Every week, join Whitney Quick as she helps you navigate life as a smart consumer. You'll cover everything in avoiding the latest scams, including phishing emails, medical equipment fraud, understanding layaway, hiring a reputable tax preparer, and even digital spring cleaning. Add to your toolbox and flip through your Consumer Handbook Thursdays during NPR’s Morning Edition at 6:42 a.m. and 8:42 a.m., only on KRCU.
Consumer Handbook: Hurricane Relief
Hurricanes Milton and Helene have caused severe damage in the southern U.S., especially on Florida’s west coast, over the past couple weeks – leaving many people displaced, without power or recovering from damages to their property.
10/23/2024 • 2 minutes, 39 seconds
Consumer Handbook: Choosing a Mechanic
Finding a mechanic can be intimidating, especially for those who aren’t familiar with the inner workings of their car – but it’s a necessary part of keeping your car running smoothly for years to come.
10/16/2024 • 2 minutes, 14 seconds
Consumer Handbook: Facebook Scam Tips
If you see a heart-wrenching post about a lost pet, a senior in need or a missing child on your Facebook feed, think twice before you share. It could be the setup for a bait-and-switch scam.
10/9/2024 • 2 minutes, 39 seconds
Consumer Handbook: Investment Scams Study
If someone you met online starts telling you they have a great investment opportunity or encouraging you to buy cryptocurrency, it should raise some red flags – even if it’s someone you’ve been talking to for a long time.
10/2/2024 • 2 minutes, 19 seconds
Consumer Handbook: Concert & Event Tickets
If you’re a music lover, you may find yourself looking for last-minute deals on fall festivals or tickets to a sold-out show. However, extra fees, resale pricing for high-demand shows, and tactics by unscrupulous sellers can all make ticket prices skyrocket.
9/25/2024 • 2 minutes, 15 seconds
Consumer Handbook: Hiring a Tutor
This school year, you might be planning to hire a tutor to keep your child motivated and learning. Many kids can benefit from a tutor to give them extra support in a subject that’s difficult for them or prepare them for a tough assignment.
What's a verification code, and why are they so important? Six-digit verification codes are a form of two-factor authentication, a process that helps keep your important online accounts secure. For example, you might get a text message or email with a six-digit code that you must enter when you log into your bank account. This extra level of protection keeps scammers and hackers out.
9/11/2024 • 2 minutes, 43 seconds
Consumer Handbook: Vanity Award Scams
Better Business Bureau® has tips to help business owners spot “vanity awards” – illegitimate professional awards that are used to trick people out of their money.
9/4/2024 • 1 minute, 42 seconds
Consumer Handbook: Eight Steps After a Data Breach
The Better Business Bureau offers eight suggestions for consumers concerned that their credit or debit cards may have been compromised by a data breach.
8/28/2024 • 2 minutes, 40 seconds
Consumer Handbook: Utility Imposter Scams
Utility impostor scams can happen any time of year but are especially common during extremely cold or hot weather when people can't go without their heat or air conditioning.
8/14/2024 • 1 minute, 56 seconds
Consumer Handbook: AC Savings
Air conditioners eat up a lot of energy, accounting for six percent of the nation’s electricity use and costing homeowners a collective $29 billion annually. Luckily, a little housekeeping can go a long way toward reducing your cooling costs and the BBB has tips to help you save money and stay cool this summer.
8/7/2024 • 2 minutes, 12 seconds
Consumer Handbook: Booking Vacation Packages
Between booking flights, hotels, a rental car, and things to do, planning a vacation can get stressful. It’s one reason many travelers turn to vacation packages, which bundle multiple aspects of your trip and may even help you plan your daily itinerary.
7/24/2024 • 2 minutes, 44 seconds
Consumer Handbook: Tips for Using Email Automation
Email automation is a great way to build customer loyalty. It can also help you reduce your customer churn rate and help you serve your customers better.
Older adults, especially those living with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, can be more susceptible to scams. Scam awareness is a complex mental task, and it’s harder for those who have a condition that impacts memory, thinking and behavior.
7/10/2024 • 2 minutes, 15 seconds
Consumer Handbook: Moving Tips
Half of all household moves happen in the summer. Movers are among the top categories of companies searched on BBB.org, and they’re in high demand at this time of year.
