bbb of the tri-counties

Welcome to this week’s edition of Your Moment of Trust. This year, United States taxpayers must file their income tax forms before the April 18, 2023 deadline. For many people, major life changes, business ownership, or simply a lack of knowledge about the ever-changing tax laws make finding a trustworthy tax preparer a good idea. That said, not all tax preparers have the same level of experience and training. Here are tips for finding someone you can trust with your finances and sensitive personal information. Advice from BBB of the Tri-Counties: How to choose the right tax preparer: When it comes to choosing the right kind of tax preparer for you personally, much will depend on the complexity of your tax situation.

After you’ve decided what qualifications your tax preparer needs, the following tips will help you choose someone who is trustworthy and competent:

● Review the tax preparer’s credentials. EAs, CPAs, and tax attorneys are all qualified to represent their clients to the IRS on all matters. Other preparers can help you with forms and basic matters but cannot represent you in case of an audit. Don’t be afraid to ask about these or other qualifications before you hire someone.

● Be wary of spectacular promises. If a tax preparer promises you larger refunds than the competition, this is a red flag. Many such tax preparers base their fees on the amount of your return and may be likely to use shady tax preparation tactics. In addition, it’s wise to avoid tax preparers who offer “refund anticipation loans” as you’ll probably lose a large percentage of your return to commission fees.

● Get referrals from friends and family. One of the best ways to find a trustworthy tax preparer is to ask your loved ones for recommendations. Once you have a few options, check BBB.org, paying careful attention to other consumers’ reviews or complaint details. This will give you a clear view of what you can expect.

● Think about availability. If the IRS finds errors in your tax forms or decides to perform an audit, will your tax preparer be available to help you with the details? Find out whether you can contact the tax preparer all year long or only during tax season.

● Ask about fees ahead of time. Before you agree to any services, read the contra cts carefully and understand how much the tax preparer charges for theirservices. Ask about extra fees for e-filing state, federal, and local returns, as well as fees for any unexpected complications.

● If things don’t add up, find someone else. If a tax preparer can’t verify their credentials, has a record of bad reviews from previous clients, or their business practices don’t seem convincing, don’t do business with them. Remember that if you hire them, this individual will handle your sensitive personal information – information you need to keep safe from corrupt or fraudulent tax preparers.

A BIG thank you to Ayers Automotive Repair in Santa Barbara for sponsoring this podcast!

A podcast by BBB of the Tri-Counties https://www.bbb.org/local-bbb/bbb-of-...

Sponsored by Ayers Automotive Repairs in Santa Barbara https://ayersrepairs.com

Everyone loves a good deal, and scammers know it. Counterfeit coupons are a popular way for scammers to steal your identity and money. Motives and methods vary, but phony coupons often mean serious losses for retailers, consumers, or both.

How the scam works:

You come across a website, either through a web search or an ad on social media, for coupons from major retailers. Usually, fake coupons are worth much more than real ones, offering steep discounts like 80% off. By using brands’ official logos, it's nearly impossible to tell if it’s fake or not. In some cases, getting the “coupons” requires subscribing to a coupon service and paying a monthly membership fee. Once you sign up, the service promises to either send you digital coupons or paper coupons in the mail. You may never receive any coupons, or you might receive coupons that are fake. Plus, by signing up, you’ve handed over your personal details and possibly your credit card information to a dishonest stranger. You may also come across coupons that offer deals in exchange for sharing a link on social media. Don’t do it! The link leads to a third-party website where visitors enter personal information in exchange for the coupon. In most cases, after signing up, you never receive any coupons. Instead, you’ve given your personal details to scammers.

How to avoid coupon scams:

● Don’t fall for deals that are too good to be true. Be skeptical. If a coupon is valued near or above the retail price of an item, consider it a red flag. ● Check the source of the coupon. If the coupon doesn’t come from a recognized coupon distributor, the manufacturer, or a specific store, be wary. If you aren’t sure about a coupon, visit the company’s website directly to look for the coupon on their official site or contact their customer service line to inquire.

● Think before you click on links in emails. If you receive a coupon via email, hover your mouse over the link without clicking on it to see where it will take you. If the URL looks like a random assortment of letters and numbers, or if it is a shortened link that doesn’t reveal where it’s taking you, don’t click it. Only visit official websites to avoid downloading malware onto your computer.

● Read coupons carefully. If a coupon doesn’t have an expiration date, if it looks photocopied, or if it contains spelling and grammar errors, you’re probably dealing with a fake.

● Don’t trade personal information for perks. A real business will not ask for your personal information, such as your credit card number or bank account information, in exchange for a coupon or to enter a giveaway. Promotional offers that ask for personal information are usually scams. You shouldn’t have to pay to receive a coupon either.

● Do a search for coupon scams. When in doubt, search the coupon offer along with the word “scam.” This will often bring up similar offers that are fake and can help you determine whether a coupon is real or not.

Find other general tips at BBB.org/AvoidScams. If you’ve spotted a coupon scam, report it. Share your experience at BBB.org/ScamTracker to help others recognize scams before it’s too late.

A Podcast by BBB of the Tri-Counties: https://www.bbb.org/local-bbb/bbb-of-...

Wireless technologies such as Bluetooth® and Wi-Fi have forever changed the way people not only interact with one another, but also how they complete day to day activities such as shopping, researching, banking, eating, and communicating. The more everyone is online, the more there are opportunities for hackers to get into personal accounts, steal information and drain checking or savings accounts before victims realize it. According to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), securing today's online environment goes beyond thinking about the Wi-Fi router at home - and it all starts with a password. In this episode, BBB of the Tri-Counties shares how to choose and manage your passwords to be safe online. https://www.ayersrepairs.com

A BIG thank you to Ayers Automotive Repairs in Santa Barbara for sponsoring this podcast.

A Podcast by Better Business Bureau of the Tri-Counties: Consumers are gearing up to celebrate Halloween. The National Retail Federation expects people will spend $10.6 billion, up from $10.1 billion in 2021. Among Halloween celebrants, 67 percent plan to buy candy, 51 percent plan to purchase decorations, and 47 percent will get costumes. Those numbers can seem daunting for a single day, especially when watching thefamily budget. However, there are ways to keep the fun stylish and on budget.

In this episode, Better Business Bureau recommends tips to celebrate Halloween on a Budget!

A BIG thank you to Ayers Automotive Repair in Santa Barbara, for sponsoring this podcast!

This episode by BBB of the Tri-Counties reports about various scam types perpetrated online So far in 2022, scams perpetrated online are more prevalent (55%) than other delivery methods, with a higher percentage of people losing money when targeted (75%). When breaking out scams perpetrated via phone with a monetary loss, scams perpetrated via text message rose from 11% in 2015 to 30% in 2022. Scams perpetrated via text had a median dollar loss of $800 in 2022, higher than other reported means of contact. Text messaging was the most reported offline method used to push people online. “Carrots” appear to be riskier than “sticks,” according to our survey research. About 70% of respondents said they continued the online engagement because they hoped to gain something, sell something, or were curious to learn more. That’s compared to 30% who continued the engagement because they feared they’d lose something, were threatened, or thought there was an urgent situation they needed to address. The scam type with a monetary loss most often reported beginning online was online purchase scams (89%), followed by cryptocurrency scams (87%), romance scams (85%), investment scams (73%), employment scams (68%), and government grant scams (64%). The #1 place people reported being targeted by a scam was while browsing social media (25%), followed by online shopping (24%), email (14%), search engines (10%), and job search (7%).

A BIG thank you to Ayers Automotive Repair in Santa Barbara for sponsoring Your Moment of Trust.