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SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
You’re a WinnerLottery and Check ScamsPage 9
Complete List of
BBB Accredited BusinessesPage 13
THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU® OF CHICAGO AND NORTHERN ILLINOIS
www.bbb.org312.832.0500
ConsumerResource Guide
Mortgage Forclosure Warning, Scams on the RisePage 11
What Happens When you File
A Complaint with the BBBPage 10
Last year more than 3.45 million people asked the
BBB about the reputation of companies in Northern
Illinois or asked us to assist them with a complaint.
2 | BBB Consumer Resource Guide SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
ChairCharles GavzerCarnivale, Stretch Run & OTBImmediate Past ChairmanDoris K. ChristopherThe Pampered Chef, Ltd.Vice ChairsRoy Spencer Perma-Seal Basement Systems, Inc. Dan B. StoneAlberto-Culver CompanyGerald M. ColeWaste Gasification Systems, Inc. President & CEOSteve J. BernasBetter Business Bureau/ChicagoTreasurer Carl G. Jacobson GE Real EstateSecretaryMichael E. StanczakHanson Material ServiceIrv AbramsWalgreen CompanyBilly AbtABT ElectronicsJames W. Aldrich Delaware Place BankJack ArslanianMiniMoves, Inc.Ed BachlerNombach Home ExteriorsBrian K. BarkleyAccess One, Inc.John BelliTru-Link FenceShirley BicknellSears Holdings CorporationJerry N. BoudreauTransUnion LLC
Patricia Davis BrooksApple Vacations
Cathy BushmanTiffany & Company
Lawrence J. CarneyAmerican Home Heating Company
Eli CarrilloProtecta Home Loans, Inc.
Charles S. Childs, Jr.A. A. Rayner & Sons
Jerry H. Cizek III Chicago Automobile Trade Association
Ilene CollinsThe Apartment People
Douglas Cook Feldco
Nicholas DacanayWilliam Lea
Kenneth DePaolaChicago Tribune
Steve DezaraLuna Carpet & Blinds, Inc.
Rick DowMidas International Corporation
Mark T. DoyleAll My Sons Moving & Storage, Inc.
Paul FisherDanley Garage World
Wicker FreemanCoyne American Institute
Ed GarciaWireless Central LLC
A. F. Duffy GaynorIBM Corporation
Dayle GillettThe Inland Real Estate Group, Inc.
James GnoffoAAA Chicago
Patricia GoldenNBC5 Chicago
Edward E. GordonImperial Consulting Corporation
Thomas D. GrahamAiroom Architects & Builders
Peter GrandeState Farm Insurance
David P. GutmanMomentum Advantage Partners LLC
Richard HynesHynes Associates Architects & Interiors
Herbert F. Corky Imhoff, Jr.General Employment Enterprises, Inc.
Joann JacksonIntegrated Project Management Co., Inc.
Victor JacobellisRose Productions
Robert F. KastenholzBank of America
David KellyR.H. Donnelley
Christopher E. KentraMeckler Bulger & Tilson
Joan KoebernickDakota-K Auto Repair & Tire Center
Alex KolosiwskyBFS Retail and Commercial Operations
John J. KozakisAmerican Airlines, Inc.
John KroenDeVry, Inc.
Israel KushnirGeorge S. May International Company
Gary LangGary Lang Auto Group
Edith LeonianConcession Services, Inc.
