Holly Cherico
Vice President, Communications
Council of Better Business Bureaus
4200 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 800
Arlington, Virginia 22203
Voice: 703.247.9311
Email:
Press Releases and
Alerts
From the Council of Better Business Bureaus
December 2000 
NEW! BBBs in U.S. and Canada Issue International Alert: Holiday Shoppers Seeking Hard-to-Find Electronic Games are Falling Victim to Bogus Online Advertisements (12/01/00)
November 2000
NEW! Despite Projected Increases in Online Holiday Shopping, Many Consumers Still Prefer Bricks and Mortar (11/22/00)
Visa U.S.A. and the Better Business Bureau Join Forces to Enhance the Safety of Internet Shopping (11/14/00)
Better Business Bureau Announces Plan to Strengthen Web Presence (11/13/00)
Businesses
Targeted by Con Artists Are Asked to "Report It" So Other Businesses Can be Warned (11/08/00)
Alert:
Canadian-Based Loan Scams Are Blanketing The U.S. (11/08/00)
October 2000
BBB
Finalizes Code of Online Business Practices Providing Crucial Road Map
for E-Commerce (10/24/00)
Alert:
Slave Reparation Act Flyers Prompt Inquiries to BBB (10/12/00)
Special
BBB Investigation Confirms: Work-At-Home Deals Are "Too Good To Be True"
(10/12/00)
September 2000
Winners
of BBBs' National Torch Award for Marketplace Ethics Announced (09/25/00)
August 2000
Pre-eminent
Charity Watchdogs to Merge (08/31/00)
BBB Files Suit Against
a Vacation and Travel Club Company (08/08/00)
Alert: "Pit
Stop", "Dinner Party", and Other Schemes Target Washington and Idaho
Regions (08/02/00)
July 2000
BBB Notes Surge in Telephone
Scams to Gain Credit Card Numbers (07/26/00)
24 Businesses in 13
States Earn Recognition in BBB National Marketplace Ethics Competition
(07/20/00)
June 2000
Latest BBB Consumer Complaint
Statistics Reflect Dramatic Shift to Internet (06/06/00)
Keep Up-to-Date on Legal
and Regulatory Issues Related to Advertising; Visit the BBB's Advertising
Topics Web Site (06/01/00)
BBB System Announces
"Top 15" for 1999 (06/01/00)
May 2000
New Online Privacy
Protection Tool to Transcend Borders; BBBOnLine and Japanese Privacy
Seal Program Announce Plans for Joint Online Privacy Seal (05/18/00)
BBBOnLine Reliability
Program Reaches 5,000 Businesses (05/16/00)
BBBOnLine Privacy
Program Awards its 500th Seal (05/09/00)
Strategic Alliances
and Cyber Tools Fight 21ST Century Fraud (05/05/00)
April 2000
CARU Files for Safe
Harbor Status Under COPPA (04/07/00)
Charities, Donors
and Others Encouraged to Offer Comments on Charity Accountability Issues
(4/6/00)
March 2000
CBBB Comments
on ADR for the Online Marketplace (3/30/00)
Alert: BBBs
Warn of Census "Imposters" (3/30/00)
BBBs Join 150 Organizations
in 28 Countries to Tackle Internet Fraud (3/28/00)
BBBOnLine
Privacy Program Celebrates One-Year Anniversary;Welcomes World's Largest
Consumer Packaged Goods Company (3/17/00)
BBB Offers Disaster
Preparedness Brochure (3/9/00)
CBBB to Present
Case for Self-Regulation at Net Summit (3/8/00)
February 2000
Alert: "Questionable"
Gun Control Polls Now Being Emailed (2/28/00)
Alert: E-mail
Hoax Invokes Names of Internet Giants (2/11/00)
BBB Representative Named to Online
Privacy Committee (2/1/00)
1998 Annual Inquiry and Complaint
Summary for U.S. Better Business Bureaus (2/1/00)
January 2000
BBB Offers New Year's Resolutions
for Consumers (1/5/00)
December 1999
BBB Cautions
Donors About Firefighter Appeals Seeking to Take Advantage of Massachusetts
Tragedy (12/13/99)
November 1999
BBBOnLine
Helps Guide Consumers to Reputable Online Businesses for Holiday Shopping
(11/30/99)
Better Business Bureau
System Posts Draft of New Code of Online Business Practices (11/22/99)
KNOW FRAUD Takes
Aim at Illegal Telemarketers (11/17/99)
Consumers to
Spend 20% of Holiday Budget Online (11/08/99)
BBB & YPPA Urge
Small Businesses to Use Internet to Report Scams (11/01/99)
Don't Assume
High Tech Guarantees High Ethics! (11/03/999)
October 1999
Alert: Infant Formula Settlement Rumor is False!
