Have you ever received a letter in the mail from the “BBB” or the “Better Business Bureau”? It usually starts something like this: “We have been trying to reach you regarding your rapid address change…” And it goes on to say that they need updated contact information from you or your membership will be suspended.
The thing is, this is a scam. The Better Business Bureau does not send out these letters. They are a scammer’s way of trying to get your personal information so they can steal your identity. Here’s what you need to know about this scam so you can protect yourself.
How the Scam Works
The scam works like this: you receive a letter in the mail from someone claiming to be with the Better Business Bureau. The letter says that they need updated contact information from you or your membership will be suspended. They might even say that they tried to reach you by phone but were unable to get in touch with you.
The letter looks official and has the Better Business Bureau logo on it. But here’s the thing: the BBB does not send out these letters. They are a scammer’s way of trying to get your personal information so they can steal your identity.
If you call the phone number on the letter, you’ll probably reach a call center overseas. The person on the other end will act like they work for the BBB and try to get you to give them your personal information. They might say they need it to update your file or to verify your account. Or they might say that if you don’t update your information, your membership will be suspended.
These scammers are very convincing, so it’s important to know how to spot this scam so you can protect yourself.
How to Spot This Scam
There are a few things you can look for to spot this scam:
• The letter has typos or grammatical errors. This is a dead giveaway that it’s not legitimate.
• The return address on the envelope is from Canada or another country outside of the United States.
• The envelope is addressed to “Current Resident” or “Occupant.” Legitimate businesses would have addressed the envelope to you by name if they had that information.
• The letter mentions “rapid address changes.” This is not a common practice for businesses, so it should be a red flag.
• You don’t have any recollection of doing business with the company mentioned in the letter.
What To Do If You Spot This Scam
If you spot this scam, there are a few things you should do:
• Don’t respond to the letter or call the phone number listed on it. This will just confirm that your address is active, and then you’ll start getting more junk mail and scam phone calls.
• Throw away the letter and don’t open any envelopes or packages that might come from these scammers in the future. Don’t worry about being polite—these people are criminals, and they’re not going to take no for an answer no matter how nicely you say it.
Conclusion:
The best way to protect yourself from this scam (and other scams like it) is to know how to spot it and what to do if you receive one of these letters in the mail. Now that you know what to look for, you can rest assured knowing that you won’t fall for this scam—or any others like it! Thanks for reading and stay safe out there!