Marvin LiebermanArchway Construction CompanyMark A. Lies II, Esq.Seyfarth Shaw LLPDavid W. MaherPublic Interest RegistryRobert MarcocchioAssurance Agency Ltd.Dan McLaughlinPlumbing Council of ChicagolandHoward MedleyMedley’s Moving & Self StorageSandy MengerPave Man, Inc.Matthew MessingerRaymond D. MinkusMinkus & Pearlman Public RelationsKevin MizeO’Hare Honda, Pontiac, HyundaiJohn MoranKPMG LLPRobert MuddMudd AdvertisingDale MuellerChicagoland Aamco DealersMichael T. NelliganThe Staubach CompanyLisa OlmsteadComEd – An Exelon CompanyGeorge OlsenGrant’s Appliance TV & AudioBruce O’NealMatthews Roofing CompanySeymour PerskyParliament Enterprises, Ltd.Taras R. ProczkoHartmarx CorporationDesmond RobertsAdvantage Chevrolet
Allen Rodriguez Charter One Bank
David RuizChicago Sun-Times
Mark ScarpelliRaymond Chevrolet/Olds, Inc.
David J. SchroerHallberg Commercial Insurors, Inc.
Thomas J. SeebergMarsh USA Inc.
John SmithTower Travel Management Corporation
Vincent J. SollecitoABC 7 Chicago
David SparksSparks Consulting, LLC
Jerry S. StockU.S. Waterproofing
Kimberly A. SvobodaCDW, Inc.
Cecil TreadwayTreadway Enterprises
D. Richard WaltersAutomatic Data Processing ADP
John WellsHilton Chicago
James W. WicklanderLake County Press, Inc.
Jerry ZientyJerome A. Zienty & Associates, P.C.
Janice ZimmermannHarris
General Counsel John A. Janicik, PartnerMayer Brown LLP
Board of Directors 2007-2008 The Better Business Bureau of Chicago and Northern Illinois, Inc.
To Ask About A Company Or FileA Complaint The Better BusinessBureau makes it easy to obtaininformation about a company orcharity, or to file a complaint.Here’s how:
BBB Websitewww.chicago.bbb.org Available24-hours everyday.
U.S. Mail/Fax Write or fax the BBBoffice nearest you:
Chicago 330 N. Wabash Avenue,Suite 2006 Chicago, IL 60611 Fax:312.832.9985
Rockford 810 E. State Street, 3rdFloor Rockford, IL 61104 Fax:815.963.0329
0Telephone Automated Servicesare available 24 hours a day, 7days a week… 312.832.0500 to filea complaint or obtain a report.
Personal Service 312.832.0500Consumer consultants are avail-able from 8:00 am to 6:00 pmMonday through Friday.
BBB AUTOLINE 800.955.5100This service only deals with com-plaints related to problems withvehicles made by certain manufac-turers.
Bienvenidos al BBB en españolinformación importante para elconsumidor en español. Propor-cionado por el Better BusinessBureau, sirviendo al área de Chicago y el Norte de Illinois
WHAT THIS CONSUMER RESOURCE GUIDE WILL DO FOR YOUhow to reach your BBB
officers & members of the executive committee
Complaints taken over the internet are processed immediatly provided theBBB has contact information.
Complaints taken over the telephone are processed within 24 hours.
President & CEO Steve J. Bernas
Immediate Past ChairDoris K. ChristopherThe Pampered Chef, Ltd.
Vice Chair Roy Spencer Perma-Seal BasementSystems, Inc.
Vice Chair Dan B. Stone Alberto-Culver Company
Treasurer Carl Jacobson GE CommercialFinance Real Estate
Chair Charles A. GavzerCataldo Enterprises
Secretary Michael E. StanczakHanson Material Service Corp.
Vice Chair Gerald M. ColeCole & Associates
The BBB Consumer Resource Guide is included in all editions of the Chicago Sun-Times on June 2nd, 2008. The Guide provides highlights on how to use the BetterBusiness Bureau to protect you and your money. Over 9,400 people each calendarday are using our website www.bbb.org to obtain information and service from us.Our database includes information on our business accredited businesses as does thisConsumer Resource Guide by industry classification. It also includes reports on almost95,000 other companies in northern Illinois, including non-members, some of whomare not worthy of your business. Therefore we encourage you to as our jingle states:“before you purchase or donate, check it out with the Better Business Bureau.”Accredited Businesses listed in this Guide are as of April 29, 2008.
