BBB on Homes: avoid customer service scams

When composing customer support, be sure to double or triple the phone number. This clever trick, often referred to as "finger dialing", can potentially target anyone asking for customer service support. Fraudsters buy phone numbers similar to those of major businesses and cheat those who have accidentally made mistakes.

The scam follows a similar pattern. You must contact customer support for help with a product or service. You can find the number on a recent bill, on the back of your credit card or even on the company's website and dial it.

An automated message tells you that you have been selected to receive a gift card.

Because you dialed the number, you assume that the gift card offer must be the real deal, so you stay on the line and talk to a "representative". This person claims to need your name, address and credit card number to process your new gift card. Just hang up the phone. There is no free gift card. Sharing your personal information with fraudsters will take you to fraudulent charges or identity theft.

As usual, this scam has a lot of different versions. Some people are targeted by this scam when they try to join their credit card company, but scammers usurp the identity of other entities, ranging from utility companies or agencies. governments such as the IRS. Other versions of fingering dialing use free gifts or fake surveys instead of a gift card.

The Greater Houston and South Texas Business Conduct Office offers the following tips to avoid this type of scam:

Be careful when looking for support phone numbers. Unfortunately, scammers also love to publish fake online support numbers. This means that you must exercise caution when contacting customer service. Check the URL on the website when searching for a number. When you find the correct number, make sure you dial it correctly.

Do not give personal or financial information. Legitimate businesses do not ask for credit card numbers or banking information for coupons or gifts. If they ask for personal information, such as an address or an email, make sure they contain a link to their privacy policy.

If in doubt, do a quick search on the web. If the gift is a scam, it is likely that it will reveal an alert or take you to the actual website of the organization, where they may have posted other information.

Beware of a reward too good to be true. Companies usually give small discounts to attract customers. If the offer seems too good to be true (a $ 100 voucher or a 50% discount), this can be a scam.

To report a scam, you can visit BBB Scam Tracker at BBBHouston.org/ScamTracker.

The Better Business Bureau is an impartial non-profit organization that sets and upholds high standards of fair and honest business conduct. Visit www.bbbhouston.org or call 713-868-9500. Leah Napoliello is Senior Director of Investigation Services at BBB Greater Houston and South Texas. Send your questions to Leah Napoliello, Business Ethics Office, 1333 West Loop South, Suite 1200, Houston, TX 77027, or email [email protected]. Enter your mailing address and phone number.