. Before making an online purchase, check the URL of the page you're entering contact and financial information. If the URL doesn't start with "https" your information could be exposed to con artists or hackers. A security-enabled web page will begin with "https," instead of just "http" and will likely have a lock symbol that displays as green to verify security. Always pay by credit card whenever possible in case you need to challenge the charge later.

As the tournament plays on your team gets closer and closer to the championship, wouldn’t it be awesome if you were there to watch them win it? So again, you take to the internet to look for tickets. Just like with the apparel, there are many things to be wary of when buying tickets to a sporting event online.

Purchase from the venue whenever possible. Many official ticket sales agents now offer secondary sales options, as well.

Consider your source. Know the difference between a professional ticket broker (a legitimate and accredited reseller), a ticket scalper (an unregulated and unlicensed ticket seller), and a scammer selling scam tickets. Also, be sure to search for the source on bbb.org to learn what other customers have experienced.

Buy only from trusted vendors. Buy online only from vendors you know and trust. Look for the lock symbol in the web address to indicate a secure purchasing system. Don’t click through from emails or online ads; a common ticket scam trick is to create a web address that is similar to a well-known company.

Know the refund policy. You should only purchase tickets from a ticket reseller that provides clear details about the terms of the transaction. Sellers should disclose to the purchaser, prior to purchase, the location of the seats represented by the tickets, either orally or by reference to a seating chart; and, if the tickets are not available for immediate access to the purchaser, disclose when the tickets will ship or be available for pick up.

Use payment methods that come with protection. Always use a credit card so you have some recourse if the tickets are not as promised. Debit cards, wire transfer or cash transactions are risky; if the tickets are fraudulent, you won’t be able to get your money back.

If you’re unsure, verify your tickets. Pay a visit to the arena where the event will be held. Present your ticket to “Will Call” (customer service) and they can verify if your ticket is legitimate and show you how to tell if a ticket is fake.

For more tips and information visit bbb.org.

[easternmichbbb]

Real Keys to Real Estate

Spring is coming! As we all start to emerge from our winter hibernation, maybe you’ve realized that the Michigan winter has finally become too much to bear and you are ready to pack up and move somewhere the thermostat doesn’t drop below zero. Or maybe that house down the street that you secretly love has suddenly become for sale and it must be yours.

There are so many moving parts that go into buying or selling a home. Whether or not to use a realtor or a real estate agent and how to find a trustworthy one. If you are selling a home, prepping it for the home inspection and finding a good home inspector if you are the one purchasing a home. With so much at stake, you want to make the right choices. BBB has some helpful tips for every step of your home endeavor.

First Things First

Hiring a real estate agent or realtor can the process of buying or selling a home a lot less stressful. Having someone who understands what is going on with the housing marketing and knows what each step of the process will entail can be invaluable, but finding the right person isn’t always easy. Here are some steps to take when looking for an agent or realtor:

Ask for Referrals.  Ask for recommendations from friends and family members who have recently bought or sold their home. Ask if they were satisfied with their experience and if they would use the agent or company in the future.  Be sure to ask if there are agents or companies to avoid. Look for residential agents and companies in the area so they will be knowledgeable about the neighborhood and the community.

Interview Candidates.  Once you have assembled at least four prospective agents, schedule a time to meet with them in person. If you are selling your home, each agent will make a listing presentation. This presentation allows you to become familiar with their background, marketing plan, and market analysis which includes information about similar houses in your area that have recently sold.

Request References.  Ask the agent to provide a list of references who have previously used their services to buy or sell similar types of properties. Ask the references about their experience with the agent or realtor.

Ask if They are an Agent or Realtor.  A real estate agent is required to take real estate courses and pass a licensing exam before practicing.  Every realtor has taken the same courses and passed the same exam, but a realtor who is a member of the National Association of Realtors (NAR) is held to a specific code of ethics while practicing real estate.

Discuss Compensation.  Usually, agents and realtors are compensated through a commission. The commission fee is usually 5 to 7 percent of the selling price, but it can vary from area to area. The percentage of the commission fee can sometimes be negotiated depending on the housing market. The agent receives a commission regardless of who finds the buyer but receives no commission if the property doesn't sell. The commission is usually divided between the agent and their broker.  

Carefully Read the Contract.  Be wary of agents who pressure you to sign documents immediately. Carefully and completely read the documents and make sure the agent clearly answers any of your questions. If you are selling your home, usually you sign a contract granting the agent exclusive rights to sell your property within a certain time period. Make sure to ask about that time period.  

Home Sellers

Having your home in the best condition possible is key for a successful home sale. Not only do you want it to look put together during open houses, but once an offer is on the table you want to make sure any and all issues are taken care of prior to the home inspection. These hints can help with your home preparation:

Repairs- Is there minor repair work that needs to be done? Hire a professional to deal with outstanding issues that are beyond your technical knowledge before the inspection.

Testing-Test electrical outlets, drains, smoke alarms and CO2 detectors to make sure they all work.

Replace- Replaced burned out light bulbs and furnace filters. Better yet, get your furnace serviced and hot water tank inspected with the dates of inspections updated so the inspector and buyers can see.

