BBB Springfield

Thank you to City Utilities of Springfield, MO for this scam alert.

The more we know, the better prepared we are to keep our community safe. If you happen to encounter this scam, please take a moment to report it to bbb.org/scamtracker This helps us know what's happening locally so we can also alert the community.

We've received reports of scammers pretending to be City Utilities. They are calling homes and businesses and asking for utility account information.

Here's how to protect yourself:
• Don't share personal or account information during an unexpected call.
• If you're not sure the caller is really from City Utilities, hang up.
• Call City Utilities directly at (417) 863-9000 to check if the call was real.

Scammers are getting more convincing. If something doesn't seem right, trust your instincts and contact us directly before sharing any information.

Trust never takes a vacation. ☀️

As July comes to a close, it's a great time for businesses to reflect on the ways they build trust with customers every day. From honest advertising and transparent communication to delivering on promises, trust remains the foundation of long-term success.

Learn more about how businesses build trust by committing to BBB Accreditation Standards: https://www.bbb.org/all/bbb-accreditation-standards

Today, we're proud to recognize a few local businesses marking 10 years of BBB Accreditation this month.

Reaching this milestone is no small feat. It reflects years of hard work, consistent ethical practices and earning trust from their customers and the community.

Please join us in congratulating:
Mikes Unique Collectable and Antique Flea Market
Cope Marine
Roof for Less

Thank you for being a part of our BBB community!

Searching for scholarships can be stressful, and scammers know it.

Be cautious of organizations that guarantee scholarship money, ask for upfront fees, or claim you've won an award you never applied for. Legitimate scholarships generally do not require payment to apply, and no one can guarantee you'll receive funding.

Before sharing personal information or sending money, take time to research the organization and ask questions.

Learn how to recognize the warning signs and protect yourself from scholarship scams: https://www.bbb.org/article/news-releases/16922-bbb-tip-scholarship-scams

This week Regional Director, Pamela Hernandez, chatted with the teens at the Boys & Girls Club of Springfield Risdal Family Teen Center to talk all things scams: how to spot them, how to dodge them, and the sneaky ones showing up in their own lives.

Fact: scams don't care how old you are. Scammers just switch up their tricks depending on who they're targeting. Teens need to know what they might be at risk of encountering and every teen who learns to recognize a scam becomes a fraud fighter who can pass that knowledge on to friends and family.

And getting a room full of teens fired up about scams before lunch on a Monday? Now that's a win.

Thank you to Boys & Girls Club of Springfield for inviting us in! Also, a big thank you to our BBB Accredited Businesses - your support is what makes community work like this possible.

QR codes are everywhere—from restaurant menus to parking meters—but scammers are taking advantage of their popularity.

Fraudulent QR codes can direct you to fake websites designed to steal personal information, login credentials, or payment details. Before scanning, take a moment to verify the source and inspect the code for signs of tampering. Otherwise, a quick scan could lead to a costly mistake.

Learn how to recognize the warning signs of QR code scams: https://www.bbb.org/article/scams/24636-bbb-scam-alert-watch-out-for-fraudulent-qr-codes

Thank you City of Springfield, MO for sharing this warning.

A contact out of the blue pressuring you to act now by anyone is always red flag. Stop and verify. Most scams can be stopped by pausing to check it out.

‼️DON'T FALL FOR IT‼️

The City of Springfield is warning residents and businesses about a nationwide scam in which criminals impersonate local planning and zoning departments to collect fraudulent application fees.

Scammers are sending emails that appear to come from government agencies such as the City of Springfield, often using email addresses ending in .com or .com.

The emails may include invoices that look legitimate, using publicly available information and even official city logos to request payment.

In many cases, they are sent just before scheduled hearings to create a sense of urgency. In Springfield, official zoning and planning payments are only accepted on https://ecity.springfieldmo.gov.

How to protect yourself:
‼️Verify the sender's email address. Official City of Springfield emails always end in .gov.
‼️Be suspicious of emailed payment requests, especially those requesting wire transfers.
‼️Do not send payment or respond to invoices from unfamiliar or unofficial email addresses.

If you receive a suspicious email:
‼️Do not send payment. Instead, report the incident to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center https://www.ic3.gov/ and include the sender's email address, invoice details, requested payment method and any information related to your permit or hearing.

Strong passwords are your business' first line of defense against cyber threats.

Cybersecurity doesn't have to be complicated — simple steps like creating long, unique passwords, enabling multi-factor authentication, and using a password manager can help protect your business, employees, and customer information from cybercriminals.

Learn more about strengthening your cybersecurity practices: https://www.bbb.org/all/cybersecurity/Cybersecurity-basics

Happy Milestone Monday! Today we're proud to recognize the following local businesses celebrating five years of BBB Accreditation this July:

Finley Roofing
Pro-Lube Maintenance Center
Ridgeline Roofing and Solar
The Musket Group LLC
Hillside Fencing LLC
B&C Accounting and Tax, LLC
Trimline Barns

Five years of commitment to trust, integrity, and doing right by their customers is no small thing. Thank you for helping build a more trustworthy marketplace here in southwest Missouri. Congratulations and here's to many more years ahead!