Our goal is to make information available to help protect your money from the ques-tionable businesses as well as to help you find businesses which you can trust. When youcontact one of our accredited businesses make sure you inform them that you saw theirad or their name in the BBB Consumer Resource Guide. This is an additional assuranceof satisfaction as each BBB Accredited Businesses must meet and maintain ethical stan-dards of business practice in order to remain its accreditation.
Sincerely,
Charles A. Gavzer Steve J. BernasChair President & CEO
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION Resource Guide | 3
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When paying bills, make a “payment” to yourselfand deposit this money into a savings account
Eliminate two trips to your favorite coffee shopeach week
Review your phone and cable plans, looking for ways to get less expensive packages
Call your credit card companies and inquire about a lower interest rate
ways to save more money
10
For more tips visit YourMoneyCounts.comYour online guide to financial and credit education
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2
3
4
5
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Check your insurance policies for ways to lowerpremiums by raising deductibles
Switch to generic brands when possible
Reduce your dining out habits
Join retailers’ free rewards or loyalty programs
Replace one monthly movie date with one “at home” video evening
Redirect a portion of any pay increase to a savings account
HSBC supports the Better Business Bureauand its 96 years of protecting customers.
© 2008, HSBC North American Holdings, Inc. All rights reserved.
4 | BBB Consumer Resource Guide SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
Start With Trust. The Bet-ter Business Bureaus is tellingconsumers to do just thatthrough a new brand andpublic outreach campaign.Launching nationally today,the effort will promote howBBB can help consumersmake better choices andmore informed pre-purchasedecisions.
In 2007, BBB of Chicagoand Northern Illinois handleda record-breaking 58,000complaints from consumers,marking the fifth consecutiveyear complaints have risen.And, according to a nationalsurvey by Princeton Research
Associates International,about one in five adult con-sumers in the U.S. (22 per-cent) have contacted BBB inthe past three years to getinformation about a businessor charity.
“While our current businessand consumer usage is mostimpressive, we aren’t reachingas far and deep as we want toand don’t want customers tolose out on what we have tooffer,” said Steve J. Bernas,president & CEO of the BetterBusiness Bureau of Chicagoand Northern Illinois. “Thepurpose of this campaignboth in northern Illinois and
nationally is to let more peo-ple know that they can findbusinesses they can trust andavoid ones that have a badtrack record by checkingthem out with BBB.”
The 81-year-old non-profitorganization provides awealth of free information,consumer advice and compa-ny reports that measure thetrustworthiness of all sorts ofbusinesses. BBB ReliabilityReportsTM
We’re on top of all of thelatest innovations:
BUR - built up roofingEPDM - compound rubber elastomerPVC - polyvinylchlorideTPO - thermoplastic polyolefinMB - modified bitumen
www.matthewsroofing.com3737 W. North Ave.
Chicago, Illinois 60647
773.276.4100
Architectural SheetAsphalt & GravelAsphalt ShinglesCoatingsDeck Replacement
Gutters & DownspoutsMaintenance & RepairsModified BitumenRoof RestorationSingle Ply
SkylightsSlate & TileWood Shingle* ShakeStanding Seam
COMMERCIAL • INDUSTRIAL • RESIDENTIAL
Serving Chicago & Suburbs
We began in 1934...
&we’re still going strongBBB Reinvigorates Brand, Increases Focusto Help Consumers Make Better Pre-Purchase Decisions81 year old institution updates image and kicks off “Start With Trust®” public outreach campaign
Abt Electronics & Applianceswww.Abt.com | 847.967.8830
1200 N Milwaukee Ave, Glenview, IL
Our Exceptional ServiceAttracts Attention
CE Hall of Fame - 2008 Circle Of Excellence Award
Hot 100 Best RetailersOf The Year
Illinois Retailer Merchants Association
Best Retailers Of The YearManufacturer’s Elite
continued on page 5
are a key resource for con-sumers to research business-es before they choose towork with one. Reports arebased solely on factual infor-mation gathered by BBB,such as if a business islicensed or not, the numberof consumer complaints filed,dispute resolution outcomesand whether a governmentagency has taken actionagainst a business.
