BBB: Resolve to be savvy consumer in 2015

St. Louis–- With just a few hours left in 2014, Better Business Bureau (BBB) has 10 resolutions that can help you fight scammers, prevent identity theft and save money in 2015.

“Consumers can save themselves a lot of grief it they know the red flags of common scams, research businesses before they buy and get every contract in writing,” said Michelle L. Corey, BBB President and CEO.

“BBB Business Reviews and BBB Charity Reviews offer verified information that is available 24/7 on the BBB website. The website also has tips to help consumers with many common transactions.”

The following resolutions can help consumers have a safe, scam-free 2015:

Always check a business out with BBB before you buy. Nearly 400,000 businesses meet BBB standards and are qualified to use an Accredited Business seal on their websites and at business locations. Visit bbb.org to find BBB Business Reviews for nearly 4 million businesses across North America.

Be skeptical of “job offers” that promise easy money. With high unemployment and long job searches common, scammers are targeting people desperate to find jobs. Beware of any job offer, work-at-home scheme or business opportunity that promises big money for little work and no experience.

Always read the fine print—especially with “free” trial offers. Thousands of consumers complained to BBB this year after signing up for a “free” trial offer online that resulted in repeated charges to their credit or debit cards, sometimes amounting to hundreds of dollars every month. Read the terms and conditions of any “free” trial offer before handing over credit or debit card numbers.

Keep your computer safe. Install anti-virus software on your computer and check regularly for software and operating system updates and patches. Don’t open attachments or click on links in emails unless you can confirm the email came from someone you trust.

Never wire money to someone you don’t know. Many scams require that the victim wire money back to the scammers. Scammers know that tracking money sent via MoneyGram, Western Union or Green Dot MoneyPak is extremely difficult. Once you’ve wired the money, it’s nearly impossible to get it back.

Fight identity theft. Shred paper documents that include sensitive financial data and dispose of computers, cell phones and digital data safely. BBB offers tips and checklists on what to shred, and hosts annual Secure Your ID events nationwide to help you stay safe.

Ask BBB for help. File a complaint with BBB if you have a dispute with a business or have been ripped off by a scammer.

Create a budget and stick to it. Setting a budget can help you stay afloat in 2015. BBB has advice on how to create a budget to help you get out of debt and stay out of debt at bbb.org.

Fight fake check fraud. Thanks to advances in printing technology, scammers have the ability to create professional-looking phony checks. Be extremely wary of checks that come with claims that you’ve won a lottery, are eligible for a government grant or have landed a job as a secret shopper. These are almost always scams.

Get everything in writing. Don’t just take a company’s word for it. Get every verbal agreement in writing to limit miscommunication and misunderstandings between what you expect and what the business delivers.