Victim Location 83843
Total money lost $340,000
Type of a scam Phishing
At the beginning of March 2020, my mother, who is 80 years old, got a call from a person stating their name was Eric Gomes and that he was a junior accountant at the Better Business Bureau. He said he worked in Washington DC. He told her that she had been scammed by people stating they can fix her hacked computer and that they had been arrested. My mother had given money to the computer scammers over a two month time period ($65,000) from December 2019 to January 2020, and he said that he could help her get her money back but would need her some money sent in order to work on her claim. She had sent several thousands of dollars sent in cash to the scammers saying they would fix her computer. Eric said he would help her get that money back and that the scammers were arrested. She understood she was scammed initially, but didn’t understand that Eric was a scammer, too. She didn’t understand that the Better Business Bureau didn’t take or give money. She trusted him to help her.
“Eric” continued to call her almost every day. Some were “social calls” to build trust, and said he was helping her get that money back, told her to not tell anyone about it because it could hurt the case, told her at least once that he could lose his job if she didn’t send money to help him work on her claim. She asked once if she could speak with his boss and he said his boss was Matthew Hayden and he was a Senior Accountant with the Better Business Bureau. Matthew said that Eric was ‘under him’ at the Bureau. Eric had an accent. Both spoke to her at times to reassure her they were working on her refund. Eric continued to ask for more money but also befriended her asking about her family, telling about his and generally “chatting”. He was a master manipulator. He told her that he had some checks that were waiting for her in Moscow, Idaho with his contact there. Many times, he said if she didn’t send more money, the checks for her “refund” would be cancelled. She sent in total: $276,000 for them to help her get this "scam" (computer scam) money back. Money was sent in cash to various locations around the US. On one occasion, she wired money to Thailand from her credit union account. Twice in July, 2020, "Eric" arranged a money pick up at her house and a person named "Alex" was going to pick up the money. "Alex" came on two occasions, once in a cab and once in what he said was a rental car. He came into her house and counted the money and then left. She had the money in cash ready for him as Eric instructed her. As of 8/9, my mother told me of the scam and she has been ignoring any calls and letting her land line go to voice mail. We have her in a safe place while involving the police detectives in investigating.
Victim Location 98499
Type of a scam Sweepstakes/Lottery/Prizes
I received a call from a person stating that they were from the Better Business Bureau, and that I had won $900,000 and that all I had to do is go to my local Walgreens store and purchase a gift card. They asked me if I wanted news and tv crews present.
Victim Location 76309
Type of a scam Phishing
I got a call from someone saying they are with the ScamPulse.com and said my identity had been stolen. They started asking me a bunch of information about myself and I hung up.
Victim Location 97415
Type of a scam Phishing
This woman with a British accent said that she was with the Better Business Bureau and tried to get me to sign up and provide a credit or debit card to charge the membership to at over $50.00 per month.When I requested that all information be sent to me in an email so that I could verify all terms she stated that the Better Business Bureau only does all information and charges via telephone.
Business owners, be very be wary of this tactic.
Victim Location 83714
Type of a scam Government Grant
This scammer contacted me thru messenger pretending to be a friend on my contact list. They started by making small conversation asking how I was and what I was doing. Then my fake friend went on to ask if I had heard of this company and that she had just received $70,000.00 from them.There was no reason to believe this was not her.
They proceeded to share their link that looked quite official with a picture of “Bob Miller” as the listing agent who claimed to be with the Better Business Bureau giving grants to a list of possible people that could be eligible to receive big sums of money.
They asked for my name and address to see if I qualified. I gave it to them and got suspicious . I called my real friend and she said it was a scam.
Victim Location 97322
Type of a scam Phishing
An e-mail was received claiming the Better Business Bureau (BBB) received a complaint claiming our business is in violation of The Safety and Health Act. Upon further investigation, and discussion with the ScamPulse.com Boise office, it was determined the e-mail was not legitimately from the BBB. The ScamPulse.com does not have enforcement authority over health and safety matters. Also, the e-mail did not come from a known ScamPulse.com e-mail address (it came from "bbb.auditmessages.com") and did not have a standard ScamPulse.com complaint identification number or closing salutation.
Victim Location 29601
Type of a scam Phishing
I received a phone call from a man who said that he was working with the ScamPulse.com and that I was gonna lose my internet service if I didn’t pay $399.99. The number that he called from 1-512-380-8449. I know it wasn’t a call from you all. I just wanted to let you know that they’re using the ScamPulse.com name to get money from people and know I didn’t fall for it. I told him that the ScamPulse.com don’t call people about a internet service unless they have filed a complaint.
Victim Location 21061
Total money lost $580
Type of a scam Debt Collections
The man who scam me said I was gonna get arrested if i don’t pay him the money, he had all my information and everything he told me I was gonna get money if I paid it and he used your company to do this
Victim Location 97222
Type of a scam Moving
We have been called multiple times from this number claiming to be the Better Business Bureau and asking if we are moving, we tell them no thanks, answer politely, they come back rudely and even told one of our customer service reps to go to Hell because we were not getting them the information that they wanted.
Victim Location 21550
Type of a scam Other
On Friday, 4/5/19, I received a voicemail from someone stating that she was Allison Marie. Here is the transcript that I received "Yes, this is the Better Business Bureau. My name is Allison Marie. This message is for the owner of the company. Please return my call at 443-233-6162. Today is Friday, April 5th. I am in the office until 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. We are calling regarding reporting information. 443-233-6162."
My business has an address in Oakland, MD. So, this is the zip code that I am using. I emailed the ScamPulse.com Office of Metro Washington, DC. This was the latest response. "That is this ScamPulse.com https://www.bbb.org/local-bbb/bbb-of-greater-maryland. I did see these following numbers for them listed on the site. Not that number but numbers that match what you gave https://www.bbb.org/greater-maryland/get-to-know-us/about-us/key-staff/. I can tell you as a whole, that ScamPulse.com has sales Rep who reach out to businesses regarding membership. That is why you may have received a call from the ScamPulse.com or if you filed a complaint and the handler maybe needed more info regarding that complaint. I do apologize but that is all the information I can give you right now pertaining to this number.
Sincerely,
ScamPulse.com Customer Service Team"
I still did not feel comfortable. So, I contacted the Maryland office and spoke with Shanika ***, Accredited Business Services Specialist, 410-347-5641. She confirmed that there was no one by the name of Allison Marie at their office. I asked Shanika for a place to report this incident and wanted to share with you.