7/3/2024 • 1 minute, 33 seconds
Consumer Handbook: Pool Contractor Tips
Investing in a pool is a big decision, but with proper maintenance, a well-constructed pool can last a long time. That means choosing the right contractor is vital.
6/26/2024 • 2 minutes, 14 seconds
Consumer Handbook: Toll Scams
A cross-country road trip is an American summer staple, but if you’re hitting the road this summer, make sure you keep track of your tolls. Better Business Bureau® (BBB®) has received reports of phishing text messages that impersonate road toll collection services to trick people into paying for fake outstanding tolls.
6/19/2024 • 2 minutes, 48 seconds
Consumer Handbook: Overdraft Fees
Recent polling found that millions of consumers are surprised by overdraft fees on their checking accounts each year. Better Business Bureau® (BBB®) advises consumers to familiarize themselves with their bank or credit union’s policies so they aren’t taken aback by a preventable expense.
6/12/2024 • 2 minutes, 23 seconds
Consumer Handbook: How to Recover from a Scam
Figuring out what to do in the aftermath of a scam can be incredibly stressful. Better Business Bureau®'s new Scam Survival Toolkit can help guide survivors of scams through the recovery process.
6/5/2024 • 2 minutes, 19 seconds
Consumer Handbook: Sports Tickets
Sports fans have a lot to appreciate right now with the baseball, XFL and soccer seasons in full swing – but be on the lookout for counterfeits and scams when you buy tickets.
5/29/2024 • 2 minutes, 5 seconds
Consumer Handbook: Passport Scams
Looking to go abroad this summer and need to get a passport or update your existing one? Be wary of websites that may look official but are anything but the real thing.
5/22/2024 • 2 minutes, 23 seconds
Consumer Handbook: Funeral Live Stream Scams
First reported in Australia and Ireland late last year, the ruse has made its way to North America. A recently deceased Quincy, Illinois, woman had a Facebook page made to promote a live stream of her funeral. The scammer behind the creation of the live stream sent friend requests to people to help promote the website associated with the live stream.
5/15/2024 • 2 minutes, 14 seconds
Consumer Handbook: Digital Spring Cleaning
You may be making plans to clean up the physical clutter in your house this spring, but what about the digital clutter on your phone or computer?
5/8/2024 • 2 minutes, 24 seconds
Consumer Handbook: Financial Aid Scams
While prospective college students await their highly anticipated acceptance letters this spring, they're also starting to think about finding financial aid. Some companies offer scholarship opportunities or help finding aid for a fee, but are they really the best option for students?
5/1/2024 • 2 minutes, 12 seconds
Consumer Handbook: Tips on Purchasing Flood Insurance
Flooding is the single most common weather-related natural disaster. According to the National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL), floods occur in every U.S. state and territory and take more lives each year than tornados, hurricanes, or lightening.
4/24/2024 • 2 minutes, 32 seconds
Consumer Handbook: Hiring a Lawncare Professional
A beautiful lawn can be both appealing and environmentally friendly, but it can take a lot of work and be a tricky project, and the best of circumstances can still be challenging. Extreme weather, dull lawnmower blades, bugs, pests, and heavy foot traffic can all lead to a lawn that needs extra care.
4/17/2024 • 2 minutes, 48 seconds
Consumer Handbook: Finding a Safe Summer Camp
Summer camp is a safe environment for kids to develop social skills, grow a bit of independence, and experience the outdoors. At a top-quality camp, parents should be able to trust the staff with their children's health and safety so everyone can focus on having a great summer.
4/10/2024 • 2 minutes, 16 seconds
Consumer Handbook: SAT and ACT Prep Scams
SAT and ACT scores are a big deal, and high school students and their families invest significant time and money into preparing for these college admissions tests. Scammers know this, and BBB has received reports of scammers taking advantage of students by tricking their families into paying for bogus SAT and ACT prep materials.
4/3/2024 • 2 minutes
Consumer Handbook: Eclipse Scams
Planning to go see the upcoming total solar eclipse? Be wary of scams when you're shopping for eclipse glasses and lodging.
3/27/2024 • 2 minutes, 13 seconds
Consumer Handbook: Recognizing AI Generated Content
Can you recognize AI-made content when you see it? Edited images and videos are nothing new – but generative AI tools are making it faster and easier for people to create text, images and videos from scratch.
