Latest news with #TheBetterBusinessBureau
Yahoo
14-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Local business owner warns others to check bank accounts often to protect from theft
HONOLULU (KHON2) — A local business owner warns others to be on the lookout and check their bank accounts after she fell victim to scammers stealing tens of thousands of dollars from her. Erica Lincoln owns Gymboree but was forced to cut down her staff to save some money after someone stole close to $40,000 from her business bank account last March. Avoid tax season scams by filing early 'I was on a trip to Mexico so it was a cruise ship and I didn't have access to my bank account so I wasn't able to monitor it,' said Erica Lincoln, theft victim. 'When I got back, to make a long story short, checked my bank account and saw 50 something dollars left in my account.' She disputed the charges with her bank for withdrawals of more than $2600 at a time until her account was empty. How, where to see total lunar eclipse tonight on each Hawaiʻi island Lincoln said someone forged her signature on a bank transfer and when she called their number, it was someone foreign. 'It's really crazy. I don't know how these people can do that and get away with it,' said Lincoln. 'It seems like such an easy thing to do and it's scary.' What to know about U.S.'s addition to human rights watch list 'When you think about the global nature of crime and how easy it is for anyone to set up shop and start with a computer in an internet cafe anywhere in the world to start trying to get access to people's information, it's something that we all have to be aware of, and it is happening all the time,' said Dale Dixon, Better Business Bureau. Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news The Better Business Bureau advises to always lock your information down and be careful who you share it with. If someone does get a hold of sensitive information, contact your bank immediately and monitor your accounts constantly. Lincoln said she has moved on and is only looking forward now. One year later, she wants to warn everyone that something like this could happen to anyone and to always be safe. 'I would just say hey monitor your bank account every single day and do what I do — check if first thing in the morning, check it at lunch, check it before you go to bed,' said Lincoln. Lincoln added she started selling stuff on the side — boiled peanuts and stuff from her closet — to make some extra money. Check out more news from around Hawaii 'If you start feeling negative, you'll get nowhere,' said Lincoln. 'You know you have to stay positive and just push forward and just do what you have to do.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Here are the top text message scams to watch out for
(WHTM) — There are some alarming new statistics surrounding text message scams. This week is National Consumer Protection Week and it's especially important this year as scammers are becoming more sophisticated than ever, especially when it comes to tricking you on your phone. Think you would spot a text message scam? Don't be so sure. 'I know people get scammed, I know they do,' Lee, who asked that we don't use his last name, said. He was targeted by one of the top scams of 2025: fake IRS texts. You'll receive a tax refund of $573,' Lee said. 'We cannot process it due to incomplete personal information. Please confirm your information in the link.' Pa. Turnpike 'smishing' scam making rounds again The Better Business Bureau, FTC, and state Attorneys General are warning about a big surge in text scams that have replaced phone call scams. Ryan Lippe says top scams right now include: An issue with your tax refund; A problem with your bank account; An unpaid highway toll that will result in a big fine. These scams are more than just a minor inconvenience. For instance, if you get a text message claiming there's a problem with your bank account and you click on it, a scammer can drain that account in a matter of minutes. The Better Business Bureau says: never click on texts from the IRS, your bank, or a toll authority; unsure? Look up the agency and call them. 'If you need help and you want to verify the veracity of a text message, call the source at the number you have legitimately researched,' Holly Palello said. She recently returned home from Florida to receive a text message saying she owed a Florida toll. 'It just said something about a SunPass from Florida.' Luckily, she got suspicious and didn't reply. The bottom line is don't answer unknown calls and don't reply to unexpected text messages. Find more stories on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
