Tracking Scams and Protecting Our Community: The BBB Working For Us

On this episode of Looking Forward Our Way, we examine the issue of BBB scams with guest Lee Anne Lanigan, Director of Consumer Relations & Investigations - Better Business Bureau Serving Central Ohio.

You are going to hear valuable tips on how to avoid scams and warn against buying into products and services that are "too good to be true." We urge listeners to use secure payment methods like credit cards instead of unconventional methods like wire transfers and prepaid money cards.

We also discuss the BBB Scam Tracker website, which allows consumers to report scams they have experienced and read about.

In addition, Lee Anne explains the process by which scammers convince victims to purchase gift cards and provides tips on how to block spam calls and report them.

Finally, you will hear insights into customer reviews and how to use them to make informed decisions.

In the last year, April 2022 - April 2023, the BBB office received 655 scam tracker reports from Central Ohio consumers who also reported losing $600,000 to scams. 

Online purchases were the number one scam for Central Ohio consumers as well as nationally. 

Nationally, online retail fraud losses approached $380M in 2022. Online purchases include everything from puppies, trademark merch like MLB jerseys, women's clothing, CBD products, and weight loss products. Here is that study. 

Resources mentioned in the podcast.

Scam Studies

BBB Scam Tracker

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Recorded in Studio C at 511 Studios. A production of Circle 270 Media® Podcast Consultants.

Copyright 2026 Carol Ventresca and Brett Johnson