3/20/2024 • 1 minute, 48 seconds
Consumer Handbook: Tips for Buying a Wedding or Special Occasion Dress
Shopping for the perfect dress is crucial to a wedding or prom. But like many purchases with a big price tag – and high stakes – a lot can go wrong. Buying a wedding dress or prom dress can come with unexpected expenses, delayed orders, surprise policies, and unwanted stress before a big event.
3/13/2024 • 1 minute, 39 seconds
Consumer Handbook: Protect Yourself from Storm Chasers
Natural disasters like storms, tornadoes, hurricanes, flooding, and wildfires often bring out the best in people as strangers reach out to help others in need. Unfortunately, the aftermath of a crisis also brings out contractors taking advantage of those who have already been victimized.
3/6/2024 • 1 minute, 31 seconds
Consumer Handbook: Facebook Quizzes
Social media is used as a fun distraction for some people, and taking a Facebook quiz may seem like a harmless way to pass the time. But are you giving away more information than you think?
2/28/2024 • 1 minute, 37 seconds
Consumer Handbook: Avoiding Tax Scams
No one likes doing their taxes, but filing early may actually help you avoid tax fraud this year.
2/21/2024 • 1 minute, 34 seconds
Consumer Handbook: Tips for Selling Used Items Online
If you're looking to declutter in the New Year and make a few extra bucks along the way, you might want to try selling some of your used items online.
2/14/2024 • 1 minute, 41 seconds
Consumer Handbook: Romance Scams
If someone offers you money for nothing, there’s probably a catch, right? In this new twist on a romance scam, a con artist offers to become your “sugar momma” or “sugar daddy" and pay your bills. But according to recent BBB Scam Tracker reports, it's really a way to trick victims out of money.
2/7/2024 • 1 minute, 49 seconds
Consumer Handbook: Financial Tips for the New Year
Better Business Bureau reminds consumers to do a pulse check on their financial health and safety in the New Year.
1/31/2024 • 1 minute, 25 seconds
Consumer Handbook: Social Media Account Recovery Scams
Is there anything more frustrating than not being able to access your social media accounts? Scammers are betting there isn’t. Lately, BBB Scam Tracker has seen multiple reports of a scam in which con artists trick people out of their money by promising they can recover social media accounts.
1/17/2024 • 1 minute, 32 seconds
Consumer Handbook: New Homeowner Scams
It’s common to receive a wave of junk mail after closing on a new home. Because some information about your home purchase is public record, scammers can send you official-looking mail that includes details like your loan amount and the name of your lender.
1/10/2024 • 2 minutes
Consumer Handbook: Finance Tips for Small Business Success
Finances are the lifeblood of any business. Small businesses typically start out with a small amount of funds, which means owners need to have the right skills to stay on track.
1/3/2024 • 2 minutes, 57 seconds
Consumer Handbook: Fly Safely on Your Vacation
Are you thinking about traveling by air for a few days?Before clicking the button to buy tickets, check out the BBB's tips.
Several rescue animals could use a little time out from the shelter and a new home, and maybe you have a little extra time or space.
12/20/2023 • 1 minute, 41 seconds
Consumer Handbook: Discreet Shipping Fees Scam
Peak shipping season is here, and con artists are capitalizing on it. In a new scam reported to BBB Scam Tracker, phony e-commerce websites hit shoppers with a bill for “discreet shipping.” This extra fee allegedly pays for special packaging or stamps, but it’s a trick to get online shopping scam victims to hand over more money.
12/13/2023 • 1 minute, 56 seconds
Consumer Handbook: Avoiding Job Scams This Holiday Season
Retailers and shippers traditionally hire seasonal workers to fulfill holiday shoppers' demands, whether online or in person. These jobs are a great way to make extra money, sometimes with the possibility of turning into a long-term employment opportunity. However, they are sometimes not all that they seem.
12/6/2023 • 1 minute, 59 seconds
Consumer Handbook: The Top Five Holiday Shopping Scams to Avoid
The chaos of the holiday season usually means emotions are running high. Scammers often try to manipulate people by taking advantage of those strong emotions, like gift shopping stress or holiday generosity.
