A BBB investigator's top tip for reporting scams? Don't be embarrassed

Yahoo

15-05-2025

Lisa Schiller, the senior director of investigations and media relations for the Better Business Bureau, spoke to Public Investigator about how consumers can avoid common scams like shopping fraud, computer malware exploitation, fake check scams and more.
She spoke at a news conference at the BBB offices on May 8, when dozens of cities across the United States celebrated Scam Survivor Day.
The Better Business Bureau created Scam Survivor Day in 2024 to raise awareness about how consumers can avoid scams and report fraud. Gov. Tony Evers, Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson and West Allis Mayor Dan Devine signed proclamations designating the second Thursday in May as Scam Survivor Day.
Here's what Schiller had to say about how consumers can watch out for scams.
There are a wide range of scams that target consumers. Some of the most common are identity theft, phishing, sweepstakes and lottery scams, government imposter scams and job scams.
In many of these cases, scammers capture a target's personal information and use it to commit other types of fraud.
The Better Business Bureau maintains an ongoing list of reported scams and studies about different scam types on its website.
"We want to know what scams are out there, because we check that on a daily basis, and then we know what's going on," Schiller said.
Schiller told Public Investigator that resolving a scam could take months or years, but it is always worth reporting.
Schiller said that in addition to conducting its own investigation, the BBB refers cases to local law enforcement and other local and national agencies.
She recommended that individuals who believe they have been targeted by a scam use the Better Business Bureau's Scam Tracker platform to report the incident.
With the BBB Scam Tracker, consumers can look up existing scams from a list of over 400,000 reported scams and compare the descriptions to their own circumstance. Alternatively, consumers can submit a scam report that alerts the BBB to investigate and warn others.
"Oftentimes, people feel embarrassed. They don't know where to report. They don't want to take the time to report. It's really so important to report those cases to us," Schiller said.
Schiller said that it is good practice for consumers to write down the details of their contact with a potential scammer to aid in the investigative process.
If possible, consumers should write down any phone numbers or emails associated with the scammer. If a scammer contacted them in person, at home or in public, the consumer can write a description of their appearance, what they were wearing, what type of car they were driving and the license plate.
Other critical details include the company that the scammer claims to be associated with and the business address associated with their work.
"You should really take those steps right from the beginning, no matter what you're doing or who you're dealing with, and take really good notes," Schiller said. "Keep a notebook handy, write down the date, write down a scenario of what you experienced or what happened or who you dealt with."
: The BBB provides a variety of quizzes and videos about how to identify red flags. The guide includes a Risk Calculator which identifies the top scams that users should recognize and the potential financial implications of being targeted.
: The BBB Scam Tracker allows people to report scams and read about reported scams locally and nationally. Users are able to search URLs, emails and phone numbers to determine if the person contacting them was flagged as a scammer.
: The Scam Survival Toolkit provides a personalized recovery plan and to restore a person's financial and mental well-being after being targeted by a scam.
If you have more questions for the Better Business Bureau about scams or consumer protection, let Public Investigator reporter Tamia Fowlkes know at [e-mail].
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Q&A: BBB investigator shares tips for reporting scams