Added Bernas, “There aremany sources, includingonline review sites and blogs,that offer opinions onwhether a business is trust-worthy or not. Consumersshould start their research onbusinesses at BBB wherethey can continue to get reli-able, objective information.”
BBB also provides con-sumers an easy way to identi-fy trustworthy businessesthrough its Seal program.Businesses accredited byBBB earn and display theBBB Seal and contractuallyagree to meet and uphold the
organization’s high standardsfor integrity and reliability.BBB reviews each businessthat applies for the BBB Sealand strictly enforces its stan-dards, accrediting only thosemeeting and upholding BBBStandards For Trust, andrevoking Seals from thosebusinesses that don’t.
“Though nearly 60 percentof consumers, according toour survey data, currentlyunderstand that BBB affilia-tion is only available to com-panies that meet high stan-dards of trustworthiness, reli-ability and responsiveness,we want and are seeing thatnumber to grow significant-ly,” said Bernas. “Our publicoutreach campaign will makeconsumers more aware thatbusinesses earning the BBBSeal pledge to follow throughon their commitments, deliv-er on their promises and rightany wrongs if an honest mis-take has been made.”
BBB has also introduced aseries of how-to books on
buying a home, buying a fran-chise business and starting abusiness on eBay. “BBB Insid-ers’ Guides” include informa-tion on how to navigate eachprocess successfully whileavoiding common pitfalls andmistakes. The books are avail-able now at major retailerssuch as Barnes & Noble, Bor-ders and Books-A-Million andare also available for pur-chase on the BBB Web siteat, www.bbb.org.
In addition, BBB continuesto offer the same servicesconsumers have always reliedupon to help in every stage ofthe buying process, including:
• BBB advice and alerts –BBB provides pre-purchaseadvice for consumers on awide range of issues, andposts alerts on the latestconsumer fraud incidencesand tips on how to avoidthem.
• BBB reports on charities– BBB Wise Giving ReportsTM
on charities help con-sumers make informeddonation decisions andfind trustworthy charities
with objective informationgathered by BBB.
• Complaint and disputeresolution services –Consumers can contactBBB to help them resolvedisputes with any type ofbusiness, and for specificautomobile manufacturerissues, they can get helpfrom BBB AUTO LINE®.
BBB also promotes truth inadvertising through its admin-istration of the advertisingindustry's system of self-regu-lation, including the NationalAdvertising Division, Children'sAdvertising Review Unit,National Advertising ReviewBoard and Electronic RetailingSelf-Regulation Program.
For more information aboutBBB, and to see and accessnew products and resources,visit www.bbb.org.
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION BBB Consumer Resource Guide | 5
WOODFIELDNISSAN
WOODFIELDNISSAN.COM
^^#1 volume dealer is cited by Nissan North America total sales year to date.
847.310.1900700 W. Higgins Rd. Hoffman Estates
For more infor-mation aboutBBB, and to seeand access newproducts andresources, visitwww.bbb.org.
ICC# 23937MCDOT# 180860
BBB Reinvigorates Brandcontinued from page 4
A large majority of Ameri-can households now havedebit cards, also known ascheck cards, but not everyoneunderstands all the “bells andwhistles.” The Better BusinessBureau encourages con-sumers to know how debitcards differ from credit cardsand to use them responsibly.
Debit cards may resemblecredit cards, but they operatelike cash. When you use adebit card, your money isquickly deducted from yourbank account, assuming youhave sufficient funds. There isno grace period. In addition,you may be charged a fee peruse of the card, and theamount of money you candebit per day or month maybe capped.
Like credit cards, debitcards offer a convenient alter-native to carrying cash orchecks, and are widely accept-ed by merchants. The similari-ties end, however, if your debitcard ends up lost or stolen. If
your credit card is stolen, yourliability is limited to $50. Ifsomeone uses your debit cardwithout your permission, youcould lose much more.
