The Better Business Bureau Offers Tips for Recruiting New Employees

Even in today’s digital age, most customers have contact with business’s employees, even if only through emails or telephone conversations. Recruiting the right people to represent your company is a difficult but very important task that impacts your reputation and service. The Better Business Bureau offers tips on recruiting the right person to join your team:

• Devise a systematic interview process to make sure that you maximize your time and probability of hiring the right person.

• Keep personality and character traits in mind when determining whether candidates are a right fit for your business.

• Ask behavioral based questions; for example, describe a situation where you were under immense pressure, and how you dealt with this.

• Take a candidate out for coffee or lunch; this will ease the pressure of being in an interview setting giving you better insight into their personality.

• Ask questions about their future; for example, where would they like to be in five years. This gives the candidate the opportunity to articulate their professional and personal ambitions for the future.

• Ask them a question such as why they would be a good at your company; this should open the candidate up to explain how their qualifications and goals complement your company's vision and values.

• Ask open ended questions to learn about the candidate’s communication style.

National Moving Month

May is National Moving Month, the start of the busiest time of the year for changing residences. Simple rules when selecting a mover will go a long way toward protecting yourself from being victimized by scams this summer. Unfortunately, every year the BBB receives complaints from consumers who have fallen prey to dishonest and often unlicensed moving companies. However, there are steps you can take to prevent yourself from becoming a victim this summer.

The Better Business Bureau offers the following tips for hiring a trustworthy moving company:

Research the company thoroughly: Check the moving company’s ratings, or if it is an accredited business with your BBB at www.bbb.org

Get at least three written in-home estimates. No legitimate mover will offer to give you a firm price online or over the phone. Also keep in mind that the lowest estimate can sometimes be an unrealistic low-ball offer that can cost you more in the end.

Consider getting full value protection. It may cost a few dollars more up front, but it can provide some peace of mind and eliminate a headache after your move. Investing in full (replacement) value protection means any lost or damaged articles will be repaired or replaced, or a cash settlement will be made to repair the item or to replace it at its current market value, regardless of age.

For more advice on being a safe consumer, and to find a moving company you can trust, visit www.bbb.org

Osama Bin Laden Death Social Media Scams

The BBB alerts to be wary of links to photos and fake videos on Facebook and other social media sites claiming to depict the death of Osama Bin Laden. They prompt users to input malicious URL’s into their browsers, which may infect their computer with a virus. Kaspersky Labs, an Internet security firm, reports that other Facebook scams lure victims to malicious Facebook Pages with promises of free airplane tickets, and other “free” offers to “celebrate Osama’s death.”


Below are sample images of these links:

BBB Tips to Ensure Mom Gets Her Flowers for Mothers Day as Complaints Rise 60%

Ordering Mother’s Day flower arrangements leads to one of the busiest holidays for florists. It also is an occasion when consumers expect orders to be delivered exactly as promised. The Better Business Bureau (BBB) offers tips to those sending gifts this Mother’s Day to help keep both mothers and wallets happy.

“Whether ordering flowers in person, online or over the phone, consumers should make sure they understand what they are buying, and give the florist complete information to ensure proper delivery,” said Steve J. Bernas, president & CEO of the Better Business Bureau serving Chicago and Northern Illinois.

Complaints in northern Illinois have increased to 533 from 321 or a 60-percent increase in the last 12 months. Inquiries are also up to 6,313 from 2,463 or a 155-percent increase; as more people are shifting to the internet for floral orders they are also doing their due diligence and researching online florists with the BBB first.

Pay careful attention to the options offered such as size of arrangement, color of flowers, color of vase, delivery in a box or vase, and inclusion of an enclosure or gift card.

"Another important point is to make sure that your order is clear and detailed. Review the guarantee on the site or with the salesperson. This will help alleviate your concerns about quality or delivery," states Bernas. “While you think you're ordering from a local florist, you may actually be on the phone with someone hundreds or thousands of miles away.”
The BBB offers the following tips to having a successful flower delivery this Mother’s Day:

Do your homework. Before ordering flowers, chocolates or any other gifts for Mother’s Day check out the company's Business Review at www.bbb.org in order to help prevent disappointment with the product or customer service.

Allow time for shipping. Check with the retailer or check the Web site to make sure that you have allowed enough time for delivery by your specified date. Make sure that this date is specified clearly and guaranteed when you order. If you order ahead of time, delivery and other charges may be less than a last minute order.

Have a back-up plan. Make sure you understand the store's guarantee. Find out how customer complaints are handled and what recourse you will have if the arrangement is not satisfactory.

Make sure the florist has your information. There are times when delivery instructions need to be confirmed or a delivery driver needs additional directions. Making sure the florist has a call-back phone number or your cell phone to help them make sure your mom gets what you expect.

For more information on shopping with companies you can trust, visit www.bbb.org

Are You Surfing Facebook with a Secure Connection?

Back in February, Facebook introduced an optional security setting that allows you to surf Facebook more securely: by SSL / HTTPS. Having a connection with HTTPS in the browser as opposed to HTTP helps protect your password as it moves from your computer to the website’s server that you are accessing. This is just a reminder that if you have not already changed your settings to protect yourself, do so now.


How to change your setting:

While on Facebook, look at your URL address in the browser. If you see “http:” instead of “https:” you DO NOT have a secure session. It’s easy to change. Just go to Account (upper right) and click Account Settings. Then Account Security – click Change. Check box (secure browsing), click Save.

Protect your identity — and your pocketbook.

Fighting identity theft means staying vigilant online and off. Protect your identity by taking the following steps from your Better Business Bureau:


• Monitor your financial accounts closely to more quickly detect suspicious activity.

• Make sure your computer has up-to-date antivirus software and be extremely selective when opening attachments or clicking on links in e-mails.

• Shop online through secure sites only and always confirm that the business is trustworthy before entering your credit or debit card number.

• Always shred sensitive documents - this includes personal financial information such as bank, credit card and Social Security numbers. This can be done at your BBB’s free shredding events; our next annual shredder event is:

Saturday, June 25, 2011
9:00am-2:00pm
United Center
1901 West Madison Street
Chicago, IL 60612

For more details on upcoming Shred Days in your area, visit www.chicagoshreds.com.

Tips to Avoid Online Scammers

While it would be nice if all businesses and customers operated in a trustworthy and ethical fashion, the truth of the matter is, they don’t. 

Your Better Business Bureau serving Chicago and Northern Illinois is here to provide advice on how you can be a smart, educated consumer in the many facets of online scams and fraud – many of which share the same red flags.

• Get everything in writing and always read the fine print.

While it’s natural to want to avoid reading the fine print, it’s important that customers understand their rights. Whenever signing a contract, especially on the internet, your BBB recommends reading the fine print carefully.

• Never wire money to someone you don’t know.

Many scams bill victims by convincing them to wire money. The reasons for wiring money can vary and include mystery shopping, paying fees to win a lottery and — if the target is a small business owner—overpayment for goods or services. Scammers know it’s extremely difficult to track money sent via MoneyGram or Western Union. More troubling for victims is that it’s nearly impossible to get your money back. Even if you’ve been given a check to supposedly cover the amount you’re wiring, never send money to someone you don’t know personally.

• Know where to complain.

If you’ve been ripped off online, there are any number of organizations and government agencies that want to hear about it. You can file a complaint with:

• Your Better Business Bureau at www.bbb.org

• The Federal Trade Commission and your Attorney General’s Office

• Always check businesses out with the BBB.

Research businesses you can trust at www.bbb.org and consider using the BBB’s FREE online service called eQuote to obtain estimates, proposals or general information from BBB Accredited Businesses.