Remove- Remove furniture or items that might be impeding to access panels such as electrical boxes and water shut-off valves.

Pets- Ask a friend if they can keep an eye on your furry friend while the inspection is happening.

Clean- clean your house. Including mowing the lawn and trimming the bushes. First impressions go a long way.

Home Buyers

Purchasing a home is one of the biggest financial investments you will ever make. You want to be sure that what you are seeing is what your getting, so it is important to find a trustworthy home inspector, who is going to be looking out for you and not the bottom line.  Here are some guidelines to follow when looking for a home inspector:

Referrals- Ask friends and acquaintances for recommendations. Look for someone who is familiar with the type of home to be inspected. Does the inspector specialize in residential property? Check with the Better Business Bureau if you have questions.

Interview- Ask prospective inspectors questions about their professional training, relevant experience and/or length of time in business. Look for home inspectors who are committed to avoiding conflicts of interest and refuse to be involved in any real estate transaction.

Be Present- Be present during the inspection. Most inspectors will allow you to tour the home with them and ask questions during or after the inspection. The inspection can last anywhere from two to five hours, depending on the size of the house.

Ask How Soon- Ask how soon after the inspection will you receive a copy of the home inspection final, written report. Carefully read your home inspection report and make a list of items that need correction; this will help you to determine your future expenditures for repairs and maintenance. A home cannot fail an inspection; understand that the home inspection report records the condition of the home, both positives and negatives.

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It CAN Happen to You

We’ve all heard the news story or read the Facebook post of an individual being scammed out of money by someone from another country. The scammer claims to be working for a familiar company or selling a familiar product when really, they are looking for their next victim. This narrative is a common one nowadays, and yet it keeps happening. No matter how many times we hear the same story, we still think “that could never happen to me.”

Larry Rapids of Melvindale, Michigan considers himself a tech-savvy guy. Computers are his hobby and he has been Microsoft certified since 2007. The last thing Larry thought he would ever wind up in would be a tech-support scam.

Back in December of 2018, Rapids purchased a computer cleaning software “C Cleaner” from the internet.  “C Cleaner” is a real computer utility program, created by a London based software company. The program is used to clean unwanted files off your computer, a program Rapids had been successfully running for over a month. So, when Rapids was contacted by a gentleman claiming to work for C Cleaner, he didn’t see any reason to not believe him.

“I got it, I ran it for a month, month and a half and everything was fine,” Rapids said. “Then all of a sudden on January 15th of 2019, the guy calls me and says our servers are down, we are going out of business and we are sending rebait checks. We would like to send you your $500 rebait check.”

The man on the other end of the line then asks Rapids to check his bank account.

“I look. I see a $2500 deposit from Wells Fargo,” Rapids said. “That was the hook.”

Looking back on the situation, Rapids realized he missed a couple of key red flags.

“When he asked me to go look at my bank account I should’ve known better,” Rapids said. “because he shouldn’t have known how to access my bank account.”

The gentleman then details to Larry that he sent him $2500 instead of $500 and that his mistake was going to cost him his job and his family. “Adam” complains to Larry long enough to get him to send the $2000 back. Using Walmart gift cards. Another red flag.

“I went and got the cards for $2000, sent them, he cashed them, and it turns out everything was false,” Rapids said. “Turns out it was a falsified bank screen. It even had an official looking Wells Fargo number and everything.”

After attempting to contact Flagstar Bank as well as the FBI, Larry went to the Melvindale Police Department to file a report. After reading Larry’s report, Detective Rolando Hinojosa of the Melvindale Police Department, worked with Larry to try to bring “Adam” to justice.

“After I spoke to Larry a couple times, I then spoke with “Adam” on the phone, who you could tell was not telling me the truth and had no intentions of talking with me,” Hinojsa said. “Cause I did ask him to come by the police station. He never came by.”

According to Detective Hinojosa, this is a common occurrence for cases like this.

“We don’t know who Adam is,” Hinojosa said. “I traced the phone call to somewhere in California and there was another phone number that Larry had given me and I traced that one back to Florida. So, I was in touch with the FTC, the FCC, homeland security, FBI, anybody who might be able to help us out on a more national basis and they said that there was very little that they could do.”

The smaller agencies, such as the Melvindale Police Department, don’t have the resources to dig into cases like this and both the smaller and the larger agencies like the FBI or the FTC don’t have the time they would need to investigate these types of scams.

“Unfortunately, in cases like this it’s very difficult to get an arrest,” Hinojosa said. “Even to get charges is tough. So, people have to beware.”

Exercise extra caution if you are contacted by someone claiming to work for a company whose product or service you use. It is extremely unlikely that a legitimate employee from any company would be reaching out to you without you reaching out to them first.

“If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is, and to the other people, it could happen to you, ok,” Hinojosa said.  “Don’t think you’re above it, it could happen, it could happen to you.”

[easternmichbbb]

Don’t Let Your Time Get Taxed!

It’s the time of year where weekends are spent wanting to pull your hair out as tax documents pile up around you. All to prove to the IRS that you did in fact, pay taxes. While most people get some form of assistance filing their taxes, whether it be through an online software or a professional tax preparer, it can still be a hassle gathering the correct information and knowing which type of service is right for you and at what cost.