Your losses will dependupon how quickly youreport the loss and whether your financial institutionoffers protection above thatrequired by law. If you reportthe loss within two businessdays, government regulationrestricts your liability to $50of unauthorized use. If twobusiness days pass, but youreport the missing card with-in 60 days after your state-ment is mailed, your liabilityis limited to $500. If youreport an unauthorized trans-fer following that 60-dayperiod, you could lose all themoney in your account andoverdraft line of credit.
To use your debit cardresponsibly:
• Know where your card is atall times. If you misplace it,
contact your financialinstitution or card issuerimmediately.
• Choose a Personal Identifi-cation Number (PIN) that is different from youraddress, telephone num-ber, Social Security numberor birthday. Do not writethe PIN on the card sleeveor on papers that you carryin your purse or wallet.
• Keep all transaction receiptsand compare them to yourbank statements. Immedi-ately report any errors orunauthorized transfers.
• Most importantly - remem-ber a debit card is differentfrom a credit card, as thereis very little protection ifthe card is lost or stolen.Learn about your rightsand responsibilities with adebit card!
Check out northern Illinoisbusinesses with the BBB at www.bbb.org or312.832.0500.
6 | BBB Consumer Resource Guide SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
105 Rt. 173•Antioch, IL
CALL NOW!847-395-0200or visit us on the web @
dodgeofantioch.com
•SRT8s•MAGNUMs•CHARGERsARRIVINGDAILY!
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Tips on Debit and Check Cards
CarMaxTorch Award For Marketplace Ethics was presented by BBB President &CEO Steve J. Bernas, (left) to Gary Roach, Sales Manager representingCarMax. Also shown are ABC7 News Anchor Kathy Brock and BBB ChairChuck Gavzer at the November 29th event at the Holiday Inn Mart Plaza.
Category II1,000 - 7,499Employees
Power ConstructionBBB Chair Chuck Gavzer (left) Gary Schreiber, partner from Power Construction, ABC7 News Anchor Kathy Brock and BBB President & CEO Steve J. Bernas present the prestigious Torch Award For MarketplaceEthics on November 29th.
Category III100 - 999Employees
FeldcoBBB Chair Chuck Gavzer, (left) welcomes BBB Board Member and winner Doug Cook, president & CEO of Feldco the Torch Award For Marketplace Ethics along with ABC7 News Anchor Kathy Brock and BBB President & CEO Steve J. Bernas at the 11th annual program at theHoliday Inn Mart Plaza.
Category IV10 - 99 Employees
IHM Remodeling Repair ContractorsBBB President & CEO, Steve J. Bernas, (left) President Dawn. M Tuskey of IHM Remodeling Repair Contractors, Awards Presenter Kathy Brock and BBB Chair Chuck Gavzer display the Category V Torch Awards trophy on November 29th.
Category V 1 - 9 Employees
The 2007Torch Awards
for Marketplace Ethics2 0 0 7 W I N N E R S
Over 8.4 million peoplebecame a victim of identitytheft in 2006. In that sameyear the economic loss was astaggering 49.3 billion dollars!
Fortunately, while not com-pletely preventable, you cantake steps to protect yourself.
The Better Business Bureaualong with the Federal TradeCommission, the Illinois Attor-ney General’s Office, the Unit-ed States Postal InspectorsService, the Chicago Depart-ment of Consumer Services,Cook County’s State’s Attor-ney and The Chicago Policeare hosting the 3rd AnnualShredder Day – Shred it & For-get it!
Shredder Day is being heldto give residents and smallbusinesses an opportunity todispose of their unwantedpersonal financial/confidentialdocuments for free.
The event will be held Sat-urday, June 14th, at the UnitedCenter LOT E (borderingWood, Madison and Paulina).Hours for Shredder Day are 9
a.m. to 2 p.m. A shredder truckwill be on hand to destroy allthe sensitive material on siteto help consumers protecttheir identities.
