Businesses targeted in scam

Wednesday, Aug. 4, 2004 | 11:04 a.m.

A company is falsely identifying itself as the Better Business Bureau when it calls business owners in Nevada and 10 other states to request information about the business owners.

The Council of Better Business Bureaus (BBB) issued a national alert Tuesday to warn consumers and businesses about the scheme, which involves people calling business owners under the guise that they are updating BBB information or discussing a compliant. The callers leave the contact phone number 1-800-CALLBBB (225-5222), which is not operated by the BBB.

The council warned that the callers request information that is not normally requested to be a BBB member such as the names of finance and information technology managers and other information pertaining to the business operations.

The council said BBB complaints are usually provided in writing and if business owners are in doubt about a call from an alleged BBB employee, they should not disclose any information and should call their local BBB.

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