Host Jeremy C. Park talks with Robyn Householder, President and CEO of the Better Business Bureau Serving Middle Tennessee and Southern Kentucky, who discusses how the BBB has been working for over a century to promote trust in the marketplace through self-regulatory practices and consumer education. Householder details various scams affecting consumers, including cryptocurrency fraud, employment schemes, romance scams, online fraud, and home improvement solicitation scams, emphasizing the importance of thorough research and caution when dealing with unknown entities. The organization celebrates marketplace role models through awards and provides support to small businesses through programs like the Small Business Emergency Grant Program. She wraps up with an invitation to their upcoming Songwriters Night on September 26, 2025, which supports their grant making efforts to help small businesses.
BBB's Century of Trust Advocacy
The Better Business Bureau (BBB) is on a mission to build a marketplace of trust. The organization points people to where they will have the best experience and improve trust between businesses and consumers. The BBB has been working for over a century to advance trust in the marketplace by holding businesses accountable and educating consumers. With more than 4,000 accredited businesses in Middle Tennessee, the BBB focuses on creating transparency and ensuring consumers have the best experience. Householder emphasizes the importance of self-regulatory practices and highlights past deceptive advertising to illustrate the need for accountability.
Cryptocurrency Scams: Top Threats
Robyn discussed the top five scams affecting the United States and Canada, highlighting cryptocurrency scams as the most prevalent, with an average loss of $600. She emphasizes the importance of thorough research and caution when investing in cryptocurrency, advising against sharing personal information with unknown entities and seeking advice from trusted, reputable financial advisors.
Protecting Personal Information in Job Offers
Jeremy and Robyn discuss the importance of protecting personal information and being vigilant against employment scams, particularly those involving fake job offers from reputable companies. They emphasize that legitimate employers rarely offer jobs without a formal application process and warned against providing personal information or making payments to unknown individuals. Robyn advises checking the company's official website for job postings and applying directly through their designated channels rather than responding to unsolicited emails or messages.
Romance Scam Awareness and Safety
Robyn discusses the dangers of romance scams, explaining how scammers typically target lonely individuals by isolating them from friends and family and eventually requesting financial assistance under false pretenses. She highlights that once victims are lured off legitimate dating sites, scammers often send malicious links that download malware, enabling them to access personal information and threaten victims. Robyn emphasizes the importance of seniors discussing potential romantic interests with family and friends and advises taking immediate action if a suspicious link is clicked.
Online Scams Awareness
Robyn discusses common online purchasing scams, particularly focusing on fraudulent pet sales. She emphasizes the importance of verifying the legitimacy of online purchases by checking company websites and conducting reverse image searches for pet ads. Robyn shares examples of military families who lost money on fake pet sales and advises viewers to be cautious of deals that seem too good to be true.
Home Improvement and Business Scams
Robyn discusses home improvement scams, emphasizing the importance of caution with unsolicited offers and the need for written proposals from legitimate contractors. She also touches on tariffs, warning against scams related to tariff-related fees or products. Robyn then highlights the positive work of the Better Business Bureau by celebrating marketplace role models through awards like the Torch Awards for Marketplace Trust and the Spark Awards for young entrepreneurs and businesses. She also mentioned the Small Business Emergency Grant Program and the upcoming Songwriters Night event to support the small business community.
Visit https://www.bbb.org/local-bbb/bbb-of-... to learn more about the Better Business Bureau Serving Middle Tennessee and Southern Kentucky.
Remember to report any suspected scams to BBB Scam Tracker at https://www.bbb.org/scamtracker. Your reports help protect others. For additional questions, contact BBB at [email protected] or call (615) 242-4222.