The free shredding servicesare being provided by BeaverShredding and ProShredSecurity, both are BBB accred-ited businesses.
Residents are asked to limitthe information they wantshredded to 10 boxes of docu-ments.
In addition, representativesfrom the participating organi-zation will be on hand to offerguidelines for shredding docu-ments, and answer questionsabout how to keep your per-sonal information safe.
Here are some suggestionsfor deciding how long to keeppersonal financial information:
• The IRS has three years from your tax-filing date to audit, and has six years to challenge a claim. A good rule of thumb is to keep all tax returns and supporting
documentation for seven years.
• Keep credit card statementsfor seven years if tax relatedexpenses are documented.
• Keep paycheck stubs for one year. Be sure to cross reference the paycheck stub to the W-2 form.
• Be sure to keep bank statements and cancelled checksfor at least one year.
• Bills should kept for one year or until the cancelled check has been returned. Receipts for large ticket items should be kept for insurance purposes.
• Home improvement receipts should be kept for six years or permanently.
• Items such as birth certificates, social security cards, insurance policies, titles or wills should be kept permanently in a safety deposit box.
• If you are going to dispose of documents with sensitiveinformation, be sure to SHRED!
Shred it & Forget it!Identity theft is the fastest growing crime in the U.S. According to a recent study released by the BBB
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION BBB Consumer Resource Guide | 7
8 | BBB Consumer Resource Guide SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE
BROKERAGEInland Real Estate Sales, Inc.
REAL ESTATE AUCTIONSInland Real Estate Auctions, Inc.
INVESTMENT PROGRAMSInland Real Estate Investment
Corporation
REAL ESTATE FINANCINGInland Mortgage CapitalCorporation
LAND DEVELOPMENTInland Real EstateDevelopment, LLC
PROPERTY MANAGEMENTInland Commercial PropertyManagement, Inc.
Who You Do Business With Is Everything®
The Better Business Bureau(BBB) announces the launchof the first-ever line of booksto carry the trusted BetterBusiness Bureau name. “BBBInsiders’ Guides” are easy tofollow – packed with check-lists, worksheets, and “QuickTips” – and provide the samereliable advice the public hascome to expect from BBB fornearly a century.
For the first three books ofthe series, BBB experts pro-vide information, advice andinsights based on real-worldexperience on how to buy ahome, launch an eBay busi-ness, or open your own fran-chise. “BBB Insiders’ Guides,”published by The PlanningShop, de-mystify often intim-idating topics and providereaders with step-by-stepguidance.
“BBB has been a leader inconsumer education fordecades and this book seriesbuilds on our tradition of pro-
viding trustworthy and reliableadvice that people can use ineveryday life,” said Chicagoand Northern Illinois BBB Pres-ident & CEO Steve J. Bernas.“Each book is designed to helpconsumers and entrepreneursmake informed choices andfeel confident in making themany important financial deci-sions they face.”
“BBB Insiders’ Guides” areavailable in bookstoresincluding Barnes & Noble,Borders Books, Books-A-Mil-lion, and airport bookstoresnationwide. The books alsoare available online at Ama-zon.com and through yourBBB at www.chicago.bbb.org.
The first three “BBBInsiders’ Guides” aretitled:
Better Business BureauBuying a Home: Insider’sGuide to Success - Purchas-ing a home is the singlebiggest investment most
people make in their lives.This thorough guide helpsreaders successfully navigatethe world of agents, homeselection, contracts, inspec-tions and mortgages, as wellas how to time a home pur-chase to take advantage ofdown markets and a specialsection on purchasing invest-ment property.
Better Business BureauStarting an eBay Business:Insider’s Guide to Success- Every day, more than 36million items are up for auc-tion on eBay. This book pro-vides step-by-step guidanceon all aspects of starting, run-ning and growing an eBaybusiness. Whether a readerwants to start a spare-timebusiness, develop an onlineenterprise, or add an eBaypresence to an existing com-pany, this thorough guideprovides entrepreneurs withthe keys to success in theeBay world.