BBB identifies the different types of tax preparers and services offered, so you can best determine what fits your needs and your budget:

Internal Revenue Service: The IRS offers free tax assistance to those taxpayers who wish to prepare their own returns. This toll-free telephone number 1-[phone] connects you with available agents to answer your individual questions. The IRS also offers information and tax forms on their website at www.irs.gov.

The government has a special program to help those taxpayers who are physically or mentally unable to prepare their own tax returns. Those qualifying include the disabled, seniors, and non-English speaking citizens.

Senior citizens 60 years or older may receive free tax aid from AARP in a cooperative agreement with the IRS. During tax season, AARP has offices in all major cities, staffed by volunteers who are trained to handle the special needs of senior taxpayers. For more information, visit the AARP web site.

National Tax Services: These are chains that maintain franchise offices around the country. The main advantage of a national tax service is convenience. During tax time, offices are open nights and weekends, and customers are serviced on a drop-in, first-come basis. Costs for services are moderate. Each company has a set fee schedule, with the cost being determined by the number of forms and lines that are filled.

Local Tax Services: These individuals generally have some knowledge of the tax laws and may be proficient with a calculator or computer. However, while the majority of these tax preparers are legitimate and competent, it is important that you conduct a thorough interview with any tax preparer before hiring one. Since no license is required, it is important to find out about their training and experience.

Enrolled Agent (EA): An EA is a preparer approved by the Internal Revenue Service to represent taxpayers before the IRS. EAs may work as independent consultants, or they may practice in a firm that includes other tax practitioners. Many EAs limit their work to a particular tax area, so it is wise to ask about his or her specific area of expertise.

Accredited Tax Advisor or Accredited Tax Preparer: An Accredited Tax Advisor is one who is prepared to handle complex tax planning issues such as: planning for owners of closely held businesses and the highly compensated; choosing retirement plans; performing estate planning; as well as preparing tax returns for businesses and individuals.

Certified Public Accountants (CPA): A CPA has a college degree (or the equivalent in work experience), has passed a state professional qualifying exam and meets other state licensing criteria. A CPA whose practice is devoted to taxes may be your best choice for a preparer if your return is particularly complex, or if there has been a major change in your lifestyle (marriage, divorce, death or retirement) which may have substantial tax consequences.

Public Accountants: Anyone in the public practice of accountancy can be considered a public accountant. It is important to determine that the accountant has a solid background in tax matters. Many public accountants also are EAs and are well qualified to prepare tax forms. Be sure to verify credentials.

Tax Attorneys: Tax lawyers generally charge the highest fees of all tax preparers, and appeal to taxpayers who are interested in legally sheltering part of their income. Like CPAs and EAs, many lawyers are qualified to provide advice on related tax matters from municipal bonds to estate planning, and, if specialized, are well informed on tax laws and their applications.

Once you have chosen the type of tax preparer that best fits both the complexity of your situation and your budget, follow the tips below to help ensure that the person you choose to do your taxes is trustworthy:

Get Referrals. To find a tax preparer, start by asking friends and family for recommendations, then check BBB Business Reviews at bbb.org. Look beyond the letter grade; complaint details and Customer Reviews will tell you about others’ experiences.

Make sure they are properly registered. A tax preparer must obtain a PTIN from the IRS. Never let someone work on your taxes unless they have this number. Don’t be afraid to ask about this or other qualifications. A capable professional does not mind questions.

Look for credentials. Anyone with a PTIN can prepare your tax forms for you, but some tax preparers have more training and qualifications than others. Enrolled agents, certified public accountants (CPAs) and attorneys, all have unlimited rights to represent their clients in front of the IRS. Other preparers can help you with forms and simple IRS matters but are limited otherwise, and they can’t help you if they didn’t prepare your form. Learn more about tax preparer credentials on the IRS website.

Keep a watchful eye for promises. Be wary of any tax preparation service that promises larger refunds than the competition and avoid tax preparers who base their fee on a percentage of the refund. Also be wary of “refund anticipation loans,” which can take a hefty chunk of your refund in commission. Refunds are processed quickly these days, so it’s a better bet to just wait for the real thing rather than pay a premium to get it now.

Search for free tax programs. There are several free government programs that prepare taxes free of charge if you meet an income requirement; go to the IRS’s Free File page for more information. Check with your state government to find out about their program (search “file tax-free” and your state’s name in a search engine and look for .gov websites).

Tax Software and Apps. If you plan to file yourself, use tax software or an app that provides both excellent data security and good customer service. Some of the top names in tax prep software are BBB Accredited Businesses, so check with bbb.org first.

[easternmichbbb]

The Love Scam, Baby

The month of February, when stores are stocked with candy hearts and teddy bears, can leave single people feeling lonely and on a desperate search to find love. This makes it the perfect opportunity for romance scammers to swoop in and steal your heart, and your money.

Relationship scammers know just what say to get you to trust them. They make you feel as though the relationship is real before you’ve even met, and that is when the scamming begins. The person you have become infatuated with shares a tough-luck story about their family needing money that pulls on your heartstrings. Next thing you know your bank account has been drained by someone overseas.

