Better Business Tool May Help You From Being Scammed
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) -- Scams are a growing business for criminals but now the Better Business Bureau (BBB) is providing a new tool that can help consumers from being scammed.
Matthew Webster was working on his computer when he received a pop up - claiming his laptop had a virus and he needed to call tech support.
"I couldn't do anything with my computer, my computer was locked up," said Webster.
Webster called and through a series of clicks gave the person on the other end remote control of his computer.
"It's kind of scary that they could get access to my computer," said Webster.
When they tried to sell him anti-virus software, he realized it was a scam and shut down his machine.
"We see a whole lot of scams related to tech support," said Emma Fletcher, a BBB Scam Tracker Project Manager.
Fletcher uses reports like Webster's for a new system called Scam Tracker.The program documents thousands of reported rip offs nationwide. There's everything from credit card and charity scams to fake lotteries.
"We can really get an idea of what's happening," said Fletcher.
Consumers can click on the map to see what specific scams are happening in their area. The bureau president Mary Power said if you get a suspicious email or phone call - you can search to see if others have too.
"Scams have been around forever but with the advent of technology, they've exploded and we're now using technology to catch the scammers," said Power.
Information reported to the site is shared with law enforcement.
"It's definitely an invasion of privacy," said Webster who hopes the information he shared will keep others from getting scammed.
At last check, the Better Business Bureau's scam tracker found a tech support scam like Webster's. It was reported in Fort Lauderdale at the end of September.
Some of the other scam complaints in Miami-Dade and Broward County include sweepstakes and lottery scams, IRS scams, fake invoices and utility imposters.
Click here to find out what scams are in your area or to report one.