The Better Business Bureau is urging Washington residents to take extra precautions against scams during National Consumer Protection Week after reports of fraudulent business practices surged more than 200% over the past year.
Cameron Nakashima of the Better Business Bureau said the week is focused on “education and prevention” and helping people “be empowered to protect their money and personal information when making large or important purchases.” BBB works year-round to promote trust in the marketplace by supporting ethical businesses and providing resources to help people become more informed and better protected consumers.
Over the past 12 months, more than 5,000 Washington residents reported their experiences with fraud to BBB Scam Tracker, more than a 200% increase from the year prior. At the same time, increased awareness and quicker reporting are helping prevent losses. The organization said it has helped people in Washington avoid more than $1.1 billion in attempted scams because many residents checked first or reported quickly.
Nakashima said two major categories of scams are showing up most often in reports. One of the most common in Washington is impostor scams, including fake online stores, fake service providers, and scammers pretending to be government agencies. The BBB said these scams often target smaller amounts of money, sometimes a few hundred dollars, while also seeking personal information that can later be used for identity theft.
The other category, and the most financially devastating, is investment schemes. The BBB said these include crypto traps, pig butchering scams, and local-sounding investment pitches. The organization said these scams are designed to build trust over time and can take tens of thousands of dollars before victims realize something is wrong.
To protect against impostors, the BBB said many traditional red flags are outdated because today’s scams can be more “cunning, well crafted, and personalized,” sometimes using new technologies such as AI to appear legitimate. The BBB warned that a professional-looking website or logo is not proof of legitimacy because scammers can copy branding quickly, and residents should not rely on caller ID because phone numbers can be spoofed to look local or official. The BBB recommends never sharing personal information over the phone or online until thoroughly verifying who you are dealing with. For investment pitches, the BBB said people should slow down when someone pressures them to invest or act quickly, calling urgency a major red flag. More consumer protection information is available at BBB.org.
