The best protection against fraud is information and communication.
Being open and aware of what’s going on in our friends’ and family’s lives; taking the time to talk about day-to-day events and even watching over each other is vital for many reasons.
As much as we’d like to believe in the spirit of human kindness, we all know that there are people out there who would like to relieve us of our hard-earned money in unethical ways—fraud and scams.
No one is invulnerable to these scammers. We are not protected by race, religion, age or economic status. The best tools we have available are knowledge and education. Knowing what frauds are out there, and how to deal with the scammers should we encounter them.
Encourage our friends and family to use open communication and common sense. That, united with good resources and information, will go a long way in the fight against fraud.
One of the ways in which you can help prevent yourself or a loved one from becoming a victim of fraud or scams is to ensure that someone is watching over them on a regular basis. If you or a loved one feels like you are being pressured into a bad business deal or has encountered something that seems too good to be true; contact Hawai‘i’s Better Business Bureau (BBB).
For more information about topics affecting marketplace trust, visit www.bbb.org.