11/29/2023 • 1 minute, 47 seconds
Consumer Handbook: Facebook Marketplace Scams
Facebook Marketplace can be a great resource for buying and selling, especially within your local community. However, scams are nothing new on this platform, since it can be difficult to vet sellers and buyers.
11/22/2023 • 2 minutes, 6 seconds
Consumer Handbook: Buy Now, Pay Later
Buy now, pay later is a service that many retailers offer to allow shoppers to space out smaller payments on an item over time, rather than paying the full cost up front. You should read the fine print before agreeing to one of these services.
11/15/2023 • 1 minute, 53 seconds
Consumer Handbook: Tik Tok Shop Tips
TikTok recently launched a new online store, TikTok Shop. Before you shop, check out these smart online shopping tips to avoid scams on the new platform.
11/8/2023 • 1 minute, 50 seconds
Consumer Handbook: Tips for Safely Donating to Relief Efforts in Israel and Gaza
Better Business Bureau® offers tips for people wishing to donate to relief efforts in Israel and Gaza.
11/1/2023 • 1 minute, 49 seconds
Consumer Handbook: How to Safely Stream Sporting Events
While many pandemic-era adjustments to high school athletic events have vanished, live streaming has stuck around. Live streams can be a great way for fans to join in on the fun, even if they can’t attend every game.
10/25/2023 • 1 minute, 26 seconds
Consumer Handbook: How College Student Can Avoid Identity Theft
Young adults are often less experienced with credit and finances, and are navigating financial life events like loans, scholarships or budgeting for the first time – making them a popular target for fraudsters.
10/18/2023 • 1 minute, 39 seconds
Consumer Handbook: Tips for Debt Relief
People struggling with debt or seeking to fix their credit score often turn to credit relief companies. And some of these companies make big promises, but then don’t deliver, leaving people further in debt.
10/11/2023 • 1 minute, 25 seconds
Consumer Handbook: Hiring a Contractor for Emergency Work
Part of being prepared for a disaster is having a plan for repairs to your home or car. The days immediately after a storm or disaster can be overwhelming, but they are an especially critical time for you to do your research carefully and find a trusted contractor.
10/4/2023 • 1 minute, 45 seconds
Consumer Handbook: How to Avoid Generative AI Scams
Generative AI programs such as ChatGPT may be changing the way fraudsters commit scams. Better Business Bureau advises consumers to be on the lookout for red flags in any unsolicited messages they receive.
9/27/2023 • 1 minute, 47 seconds
Consumer Handbook: Avoiding Concert Ticket Scams
If you’re a music lover, you may find yourself looking for last-minute deals on late summer festivals or tickets to a sold-out show. However, junk fees, resale pricing for high-demand shows and unscrupulous sellers can all make ticket prices skyrocket.
9/20/2023 • 1 minute, 46 seconds
Consumer Handbook: Hiring a Tutor
This school year, you might be planning to hire a tutor to keep your child motivated and learning. Many kids can benefit from a tutor to give them extra support in a subject that’s difficult for them or prepare them for a tough assignment.
9/13/2023 • 1 minute, 46 seconds
Consumer Handbook: Finding the Right Camping Gear
As the final days of summer sweep in, you may be planning a camping trip to close out the season. It’s tempting to try to find a deal online, but be wary of any prices that seem too good to be true. Scammers sometimes try to lure in shoppers with an outrageous deal.
9/6/2023 • 1 minute, 42 seconds
Consumer Handbook: How to Protect Yourself Using ChatGPT
Are robots coming to steal your time, money, and maybe even your heart? Recent technology advances have created new AI-related security threats, and while they don’t look like what you’ve seen in the movies, you might be at risk.
6/28/2023 • 2 minutes, 31 seconds
Consumer Handbook: Think Twice Before Taking that Facebook Quiz
Social media is used as a fun distraction for some people, and taking a Facebook quiz may seem like a harmless way to pass the time. But are you giving away more information than you think?
6/21/2023 • 2 minutes, 12 seconds
Consumer Handbook: Scammers May Be Targeting Your Smart TV
Scammers can target victims through any device connected to the internet, and your TV is no exception. BBB Scam Tracker has seen an influx of reports about scammers catching people off guard with pop-ups on their smart TVs.
