Latest news with #HunterJones
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Sponsored ad scams costing Upstate residents thousands of dollars, BBB says
GREENVILLE COUNTY, S.C. (WSPA) – The Better Business Bureau is bringing attention to a rise in sponsored ad scams. They said the scams impersonate everyday businesses and are costing people thousands of dollars. Upstate BBB President Hunter Jones told 7NEWS more than $110,000 has been lost to sponsored ad scams across the region since April 2024. 'Scammers love using sponsored ads, either fake websites or maybe even impersonating a real business, because they know that they can get in front of you. They can get you to click on their stuff. And they can take you wherever they want you to go,' Jones said. 'People are getting scammed here, 30, 40, 50, 60 dollars per purchase. And it adds up because these scams are so common and they're everywhere.' Jones said scammers have been impersonating companies like JCPenney, Macy's, and online shopping site Halara. He said in a lot of these cases, people click on ads they think are legit while shopping for clothes and other items through Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. Then, they're redirected to a fake website to complete the purchase. Jones said people should always verify that the website they are shopping on is secure and matches that of the real company. 'If you've shopped there before, keep those websites saved,' Jones also said. 'Because again, you're comfortable, and you know that you've had a successful transaction there. When you go and shop on these sponsored ads that redirect you somewhere else, that URL is going to be different from the reputable companies.' Jones encourages people to review the company's privacy policy to understand how their personal information will be used. He added that people should verify the company's customer service information. Everyone can double-check this with the BBB. 'Two things people need to be aware of when they're looking at ads in general: if the price looks too good to be true, then it usually is. If you're shopping for something and you know that that price is oddly low, that's a red flag for you,' Jones went on to say. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Upstate Better Business Bureau reports rise in payment app scams, lost money
GREENVILLE COUNTY, S.C. (WSPA) – The Upstate Better Business Bureau is putting people on high alert about a rise in scams targeting folks on payment apps like Cash App and Venmo. According to the agency, eight people reported they were scammed on Cash App, Venmo and Zelle since 2025 started. One of those people reportedly lost $3,000. 'People need to be very cautious. When they're getting emails from people, they need to make sure they look at those emails, verifying contact information from any payment app, and also be aware of any customer service number as well,' Upstate BBB President and CEO Hunter Jones told 7NEWS. Jones explained that scammers are posing as representatives of payment app companies, telling people they overpaid for a product, and they need to send the money back. Jones said scammers are also asking people to verify their passwords and other personal information. Jones assured them reputable companies will never do this. He encourages people to do their research before they do something they'll regret. 'Scammers love to create fake customer service numbers, get you on the phone with them, and make you think that you're dealing with them,' Jones added. 'People will find different ways to twist and turn how they pay or how they receive money. You want to be extra cautious. Make sure you're meeting these people in person and you're verifying who you're talking to before you send money.' Jones recommends using a credit card to make payments through apps. He also suggests using multi-factor authentication on mobile devices, like Face ID, to make it harder for scammers to access sensitive information. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