Here are some warning signs that your online whirlwind romance may be a scam:

Appear to good to be true. Scammers offer up good-looking photos and tales of financial success. Be honest with yourself about who would be genuinely interested. If they seem “too perfect,” your alarm bells should ring.

In a hurry to get off the site. Scammers will try very quickly to get you to move to communicating through email, messenger, or phone.

Moving fast. A scammer will begin speaking of a future together and tell you they love you quickly. They often say they’ve never felt this way before.

Talk about trust. Scammers will start manipulating you with talk about trust and how important it is. This will often be a first step to asking you for money.

Don’t want to meet. Be wary of someone who always has an excuse to postpone meeting because they say they are traveling or live overseas or are in the military.

Suspect language. If the person you are communicating with claims to be from your home town but has poor spelling or grammar, uses overly flowery language, or uses phrases that don’t make sense, that’s a red flag.

Hard luck stories. Before moving on to asking you for money, the scammer may hint at financial troubles like heat being cut off or a stolen car or a sick relative, or they may share a sad story from their past (death of parents or spouse, etc.).

Here are some ways you can protect yourself in the world of online dating:

·  Never send money or personal information that can be used for identity theft to someone you’ve never met in person. Never give someone your credit card information to book a ticket to visit you. Cut off contact if someone starts asking you for information like credit card, bank, or government ID numbers.

·  Ask specific questions about details given in a profile. A scammer may stumble over remembering details or making a story fit.

· Do your research. Many scammers steal photos from the web to use in their profiles. You can do a reverse image lookup using a website like tineye.com or images.google.com to see if the photos on a profile are stolen from somewhere else. You can also search online for a profile name, email, or phone number to see what adds up and what doesn’t.

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Scams During Shutdown

When tragedy, trials or transition occur in the world many unite with others for support, while some seize the opportunity to take advantage of those in a vulnerable state. The ongoing government shutdown has directly affected over 800,000 federal employees that are working without pay or staying home due to furlough. If you aren’t directly affected you can be indirectly affected by longer airport lines, a decrease in food safety inspections and limited access to law enforcement departments; such as FBI, Customs and Border Protection and the Secret Service.

Unfortunately, as many government employees are on furlough, scammers are working overtime, taking full advantage of the Federal Trade Commission’s (government agency) “do not call” registry being down along with the  completely non- functional website. There are predictions of increased robocalls during the shutdown allowing scammers to test their finest cons in effort to gain access to your personal information. Anyone receiving a call from someone claiming to be with the IRS must understand that the IRS will only call you on very rare occasions but will not demand payment via gift card, debit card or a wire transfer. The IRS also has no authority to revoke your driver’s license, business license, or immigration status and often use these scare tactics to threaten you into payment.

Better Business Bureau is here to remind you that we have ZERO affiliation with the government and work to keep the public informed in effort to prevent scams. Here are some tips to help you remain vigilant during the shutdown.

IRS Facts: The IRS will only call people on rare occasions. According to the IRS, “There are special circumstances in which the IRS will call or come to a home or business, such as when a taxpayer has an overdue tax bill, to secure a delinquent tax return or a delinquent employment tax payment, or to tour a business as part of an audit or during criminal investigations.”

IRS Fiction: It does not call to demand immediate payment using a prepaid debit card, gift card or wire transfer, nor does it threaten to bring in local police or immigration officers. “The IRS also cannot revoke your driver’s license, business licenses, or immigration status. Threats like these are common tactics scam artists use to trick victims into buying into their schemes,” according to the IRS.

FTC/FCC: Residents should note that due to the shutdown, the Federal Trade Commission customer complaint system is non-operational, leaving a gap between the victim reporting” and the issuing of consumer alerts.

Your local Better Business Bureau: You can contact your local BBB directly, we are here to help if you feel you have been a victim of a scam or need to report a scam you can do so using our BBB Scam Tracker. We are available by phone as well 1(866)-788-5706.

Online Scams: Scammers may also be offering pre-approved loans or grants in exchange for bank account information, or emails may appear to be from banks in an attempt to get recipients to open links. Do not open links or attachments, police cautioned, and delete the emails.

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Better to Give

After Halloween the atmosphere exchanges aromas of pumpkin spice for cinnamon, toasted marshmallow and pine trees. The holiday season seems to warm our hearts in a way that’s difficult to put into words. We reminisce on favorite family traditions and begin planning based on culinary skill levels who will be making what dish for the main event. Beyond the nostalgia you feel around this time, there is also a spirit of generosity that’s hard to shake when you realize it’s better to give than to receive. Be cautious, a major downfall to having a giving heart is to first acknowledge that scam artists are looking to play on your holiday heart strings by taking advantage of your giving.

If you’re thinking about donating to charity on giving Tuesday or at any point during this season, make sure you are doing your research to verify that an online charity is legitimate. Check with Better Business Bureau’s Wise Giving Alliance for a list of trusted charities to give to. Here are some wise giving tips to keep your heart filled with holiday cheer.