(10/12/99)
September 1999
BBBOnLine Names Project Director to Help Draft Internet's First Code
of Business Practices (9/28/99)
BBBOnLine Awards 100th Internet Privacy Seal
(9/28/99)
Alert: BBB Warns Consumers of Three Work-at-Home Companies Based
in State of Oregon (9/28/99)
Alert: Beware of Toner-Phoner
(9/28/99)
BBBOnLine Awards 100th Internet Privacy Seal
(9/27/99)
Alert: Beware of Y2K Slamming
(9/09/99)
Alert: Use Caution with Galaxy Web-Internet Services
(9/09/99)
UK-Based Groups Now Targeting Canadian and U.S. Companies
(9/08/99)
Alert: Two Internet Chain Letters are Hoaxes (9/08/99)
August 1999
Alert: Be Cautious
of Free PC Offers (8/18/99)
Council
of Better Business Bureaus Names Kenneth J. Hunter as President and
CEO (8/05/99)
July 1999
Expert Panel to Update
Standards for Charitable Solicitations (7/27/99)
FTC Recognizes BBB
as Leader in Protecting Privacy Online (7/23/99)
BBB
and SIIA Launch Campaign to Curb Software Piracy
(07/21/99)
Now is
the Time to Comparison Shop for Auto Insurance (07/08/99)
Alert: Better
Business Bureau Warns Consumers About Y2K Scams (07/08/99)
June 1999
BBB Offers New Business
Ethics Training Program (6/29/99)
BBB Joins FTC
to Issue Alert on Internet Cramming; Goal is to Educate Small Businesses
Who are Common Prey (6/17/99)
Alert: Don't
Get Burned By Hot Travel Deals (6/16/99)
CBBB, with its Two Units
CARU and BBBOnLine, files Comments on COPPA Implementation. (6/15/99
MS Word 95 document)
Alert:
Nigerian Letter Scam Goes High Tech (6/10/99)
BBBOnLine
to Develop Code of Online Business Practices (6/08/99)
May 1999
Alert:
"National Gun Control Poll" Investigated (5/26/99)
BBB Issues National
Consumer Alert On Pentagono And Future Strategies (5/12/99)
BBBOnLine
Reliability program Hits Milestone of 3,000 Members at Two-Year Anniversary
(5/12/99)
Better Business Bureau Can Help Consumers Avoid Home Improvement Headaches
(5/04/99)
Restitution Available
For Consumers Victimized Through Mail Scams (5/03/99)
April 1999
Get a Move on if
Your're Planning to Relocate (4/28/99)
Solutions
For Seniors: BBB Offers Free Brochures (4/28/99)
BBBOnLine
Testifies Before Senate Judiciary Committee on Progress of Internet
Privacy Program (4/21/99)
Alert:
New Twist on an Old Scam: BBB Urges Caution (4/19/99)
Leading High-Tech Association
to Promote BBBOnLine Privacy Seal Program (4/13/99)
Alert: BBB Cautions
Donors On Kosovo Relief Appeals (4/6/99)
March 1999
BBB
Announces Winners of National Torch Award for Marketplace Ethics
(3/29/99)
Finalists Named In
National BBB Marketplace Ethics Competition (3/11/99)
February 1999
Online Shoppers Do
Have Recourse (2/12/99)
January 1999
BBB Offers Information
on the Year 2000 (1/29/99)
Alert: Look
out for Magazine Subscription Scams (1/14/99)
December 1998
BBBOnLine
Now Accepting Applications for Online Privacy Seal (12/26/98)
Take Control of Your Finances in 1999 (12/23/98)
BBB Unveils National
Transportation Dispute Resolution Program (12/17/98)
BBBOnLine Briefs
White House on New Privacy Seal Program (12/16/98)
Alert: New
Twist To Canadian Telemarketing Fraud (12/15/98)
Beanie Seller Disappears
(12/9/98)
You Don't Always Find Bargains
at "Going Out of Business" Sales! (12/9/98)
1997 Annual Inquiry
and Complaint Summary (12/1/98)
November 1998
BBBOnLine Begins
Accepting Applications for Online Privacy Seal (11/30/98)
Protect Your Business From Fraud, Scams & Crime (11/23/98)
Questionable Phone Calls
Targeting Wives (11/23/98)
"Protect Your Business
Week" (11/13/98)
BBB Warns of Holiday
Shoplifting (11/12/98)
Better Business Bureau
Cautions Donors on Appeals This Holiday Season (11/12/98)
BBB Publishes New Consumer
Info Brochure, Refunds and Exchanges (11/11/98)
BBB Publishes New Consumer
Info Brochure, Financial Aid for College (11/11/98)
Shopping for a Computer?