Better Business BureauBuying a Franchise: Insid-er’s Guide to Success - Fiftypercent of all retail sales comefrom franchises. Franchising isbooming, but buying a fran-chise is a major investment,often exceeding more than$100,000. This guide helpspeople investigate and choosethe right franchise, negotiatethe contract process, under-stand all fees and start-upcosts, and learn about financ-ing options, as well as proventechniques for running a suc-cessful franchise.
“BBB Insiders’ Guides” arepart of a larger, national cam-paign by BBB to enhanceconsumer trust in the mar-ketplace. Consumers areencouraged to always “StartWith TrustSM” and start withBBB for objective advice onmarketplace issues. “BBBInsiders’ Guides” serve notonly as reliable advice toconsumers, but also encour-age entrepreneurs to meetthe high standards of BBBfor marketplace trust issues.
BBB Announces First-Ever Series of BBB “How-To” Books
New BBB How-To Books
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SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION BBB Consumer Resource Guide | 9
Potential victims across thecountry are receiving notifica-tions via mail that they are‘lucky’ lottery winners. Thesolicitation and check offer isa scam whose only intent is todefraud the recipient ratherthan bring good financialnews. The volume of thesetypes of letters currentlygoing around is substantial,so if you think that you havebeen singled out as a luckywinner in a drawing or a lot-tery that you don’t ever recallentering, think again beforeresponding
Shaymon Thomas, of Rock-ford was one of the “lucky”winners. On September 9thshe received a check for$2,750 from BandCard Lot-tery. Following instructionsshe deposited the check anda day later withdrew thefunds to wire to Rochester,New York to cover taxes andfees on her $52,000 prize.Because she frequently par-ticipates in online contestsshe thought she was in fact awinner. However, after shewired the money, she did notreceive the winners check.Now suspicious she contact-ed the BBB’s Rockford officewho recommended sheimmediately call her bank. Inthe end Ms. Thomas found outshe is one of thousands ofpeople who have become vic-tims.
If an unsolicited letter witha notification that you havewon an award is received inthe form of a final notificationor you are a winner it will alsourge your direct and immedi-ate response. Most often therecipient will find a checkincluded with their name on it.Exercise caution as you arebeing targeted by a scammer.
The BBB receives hundredsof calls from consumers whohave received these scam let-ters and unfortunately,despite our warning many ofthe callers choose to believethe letters and checks arereal. The potential lose, foranyone who gets involved inthis scam, can be substantialusually around three thou-sand dollars.
The BBB reports this fraud-ulent activity to several lawenforcement authorities andworks closely with the Feder-al Trade Commission, the Illi-nois Attorney General’sOffice, The U.S. Postal Inspec-tion Service who are workingin concert with us to help shutdown these scams. Unfortu-nately, it is extremely difficultif not impossible to recoverconsumer’s money once theyhave sent it to these scam-mers.
Lottery Scam Prevention Tips:• If you get an alleged award
notification letter, severalthings become evident. Thetext of the winnings willhave a very generic-sound-ing name, such as USAMega Direct or USA LottoDirect, both of which soundlike you could have poten-tially entered.
• You will then be congratu-lated on being a winner of alarge amount of money,given a reference number,and subsequently asked tonot make your winningspublic just yet. For conve-nience’s sake, you willalmost certainly be given aname of a contact or finan-cial secretary who is toallegedly help guide youthrough your award claimsprocess.
What is necessary to keep inmind is that anytime any-one asks you to pay forsomething that they claimyou have won, a red flagshould go up. If anyoneasks you to wire a paymentvia Western Union to Cana-da, another red flag shouldgo up. If you happen toreceive a solicitation ofbeing an awards or lottowinner and then are provid-ed with a check to alleged-ly cover taxes or fees, turnit into your local PostalInspector’s Office.