    1. Get the charity’s exact name. With so many charities in existence, mistaken identity is a common problem. Thousands of charities have “cancer” in their name, for example, but no connection with one another.

2. Resist pressure to give on the spot, whether from a telemarketer or door-to-door solicitor.

3. Be wary of heart-wrenching appeals. What matters is what the charity is doing to help.

4. Press for specifics. If the charity says it’s helping the homeless, for example, ask how and where it’s working.

5. Check websites for basics. A charity’s mission, program and finances should be available on its site. If not, check for a report at www.give.org.

6. Check with state charity officials. In many states, charities are required to register, usually with the office of the attorney general, before soliciting. Click http://www.nasconet.org/documents/u-s-charity-offices/ for the relevant office in your state.

7. Don’t assume that every soliciting organization is tax exempt as a charity. You can readily check an organization’s tax status at www.irs.gov/app/eos.

 For more wise giving tips, visit give.org today!

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Award Worthy Business Practice

 There’s a series of buzzwords businesses would like associated with their brand. These are words they consider to be the foundation of which their values were built upon. As a business owner or representative, you look to establish values that are reflective of your business and place the proper staff to fill the company’s mission. The hiring process is more in depth then checking off skillsets, it’s a process of filtering potential employees, in search of the right person who embodies those values to best represent your business.

Reliability is defined by the “the quality of being trustworthy or performing consistently well. To be viewed as reliable means that your team can count on you and consumers can rest assured, knowing they will receive the same level of service or professionalism when working with your business. Having your business acknowledged as a great place to work is about more than using buzzwords in your mission statement or core values. Better Business Bureau has a set of standards they’ve been working to uphold for over 100 years; trust, honesty, ethics, reliability, credibility and quality customer service.  Fully understanding an organization is about more than words but the actions that give the words their substance. For the second consecutive year, Better Business Bureau was a proud sponsor of the Detroit Free Press Top Workplace Awards to acknowledge those businesses with exceptional substance.

There are many factors at play to be nominated for a top workplace award, beyond the benefits, work culture plays a major role in determining the level of an employee’s happiness or lack thereof. Many Americans will spend more time at work than with their own families and as disheartening as that sounds, balance is key. Businesses that strive to create a healthy work life balance are more likely to retain their employees. In the 2017 Employee Retention Report, Top Work Places had a higher percentage of employees that were not on the search for new employment.

Everyone wants to feel as if they matter, looking into the leadership structures of an organization is of grave importance. Employees like having an input and want to feel valued as opposed to being viewed as just another number or warm body in a seat.  Investing in ways to show your team you appreciate them is critical, which can positively impact the company.  There have been multiple businesses that work hard every day to create the best experience at work for their team. These businesses strive to go beyond their mission statement and live out what they believe. They have cultivated a place to work that isn’t just a countdown until Friday and we are proud to applaud them.

 2018 Top Work Place Award Winners

Accenture LLP

Aldi

Alta Equipment Company

BorgWarner

Brose North America Inc

Choice Schools Associates  LLC

Comcast

Continental AG

Credit Acceptance  Corporation

DFCU Financial

DTE Energy

Edward Jones

Ernst & Young LLP

FANUC America Corporation

Fifth Third Bank

Flagstar Bancorp Inc

Gentex Corporation

Great Lakes Caring

Honigman Miller Schwartz  and Cohn LLP

Kelly Services, Inc.

Meridian

MSU Federal Credit Union

Plante Moran

PricewaterhouseCoopers  L.L.P.

Real Estate One

Residential Home Health  and Residential Hospice

Robert Bosch LLC

Saint Joseph Mercy Health  System

Special Tree  Rehabilitation System

Sun Communities, Inc.

Team Rehabilitation

TEAM Schostak Family Restaurants

Troy School District

Tyler Technologies

Webasto Roof Systems  Americas

Aerotek

Aristeo Construction Co.

Brooks Kushman P.C.

Chem-Trend L.P.

Commercial Contracting  Corporation

Community Choice Credit  Union

Compuware Corporation

CP Federal Credit Union

Custom Home Health

ELGA Credit Union

ESG Automotive, Inc.

Esys Automation

Fast Switch, Ltd

Fernco, Inc./CCI

Freudenberg-NOK Sealing  Technologies

Friedman Real Estate

Gazelle Sports

Genisys Credit Union

Ghafari Associates,  L.L.C.

GreenPath, Inc.

Hewson & Van  Hellemont, P.C.

Home Instead Senior Care  - Birmingham, MI

INCOE Corporation

Isabella Bank Corporation

Kapnick Insurance Group

KMG Prestige

Lake Trust Credit Union

Liberty Title Agency,  Inc.

Michigan First Credit  Union

Michigan Mutual

Michigan Schools and  Government Credit Union

Monroe Bank & Trust

Mortgage 1 Inc

Northwestern Mutual -  Troy

Oakland Family Services

OneMagnify

PACE Southeast Michigan

Plex

Pratt & Miller  Engineering

RedViking

Rose Pest Solutions

Sachse Construction

Sanctus, LLC dba Shift  Digital

Secure-24, LLC

Service Express

SmithGroupJJR

Success Mortgage  Partners, Inc.