Use your Head! (11/06/98)
October 1998
Office Supply Scheme
Targets Businesses (10/27/98)
BBBOnLine Marks Milestone
in Corporate Sponsorships of Privacy Seal (10/27/98)
The BBB Offers Tips
On Holiday Cybershopping (10/23/98)
Cash a Check -- Get
a Bill (10/13/98)
BBB Advises Caution
in Disaster Appeals (10/5/98)
Good Business Practices
For Ethical E-Commerce (10/1/98)
September 1998
E-Commerce Boom: Easy Money...But
Tough Questions (09/30/98)
Complaints Called In On
Pre-Paid Phone Service (09/24/98)
BBB Warns of New Scam
Aimed at Consumers (09/24/98)
BBB/Austin Warns of
Hoax E-Mail (09/14/98)
August 1998
Fraudulent Telemarketers
Claim To Be Customs Officials (08/18/98)
Summer's A Hot Time For
Scams Against Businesses (08/18/98)
Don't Fall For Abandoned
Property Scam (08/12/98)
BBB Warns College-Bound
Students of Campus Card Scam (08/07/98)
July 1998
Read CBBB's Testimony to Congress: "BBBOnline
Privacy Program will be tough, industry-driven, and consumer-friendly."
(7/21/98)
Foreign Lottery
Recovery Room Schemes Are Surfacing (07/13/98)
BBB Advises "Florida
Fire Victims" Appeal Not Conducted by Better Business Bureau (07/09/98)
BBB Trademarks & Specific
Companies Infringing on Them(07/07/98)
June 1998
Work At Home Offer
Floods BBB with Calls (06/24/98)
BBBOnLine
Privacy Program Created to Enhance User Trust on the Internet (6/22/98)
African - Based Scam
Targets Mormons (06/08/98)
Hewlett-Packard Chairman
Urges Business Peers To Support BBB Online Privacy
Self-Regulation Program (6/4/98)
May 1998
Small Business Week
Alert: Beware of "Bogus" Bills (05/29/98)
Phony Invoice for
CD-Rom Directory (05/19/98)
Foreign Lottery Offers
Could Cost You! (05/19/98)
Prudential Policyholders
May Be Target of Scam (05/07/98)
American Authors
Cautioned About Canadian Joint Venture Publishing Companies (05/05/98)
BBB Warns Americans
Seeking Loans From Canadian Companies (05/05/98)
April 1998
BBB Publishes New
Booklet, Tips on Buying Jewelry (04/24/98)
Nigerian Rip-Off
(04/22/98)
Spring Scams (04/22/98)
Beware of Derby Ticket
Scams (04/16/98)
BBB Alerts Area Consumers
About Work-At-Home Mailing (04/13/98)
Check Out Limo Service
Before Hiring (04/08/98)
March 1998
Better Business
Bureau Announces Winners of National Torch Award for Marketplace Ethics
(03/31/98)
Better Business Bureaus
Urge Fairness When Arbitration is Used in Consumer Contracts (03/26/98)
Businesses Recognized
by BBB for Outstanding Marketplace Ethics (03/24/98)
FTC and Postal Inspection
Service Go After Junk E-mail Scammers (03/12/98)
El Nino Flooded Cars
(03/12/98)
Electricity Deregulation
Scams (03/12/98)
Tony Gwynn: Victim of
Identity Fraud (03/12/98)
BBB Warns of Advance-Fee
Loan Scam (03/09/98)
Jewelry Marketing Firm
Settles with FTC (03/09/98)
Phony Invoices Continue
To Plague Denver Businesses (03/03/98)
It's Tax Time, Are You
Ready? (03/03/98)
Invest in a Home
Inspection (03/03/98)
Few Things are as Permanent
as a Tattoo (03/03/98)
Infomercials Touting
Quick Riches Spark Numerous Inquiries To BBB (03/03/98)
Online Help For Scholarships
(03/03/98)
January 1998
New Survey Indicates
How To Increase Consumer Confidence In Shopping Online (1/27/98)
December 1997
It's Not Too Late to Get
a Jump on 1997 Taxes (12/29/97)
BBB Warns of Counterfeit
Beanie Babies
Holiday Travel and Lost
Luggage (12/04/97)
BBB of Western Michigan's
Hall of Shame Awards (12/01/97)
November 1997
CBBB Obtains Preliminary
Injunction in Lawsuit To Protect BBB Name (11/13/97)
Employee Leasing Firms
Alert (11/25/97)
Canada Fast Becoming
Host To Bogus Telemarketers And Prize Promoters (11/25/97)
Watch Out For Calling
Card Con (11/21/97)
El Nino Sparks Readiness
Concerns (11/12/97)
"PENPAL GREETINGS!"
