WACO, TX — For the July 1 edition of Central Texas Living, Ann Harder spoke with Adam Price, regional director of the Better Business Bureau - Waco.
During the interview, Price talked about several scams being seen throughout Central Texas including what's called a "car wrap scam," "WhatsApp scam" and "hotel room and travel booking scams."
The car wrap scams are when scammers are targeting consumers in Texas and around the U.S. by promising fast and easy cash, all they have to do is wrap their cars in promotional advertising. However, these are actually covers for fake check scams. With dozens of these scams reported to BBB Scam Tracker nationwide already in 2019, including several reports across Texas, officials say this trend seems to be gaining popularity over the past few months.
The WhatsApp scam is when scammers use a free messaging platform called WhatsApp, and try to convince them to share personal information and send money.
Recently, BBB published an article with tips for booking hotel rooms. With summer vacation in full swing, and family trips ahead, consumers are looking for the best deals on the rooms that suit their needs. However, a 2018 survey by the American Hotel and Lodging Association found that 23% of consumers reported they were misled by third-party travel resellers. 2018 was also a big year for travel scams, with nearly 500 reported to BBB Scam Tracker from across the U.S., with one Central Texas victim reporting a loss of $5,000.
For more information visit the BBB website or call (844) 222 4968.