The Christman Company

The Townsend Hotel

University of Michigan  Credit Union

USG Corporation

Vesco Oil Corporation

Village Green Holding,  LLC

Wade Trim

Wireless Vision

Zach Hart Agency, LLC

A&D Technology, Inc.

ABM Healthcare

AmeriStaff Nursing  Services

Atlas Oil Company

Avon Machining

Balanced Home Care

Beltone Hearing Center

Broder & Sachse Real  Estate

Cambridge Consulting  Group LLC

Capital Mortgage Funding  Powered by Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation

CareOne Senior Care

CGC Water Treatment  Kinetico

Cinnaire Corporation

Clayton & McKervey,  P.C.

CMGRP, Inc., d/b/a Weber  Shandwick

Community Housing  Network, Inc.

Cornerstone Community  Financial Credit Union

Dawn Farm

DeMaria Building Company,  Inc.

Detroit Metro Convention  & Visitors Bureau

Douglas Dynamics LLC

Educational Data Systems,  Inc.

Etkin

Financial Services of  america

Genesis Cadillac &  Genesis Chevrolet

George W. Auch Company  (DBA AUCH Construction)

Giarmarco Mullins &  Horton PC

Giffels Webster

Gongos, Inc.

Heidebreicht Chevrolet

Hungry Howie's Pizza

imageOne

Jacobsen Industries

Kunz, Leigh &  Associates

MadDog Technology LLC

Marsh & McLennan  Agency LLC | Michigan Health & Benefits Team

Mercury Promotions

Metropolitan Concrete  Corp

Michigan Financial  Companies, Inc.

Michigan Manufacturing  Technology Center

Optimal Care, Inc.

Partner Solutions

Populus Group

Power Home Remodeling  Group

Premier Property  Management

Prudential Advisors

R.L. Deppmann Company  Inc.

RapidAdvance

Renewal by Andersen of  Detroit

Signature Associates, Inc

Slalom, LLC

SolvIT, Inc

Spalding DeDecker  Associates, Inc.

Suburban Bolt and Supply  Co.

The HCS Group

The Sam Bernstein Law  Firm, PLLC

Thornton & Grooms -  Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & More

Union Home Mortgage Corp.

Varroc Lighting Systems

Worldwide Express

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Scary side of Social Media

Long live the days of selfies, sharing stories and selecting your favorite Snap Chat filter, welcome to an era completely dependent upon social media. Whether you’re skipping through paid advertisements or keeping up with the latest local or national news, you’d be misinformed to dismiss the danger social media poses on your cyber security.  In celebration of Cyber Security Month, it’s vital to shed the best light onto your social media usage.

  Social media hacks can be a source of information that can lead to identity theft. A hacker can easily access your social media and obtain your birthday, email, and security question answers in effort to achieve something far greater. The information you may view as small that’s taken by cyber criminals leave them free to circulate targeted phishing emails containing malware links. Beyond credit card information, sharing or sending of photos cannot only harm your reputation but can be used in a catfish scam to manipulate someone else.

  Any device that can connect to the internet faces the opportunity of being breached. With the recent breach of popular social media site Facebook, many were impacted and had to change their passwords and more frequently than not by the time an investigation is conducted to determine what went wrong, it’s already too late. Social media has become another outlet of data that cybercriminals are exploiting for their benefit. If you believe you may have been hacked, the Better Business Bureau on Scam Tracker.

  If consumers think they have been hacked, FTC encourages you to consider these tips

·        Make sure security software is up-to-date and delete malware;

·        Change passwords;

·        Check with their email provider or social networking site for information about restoring the account;

·        Check account settings; and

·        Tell your friends

Using unique passwords for important sites like banking and email and safeguarding user names and passwords can help users protect themselves from hackers. Turn on two-factor authentication if a that is a feature offered by an app; refrain from clicking on links or opening attachments from unknown users; and only download free software from sites that are familiar to you, that you know and trust. When using a public computer, do not let web browsers remember passwords, and log out of all accounts when finished.

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Protect your Identity

Identity Theft Protection – Keeping Your Employees Secure

FBI statistics show that violent crime and property crime have declined nationally since the 1990s. This positive news, however, is tempered by the rapid growth of identity theft. According to a 2018 online survey by The Harris Poll, 60 million Americans have been the victims of identity theft, a number that increases every year. If your identity is stolen, it can be time-consuming, frustrating and emotionally draining to rectify the situation. Protecting your Social Security number and shredding your mail is no longer enough to avoid these insidious and savvy predators.

Unsurprisingly, most of us are concerned about preventing identity theft. While identity theft protection is available from several vendors, and can be easily purchased online, employers can simplify the process for employees by offering this coverage as part of their benefits package. Here are a few points to keep in mind, whether you are looking to offer identity theft protection for the first time, or want to ensure your existing plan provides robust support.

·         What happens if an employee’s identity is actually stolen? Ignore all the other features for a moment, and focus on the single most important value driver.  Exactly what assistance does the vendor provide if the worst occurs? Don’t assume an aggressive team of risk management specialists, private investigators and lawyers will fully manage the entire resolution process. The plan may merely offer a guide or packet of information, and leave it up to the employee to take all the necessary steps. Premium coverage, where the plan will handle most of the recovery work on the individual’s behalf, will be more costly, but can also offer the greatest peace of mind.