Is A Warning Hoax (11/6/97)
October 1997
Calls To Better Business
Bureaus Soar In 1996 (10/29/97)
What Are The Problems
And Pitfalls of Marketing To Kids Online? (10/27/97)
Council of Better Business
Bureaus Files Suit To Protect BBB Name (10/24/97)
BBB Warns of Purchasing
Merchandise Vouchers (10/22/97)
Pyramid Scheme Surfaces
In Oklahoma, Other Parts of the Country (10/20/97)
Be Watchful of Sound-Alike
BBBs (10/10/97)
Florida Business Target
of Fire Equipment Repair Scam (10/10/97)
Washington Residents Being
Targeted By Work-at-Home Offer (10/10/97)
Beware of Solicitations
for Business Posters (10/03/97)
The Only Way to Win
Is Not To Play (10/03/97)
September 1997
CBBB Publishes Guidebook
on How to be an Informed Investor" (09/30/97)
Rumor of a Gerber
Baby Food Settlement Is False (9/19/97)
International Investment
Schemes Very Risky (9/16/97)
Do's and Don'ts in Advertising
Now Available on CD-ROM (09/15/97)
Denver BBB Unable
To Locate Internet Seller (9/15/97)
Stay Away From Prize
Schemes Offered By Alleged Law Firms (9/3/97)
August 1997
Special BBB Internet
Site Established To Assist South Florida Marketplace (8/13/97)
Council of Better
Business Bureaus Expels Miami/Ft. Myers BBB (8/04/97)
BBB AUTO LINE Program
Continues Local Operation in South Florida (8/04/97)
Better Business Bureaus
Caution Consumers To Investigate Before Investing (7/2/97)
Tenant Directories Have
Incorrect Information (8/8/97)
Watch Out For Contest
Scheme At Area Malls (8/1/97)
July 1997
Businesses Watch Out
For Vacation Solicitations Arriving Via Your Fax Machines (7/25/97)
Deceptive collect calls
being made in the guise of a charitable donation (7/25/97)
New Angle on "809"
Area Code Scam (7/18/97)
Watch Out for Scam Run
By "Veteran's Center" (7/18/97)
Don't Allow Uninvited
"Workers" Into Your Home (7/11/97)
BBB Warns About
TV Infomercials (7/4/97)
Illinois AG Takes Action
Against Sweepstakes Promotion at Festivals and Fairs (7/4/97)
The Skinny on Online Diet/Health
Promotions (7/4/97)
June 1997
Nigerian Letter Scam
Lives On (6/27/97)
Professionals: Exercise
Care When Pursuing Continuing Education Credits (6/27/97)
Pre-Travel Tips Prevent
Rocky Vacations (6/24/97)
Choosing a Summer Camp
(6/24/97)
Floridians Beware of
Investment Offer Marketed by TAC International Ltd. (6/20/97)
Exercise Caution at
Summer Carnivals, Fairs and Festivals (6/20/97)
Advise Your Accounts
Payable Department: Check Invoices Carefully (6/13/97)
False Representation
Schemes That Charge Money For Free Government Services (6/12/97)
Attention Car Owners:
Stop Freon Leaks This Summer (6/12/97)
Carefully Evaluate
Appeals for Disaster Assistance (6/11/97)
May 1997
Computer Scams and Swindles
(5/28/97)
Denver BBB Alerts Consumers
Being Solicited By Powerbase Selling Strategies (5/28/97)
Land Fraud Schemes
(5/28/97)
BBB Warns Don't Give Calling
Card Number Out To Anyone (5/27/97)
Exercise Judgment When
Your Business Considers Supporting A Community Fundraising Appeal
(5/27/97)
What To Know When You
Rent (5/27/97)
Financial Aid and Scholarship
Companies (5/21/97)
Interest-Free Cash Grants
Are Too Good To Be True (5/8/97)
Parents Should Ignore Requests
For Personal Information On Their Children (5/8/97)
April 1997
Beware Of High Pressure
Tactics Via The Phone From Stockbrokers (4/30/97)
BBBOnLinesm
Program Goes "Live" (4/30/97)
Friends Network Reappears
In New Guise (4/25/97)
Fraudulent Loan Brokers
Set Up Advance Fee Loan Scam (4/22/97)
Asking You To Send
a Child's Book Resembles Pyramid Scheme (4/21/97)
Computer Shopper -- July
issue featuring the ABC's of the BBB(4/21/97)
Exercise Caution When