• The one thing these con-tacts have in common isthat they have a Canadianphone number for you tocall, frequently out ofOntario and British Colum-bia, regardless of wherethey claim to be, Canada orthe United States.
• Included with the letter willalmost always be a legiti-mate looking check, with anamount that can rangefrom several hundred toseveral thousand dollars.The solicitation will tell youthat this check is to helpyou offset the pay for insur-ance, taxes, and shippingand handling fees whichyou will need to pay beforeyou can claim your prize,and will then direct you tocall their financial advisor inorder to find out how toclaim the winnings.
• Sometimes this check mayeven be addressed as com-ing from a well-knownand/or Fortune 500 com-pany with wide namerecognition, which may putyou in a fake comfort zone.This is in actuality aninstance of identity theft ofa business, which may likelynot be aware that its nameand identity are being
fraudulently used in acheck scam.
• As soon as you call thenumber provided on yoursolicitation, you will beinstructed to deposit thecheck into your personalbank account. Here iswhere the essence of thecheck scam lays: as real asit may look, the check willnot have any funds to backit up. Shortly after takingout what you think are thefunds from the check, youwill be instructed to wire acertain amount of money,usually via Western Unionof MoneyGram, to a previ-ously undisclosed thirdparty location.
• The money that you will bewiring will be your own,provided that you haveenough in your account tocover the amount beingsent. If not, within a fewdays your bank will realizethat the check you deposit-ed was a fake one, as aresult of which it willbounce and you will be heldliable for any insufficient
fund fees at the least. • Contact the BBB to report
the scam at our website –www.bbb.org
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You’re A WINNER!
The Better Business Bureauof Chicago has recentlybegun offering an additionalFREE service to consumerson its website– www.bbb.orgthat empowers over 9,400consumers and businesseswho access the site each daythe ability to obtain a quote
from current BBB membersvia e-mail, phone or mail.
This powerful resourcecalled eQuote helps con-sumers and BBB memberswho are interested in pur-chasing goods or servicesfrom companies they trust,BBB members.
To immediately access thisvaluable service and provideyourself the opportunity ofdoing business with BBBAccredited Businesses just goto the website listed aboveand click on the eQuote but-ton in the middle of theChicago BBB page.
BBB eQuote Connects buyers with ethical businesses
847-303-5800 888-SEEPAGE
2207NHammondDr Schaumburg
Additions • BasementsDecks • Tile •Painting
Kitchens & Baths Historic RenovationsAll Phases of Construction
Quality & Pride Built Right InSince 1990
www.driscollconstructioncompany.com
(815) 478-4030(708) 233-1514
Residential/CommercialLicensed, Bonded & Insured
10 | BBB Consumer Resource Guide SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
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Complaint processing isthe most visible service theBBB provides. After the BBBreceives a complaint, it iscommunicated to the compa-ny. In some cases, complaintsare resolved within a fewhours because the businessrealizes that the longer ittakes to resolve a complaint,the harder it is to conclude itsatisfactorily. If the matter isnot resolved, the BBB will
attempt to mediate the prob-lem. If mediation efforts fail,arbitration will be offered.
By tracking complaints andtheir resolution, the BBB isable to establish a customer-relations file that is used indeveloping a fair and objectivereport on the company.
Complaint data is valuablewhen working with a compa-ny or industry to determinehow to eliminate the cause of
the complaints so future cus-tomers will not experiencethe same difficulty.
Occasionally, the BBB maybe unable to obtain coopera-tion from the company. A pattern of unanswered or unresolved complaintsbecome a part of the firm’srecord, and are reported toinquirers who ask about thecompany.
File a complaint atwww.bbb.org ; over thephone at 312.832.0500 ormail it to the BBB, 330 N.Wabash Ave., #2006; Chica-go, IL 60611 at no charge.
What Happens When YouFile a Complaint With the BBB?