6/14/2023 • 2 minutes, 22 seconds
Consumer Handbook: Tips to Avoid Moving Scams
In 2021, 42% of all business inquiries on BBB.org for moving companies occurred from May-August, and nearly 1,100 complaints were filed with BBB against moving companies throughout the year.
5/31/2023 • 2 minutes, 21 seconds
Consumer Handbook: How to Make Online Shopping Habits More Sustainable
In theory, online shopping is more eco-friendly than shopping in person. When one delivery truck takes the place of multiple car trips, it leads to lower greenhouse gas emissions. However, some common online shopping habits, such as frequent returns and multiple deliveries, could be better for the environment.
5/24/2023 • 2 minutes, 10 seconds
Consumer Handbook: Give yourself a spring digital makeover
The weather is warming in some parts of the country, inspiring people to clean up or clear the clutter. The one area many overlook isn't the corner of a room or a forgotten closet; it's your digital devices.
5/17/2023 • 2 minutes, 3 seconds
Consumer Handbook: Avoid the "yo-yo" when buying a car
Multiple car buyers have experienced the “yo-yo” – when a car buyer signs papers and takes the car off the lot, only to have the dealership announce later that the financing fell through, the deal is invalid, and the car must be returned or refinanced at a different rate. By this point, the buyers may have sold or traded in their previous vehicle, causing them to feel trapped.
5/10/2023 • 1 minute, 42 seconds
Consumer Handbook: Hiring a Roof Contractor
Many homeowners are making the move to repair or replace their current roofs. The off-season may be the best time to jump on a home improvement project, with lower prices and available materials. The Better Business Bureau has tips to keep in mind whenever hiring any contractor to work in your home.
5/3/2023 • 2 minutes, 4 seconds
Consumer Handbook: How to Protect Yourself Using ChatGPT
Are robots coming to steal your time, money, and maybe even your heart? Recent technology advances have created new AI-related security threats, and while they don’t look like what you’ve seen in the movies, you might be at risk.
4/26/2023 • 2 minutes, 31 seconds
Consumer Handbook: How to Identify a Fake Website
Scammers are always creating new and improved lookalike websites to trick you out of your personal information and money. These websites may have a very similar URL or look nearly identical to the real website you are searching for, which means they can be hard to identify.
4/19/2023 • 2 minutes, 8 seconds
Consumer Handbook: How to spot a job scam
If you are applying to jobs online, constantly research before accepting an interview or employment offer. Job scammers have gotten very sophisticated, convincingly claiming to represent real employers, requiring interviews, and even providing phony offer letters.
4/12/2023 • 2 minutes, 10 seconds
Consumer Handbook: Door to Door Sales
March through September is prime time for door-to-door sales, so now is the best time to form a plan for how you will respond if someone knocks on your door.
4/5/2023 • 2 minutes, 21 seconds
Consumer Handbook: Scammers May Be Targeting Your Smart TV
Scammers can target victims through any device connected to the internet, and your TV is no exception. BBB Scam Tracker has seen an influx of reports about scammers catching people off guard with pop-ups on their smart TVs.
3/29/2023 • 2 minutes, 22 seconds
Consumer Handbook: Facebook Bait and Switch Scams
Believe it or not, you can’t believe everything you read on Facebook. That’s particularly true when it comes to a new phishing scam that has recently popped up in various groups throughout the southeast Missouri region.
3/22/2023 • 2 minutes, 15 seconds
Consumer Handbook: How to Buy Furniture Online
Online purchases of home products and furnishings have nearly doubled, and the online outdoor furniture sales have increased more than 400%. This increase likely reflects the home improvements many homeowners are making, parents shopping for desks for home school learning, and employees who have permanently switched to a work from home situation.
3/15/2023 • 2 minutes, 3 seconds
Consumer Handbook: Buying a Car in a Seller's Market
Inflation, high-interest rates, and a microchip shortage that brought auto manufacturing to a grinding halt are just a few factors creating an incredibly tough market for anyone looking to buy a car. Experts say it’s unlikely the market will swing in favor of the buyer again anytime soon.
3/8/2023 • 2 minutes, 27 seconds
Consumer Handbook: Social Security Living Adjustment Scams
Each year, the Social Security Administration approves a cost-of-living adjustment for recipients of Social Security benefits and Supplementary Security Income.