Choosing A Credit Card Issuing Company (4/21/97)
Childrens' Advertising
Review Unit Issues New Guidelines to Protect Children on the Internet
(4/21/97)
Most Common Telephone
Frauds (4/18/97)
Warning: Beware of
Deceptive Invoices For Magazine Subscriptions (4/16/97) Better
Business Bureau Issues Cautions About Police And Firefighter Solicitations
(4/09/97)
Winners of Better Business
Bureau National Torch Award for Marketplace Ethics Announced (4/1/97)
CBBB Announces Finalists
In BBB National Torch Award Competion (3/13/97)
March 1997
Be Skeptical of E-mail
Offers Claiming You Are Entitled to Unclaimed Money (3/21/97)
Northwest German State
Lottery (3/21/97)
Beware of Flyers and
Calls Offering Home Improvements Through Government Programs (3/21/97)
Tips for Consumers
Experiencing Flood Damage (3/10/97)
Six Charged With Million
Dollar Telemarketing Sweepstakes Scam (3/10/97)
Proliferating Jewelry
Network Marketing Opportunities (3/7/97)
February 1997
Armed Robbers Targeting
Towing Companies (2/28/97)
FTC Obtains Court Order
Shutting Down Internet Telephone Scam (2/28/97)
January 1997
Scam hitting hotel
guests (1/30/97)
Beware of Door-To-Door
Contractors Soliciting Repair Work (1/30/97)
Business Opportunity
Scams on the Internet (1/21/97)
Businesses Hit by Telemarketing
Con Artists (1/17/97)
Beware of Phony
Bell Atlantic Representatives (01/16/97)
Dallas BBB Warns Consumers
Nationwide About Phone Slamming (1/7/97)
Don't Let Disaster
Strike Twice: Beware of Cons After Natural Disasters (1/6/97)
Businesses, Beware
of "900" Phone Scams (1/6/97)
December 1996
CPA Firms Targeted
with Deceptive Internet Services Invoice
Internet Computer
Sales Company Forced out of Business Following Postal Investigation
Fraudulent Customs
Telemarketers Targeting Seniors
"Environmental
Protection Enforcement Agency" Restaurant Scam
The Federal Trade Commission
Issues Alert on Pyramid Schemes
BBB Provides 1996
Holiday Guide On Charity Giving, Advises Public On Contribution Cautions
(11/19/96)
Major East Coast Auto Dealership
Offers Better Deal in Arbitration for New Car Buyers (11/11/96)
Better Business Bureau
Provides Consumer Educational Videos, Available For Viewing Through Public
Libraries (11/6/96)
Magazine Distribution
Company Using Dubious Telemarketing Techniques
CD-ROM Directory
Listing Scam
October 1996
The Council of Better
Business Bureaus Publishes 1996 Edition of Do's and Don'ts in Advertising
(10/14/96)
Consumers: Be Cautious
with Home-Based Business Opportunities
Beware of Phony
Trash Bag Invoices
September 1996
Better Business Bureaus
Release 1995 Data (9/20/96)
Work At Home Companies
And Roofing Services Tops In Inquiries
Computer Sales/Services
Hit Top 10 Complaint List For First Time
Phony Invoices Keep
Circulating Everywhere
"Mystery Shoppers"
and "Mystery Movie Watchers" Advertisements are Misleading
CBBB Warns Canadian
Consumers of Telemarketing Prize Scam
New Banking Industry
Scam
Bogus Gambling
Scams Claim to Undercover Ways to Break the Bank
Pyramid Schemes
are Still a Major Scam and an Offer "Too Good to be True"
Beware of Automobile
Listing Services Offering to Sell a Vehicle for a Fee
August 1996
Better Business Bureau
and FTC Commissioner Encourage Self-Regulation in the Online Marketplace
(8/21/96)
July 1996
CBBB Warns Consumers
About Prize Promotion Schemes
Better Business
Bureau Premieres Unique Solution to Help Build an Ethical Online Marketplace
(7/30/96)
June 1996
Exercise Caution with
FAX Prize Offer
BBB Warns of Phony
Publisher's Clearing House Mailing
How to Select a
Hearing Aid
May 1996
Prepaid Phone Cards
May Have Hidden Gimmicks
