Don’t let yourself be pressured into acting immediately. Scammers typically try to make you think something is scarce or a limited time offer. They want to push you into action before you have time to think or to discuss it with a family member, friend, or financial advisor.

Never share personally identifiable information with someone who has contacted you unsolicited, whether it’s over the phone, by email, or even at your front door. This includes banking and credit card information, your birth date, and Social Security/Social Insurance numbers.

Be extremely cautious when dealing with anyone you’ve met online. Scammers use dating websites, Craigslist, social media, and many other sites to reach potential targets.

Set privacy options on your children’s online profiles. Make sure they understand it’s important to have high privacy settings.

Don’t buy online unless the transaction is secure. Make sure the website has “https” in the URL and a small lock icon on the address bar. This means that your browser has verified the site, and any personal or financial information you enter will be encrypted.

Our 1st Standard of Accreditation: BUILD TRUST. Accredited Businesses must establish and maintain a positive track record in the marketplace.

Make your children aware that online actions can carry real life consequences. Have a discussion about how to handle cyber bullying.

Get a call from someone claiming you owe the Social Security Administration or IRS money? It could be a government imposter scam. Tune in to find out more: youtu.be/Exf4iUD7gRo

In situations involving battling employees, you likely need to utilize conflict resolution strategies and techniques to keep the workplace calm and productive. Here are some tips: bit.ly/3EI1b2a

Customer service representatives need to be good listeners. Pay attention to what the customer is looking for and go above and beyond what they are looking for.

Talk to your kids about online safety. Have rules about sharing personal information or photos.

Running a small business can often mean tight margins and watching each dollar that comes in. We've collected five great, easy-to-implement ways for small businesses to improve cash flow. bit.ly/3R5xRqB

What have you learned from your failures?

Follow BBB for info on how to steer clear of scams. Use BBB Scam Tracker to see the latest scams happening in your area. Report any scams you’ve come across and help us support law enforcement agencies in their efforts to shut scammers down.

Avoid ransomware by not downloading it in the first place. Sketchy websites and popups are regularly used by scammers to spread malware. Steer clear of questionable sites and prevent popups from appearing in the first place by adjusting your browser settings.

BBB has resources tailored to empower young adults with the knowledge and tools they need to make informed decisions - pass them along! bit.ly/3PksNxM

A charity’s mission, program and finances should be available on its site. If not, check for a report at Give.org

Never stop trying.

Teach your kids to be careful about sharing on social media. Make sure they know to stop and think before sharing SSNs, phone numbers, and home addresses.

If you’re new to bookkeeping, there’s a high likelihood you’ll make a few accounting mistakes. These are five things every small business owner should plan on and prepare for. bit.ly/3jgEObj