3/1/2023 • 2 minutes, 21 seconds
Consumer Handbook: Think Twice Before Taking that Facebook Quiz
Social media is used as a fun distraction for some people, and taking a Facebook quiz may seem like a harmless way to pass the time. But are you giving away more information than you think?
2/22/2023 • 2 minutes, 12 seconds
Consumer Handbook: How to Spot a Parking Ticket Scam
Watch out for this new twist on an old scam. Scammers are using new technology to create fake parking tickets that look surprisingly official. It could be a scam if you receive a parking ticket and are confident that you parked legally.
2/15/2023 • 2 minutes, 16 seconds
Consumer Handbook: Data Privacy
The possibility of a cyberattack by a foreign country has gone from being the stuff of science fiction to a common threat that is often reported in the news. While it may seem like there is nothing an individual can do to stop a cyberattack, there are some best practices that consumers and businesses can do to help guard against losing important personal information to cyber thieves.
2/8/2023 • 2 minutes, 26 seconds
Consumer Handbook: Planning Home Improvements
In these early weeks of 2023, you may be looking at your home projects for the coming year. While some people may feel comfortable tackling the jobs themselves, many homeowners hire contractors to do most or all of the work. Finding trustworthy contractors can be hard, but Better Business Bureau is here to help.
2/1/2023 • 2 minutes, 15 seconds
Consumer Handbook: Tax Preparation
With tax season just getting under way, some consumers rush to file taxes as soon as their employers provide a W-2. While you may get your refund fast that way, you could be missing important deductions or leave yourself in a position where you need to file an amended return.
1/25/2023 • 1 minute, 50 seconds
Consumer Handbook: Joining a Gym
If this is your year to take control of your weight and fitness, more power to you. Most likely, you’ll need a commitment to exercise regularly. Better Business Bureau (BBB) has tips to help you determine which gym or health club is the best place to keep you on track.
1/18/2023 • 1 minute, 47 seconds
Consumer Handbook: New Year's Resolutions
Are you considering a New Year’s resolution to lose weight or save money for retirement? What about resolving to be a savvy consumer as well? Better Business Bureau suggests trying out new habits that can help you avoid scams and find trustworthy businesses that offer the services or products you need.
1/11/2023 • 1 minute, 47 seconds
Consumer Handbook: Shopping for Sports Team Merchandise? Research the business first
When shopping for a team jersey or other sports memorabilia, watch out for fakes. Scammers know that authentic game-used and/or autographed items can fetch big bucks – especially for items commemorating big games. When shopping online, it can be hard to trust that a seller or product is genuine.
1/4/2023 • 1 minute, 52 seconds
Consumer Handbook: Reported online retail fraud losses to approach $380M in 2022
Better Business Bureau warns online shoppers searching for gifts and other merchandise to arm themselves with research and use credit cards to dodge scammers.
12/28/2022 • 2 minutes
Consumer Handbook: Average Losses in Puppy Scams Rise Even as Cases Fall
Puppy scams remain consistently profitable for scammers because their multi-tiered setup allows them to convincingly go back to a consumer several times to ask for money, according to an update of a BBB study.
12/21/2022 • 2 minutes, 12 seconds
Consumer Handbook: Ways to Avoid Delivery Scams
Delivery scams and theft are particularly prevalent during the holidays when more packages are shipped, but they can happen year-round.
12/14/2022 • 2 minutes, 12 seconds
Consumer Handbook: Holiday Returns
No one enjoys taking things back to stores or sending products back to online retailers, and doing so after the holidays can be especially onerous. Knowing store policies and planning ahead can reduce the stress of returning gifts. You’ll help yourself and gift recipients if you find out how a store handles returns before you buy.
12/7/2022 • 2 minutes
Consumer Handbook: Buy Now Pay Later
Better Business Bureau® (BBB®) advises consumers to read and understand the terms of an installment purchase before clicking "Buy.” Otherwise, they could be surprised by fees or other charges that could add to the cost of their purchases.
11/30/2022 • 2 minutes, 4 seconds
Consumer Handbook: Beware of Health Care Cons During Open Enrollment
If you are adding or changing your Medicare or Healthcare.gov coverage during open enrollment, watch out for unsolicited calls claiming to "help" you find the best deal. Unfortunately, scammers see this open enrollment period as a chance to trick people out of money and personal information.