Similarly, does the plan insure the individual for personal expenses that result from identity theft? If so, at what amount?  This would provide coverage for items like lost wages (assuming the employee must take time off work to restore his or her identity) and legal fees. Several plans currently offer $1 million in insurance with no deductible. A plan that covers less (for example, only $25,000) may be of little value, especially if individuals must handle the majority of the recovery process on their own.

·         Know the scope of monitoring. An identity theft protection plan will obviously perform credit monitoring, but of how many agencies? There are three major credit reporting agencies, and there could be errors on one report that do not appear on the others.  It’s preferable to offer a plan that includes monitoring of all three credit reports, so employees will have full protection.

Does the plan cover children? If so, to what age? Young children are frequently the victims of identity theft, and it may take longer to discover the damage that has been done. This makes identity theft protection especially important for safeguarding their credit history. Any plan offered to employees should include protection for their spouses/partners and children, at least up until age 18.

·         Do employees understand their role in using the benefit? Frequently, when employees elect a benefit plan, they expect the carrier to take care of everything. But identity theft protection requires the individual to be more proactive, in order to truly take advantage of the plan.

First, the individual must register at the vendor’s website and enter any requested information, such as Social Security, credit card, medical ID and passport numbers, so these can be monitored for fraud and theft. The monitoring aspect of the plan is degraded if the covered individuals’ personal data isn’t provided (which includes that of covered dependents).

Next, the individual must read and potentially act on any communication received from the vendor. For example, when an employee receives an email, indicating activity on his or her credit report, it may not necessarily signal identity theft. But that cannot be confirmed unless the employee follows up on the alert, to determine whether a breach has actually occurred.

Employers should not simply offer identity theft protection without explaining to employees what their responsibilities are if they elect the plan. It is critical that employees provide their personal information to the vendor in a timely manner, and they must remain vigilant in addressing any alerts received.

Identity theft is not going to go away. Individuals are looking for ways to minimize their risk of becoming a victim, and in a way that takes up little of their time and energy. By offering  a high-quality identity protection plan, employers can show their responsiveness to a growing need, and their determination to provide a total benefits package that positively affects employees’ quality of life.

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    “If you can’t stand the heat, then get out of the kitchen,” unfortunately this won’t provide you with a sense of relief when you step outside to experience summer in Michigan. I’m sure we were all excited to wash our cars, golf, take the boat out and hit the beach to fully make the most of the warmer weather. Many of us have gotten exactly what we asked for, the snow has stopped but the true question to ponder is; were you mentally prepared for the full 180 degree shift that’s taken place?  

It’s possible to have too much of a good thing and although summer is here, fully understanding that the forecast has the potential to be in the upper 90’s for the week, it’s time to think of ways to beat the heat. Fun facts; sunscreen is your friend and skin cancer is real and has the potential to impact anyone. Skin cancer results in a genetic mutation that stems from ultraviolet radiation so understand the sun is stronger than you realize.

It is of grave importance to use sunscreen to protect yourself against the sun, sunscreen works to reflect or scatter the light away from your skin. Many of us know to wear sunscreen for the beach and outdoor activities but it’s equally important to maintain protection against the sun with some level of SPF whenever we go outside.

If you are like most of us, we know SPF is something found in sunscreen and assume the higher the better without fully understanding what it is. Live science provides greater insight into the makings of sunscreen. Sun Protection Factor, more commonly known as SPF is the effectiveness of sunscreen to protect against the UV radiation. According to Live Science, most organizations recommend using sunscreen with SPF between 15 and 50 (ratings higher than 50 SPF have yet to be proven more effective than SPF 50). SPF 15 protects against 93 percent of rays while 30 SPF protects against 97 percent, there is not a guarantee of 100 percent protection against the sun’s rays.  

We’ve now learned to protect our skin, and move onto fun fact number two, there is nothing worse than passing out while in search of the best priced rhubarb at the Eastern Market, due to a lack of hydration. Staying hydrated in the summer is imperative to your health. Although our bodies are made up of 60 percent water, we have to continue to replenish what we are losing throughout the day. You lose water from urine and sweat and to prevent dehydration our bodies need 2 liters or half a gallon daily which could increase in the summer when you expel more fluids.

Keep the heat down in the house, also known as fun fact number three, making salads or using the stove top over the oven will keep the internal temperature down at home. Lighting can also make you warmer in the summer; by changing your lights to fluorescent bulbs you can reduce the heat by 70 percent inside your home. Instead of throwing all your clothes in the dryer you can opt into hanging them up to dry in effort to keep the temperature down.

Lastly we have come to fun fact number four, what to wear? This is the ultimate season of concerts, weddings, and with many venues holding events outdoors during the summer remember to wear breathable clothing (linen/cotton). Look at purchasing hats or clothes that have UV protection built into them are other ways to beat the heat.

If you are looking to get air conditioning installed or repaired remember to check with bbb.org to find a trusted business to work in your home.

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The Marvels in the Mitten

 More often than not Michigan weather refuses to succumb to the pressures of society’s expectations. Whether its summer, spring, winter or a variety pack of every season compiled into one week, there’s no shortage on finding things to do in the mitten.  Detroit, Michigan has such rich history. From Motown, to the automobile scene; rest assured there is a museum to discover it all. The Henry Ford Museum, Motown Museum, and Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA) are all great places to visit during any season. If you aren’t too interested in understanding the history of it all and an ideal first date is taking long walks on the beach then Michigan has the perfect thing for you too. Head to the Riverwalk, this is a great place to enjoy watching waves splashing against the rocks and allow the calming water to carry your woes away. If you’re like most of us and work up an appetite, fear not, food is not far from you.  Within walking distance you will find a true gem, indulge at the Rattlesnake Club. With both indoor and outdoor seating options, you are likely to find something to suit your fancy as you slither into the Rattlesnake.

         You are not alone if when you think of Michigan you immediately think of Detroit, but there is so much more going on in the mitten than “The D.” Michigan has four Great Lakes, 11,000 inland lakes, 36,000 miles of rivers and streams, 20.3 million acres of forests, 4 national parks, 103 state parks and recreation areas, one of the world’s top freshwater fisheries, 1,300 miles of designated mountain bike and bicycle trails, 6,500 miles of snowmobile trails, the second highest number of ski areas in the nation, more than 600 campgrounds and an international dark sky park.

         Wherever you plan your trips; Living Social or Trip Advisor who recently named Mackinac Island the #1 vacation spot in in America, make sure to remember Michigan on the map. According to Trip Advisor, “This charming island is a throwback to old-timey seaside leisure with the candy-colored facades of downtown shops. Mackinac is world-famous for its homemade fudge and travelers can work off sugar highs by exploring the limestone bluffs of Mackinac Island State Park." I think it’s safe to say Michigan has it going on.

         Michigan offers more than a multitude of great lakes and for the fruit lovers Traverse City area is the largest producer of cherries in the United States.   The city hosts its annual week-long National Cherry Festival the first week of July. Over 500,000 visitors celebrate in the cities tradition every year. If you are looking for a more matured fruit, grapes are a safe choice; Traverse City wineries have assisted in the Midwest being dubbed as a major wine center. Touring happens in both winter and summer months with the wineries, skiing, natural attractions and beaches. In 2012, the city was listed among the 10 best places to retire in the country by U.S. News and Reports.

         Amazing dining in Ann Arbor or enjoying a rich cultural experience in Detroit, Michigan offers many options. When traveling anywhere in Michigan, do your research, check the weather and don’t get taken advantage of. Planning a trip can be stressful but if you have reservations about a business check with the Better Business Bureau serving Eastern Michigan before planning your next vacation.

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Shred It

If you’ve been holding on to old bills, bank statements or tax returns its time to take a lesson from Elsa and “let it go.” Identity theft happens everyday. If you aren’t careful with documents containing your personal information, you’re leaving yourself availble to becoming a victim. Idetnity theft has the potential to negatively affect anyone; shred those recipts, credit card preapprovals and any other paperwork containing your personal information. If you don’t have a shredder don’t panic, Better Business Bureau serving Eastern Michigan is here to  save the day.

BBB hosts two shred events every year, giving you the opportunity to purge your home of old documents. Secure Your ID Day will be held May 19th atSouthfield High School from 9 a.m. to 12:30. Feel free to bring your items in a box or bag, the first three bags are free and anything futher we ask for a cash donation. All donations benefit the Better Business Bureau  Educational Foundation. There will not be electronic recycling at the spring shred event.

Before you bring every piece of paper in the house, lets take a moment to discuss what is within reason to be thrown out. After one year you can throw out; purchasae orders, receiving sheets, stenographers notebooks, withdrawl forms and requestions. After two years if you can toss bank reconciliations, correspondence (with customers or other) and duplicate deposit slips. Insurance policies, internal reports and audits can be tossed within three years, and most other documents should be kept for seven years before disposing.

BBB provides these tips for protecting yourself from identity theft.

·         Limit what you carry. When out and about, only take what you need – leave your Social Security card at home. Lock up financial documents and records in a safe in your home, and lock up your purse or wallet while at work.

·         Keep an eye on your mail. Use a secure, locked mailbox if possible. If you don’t have a locked mailbox, take sensitive outgoing mail to the post office or to a post office box and pick up incoming mail as soon as possible. Only order new checks to your home if you have a secure mailbox.  

·         Don’t overshare. The FTC recommends that “before you share information at your workplace, a business, your child's school, or a doctor's office, ask why they need it, how they will safeguard it, and the consequences of not sharing”. This is especially true for your Social Security Number (SSN). Ask if you can use a different kind of identification, although sometimes you will have to share your SSN. Also be careful sharing health plan information, and destroy the labels on prescriptions bottles before throwing them out.

If you think your personal information has been compromised, follow these tips to spot whether or not you’ve become a victim.

https://www.bbb.org/en/us/article/news-releases/16951-bbb-tip-identity-theft