Alberta Better Business Bureau warns against moving scam calls

CALGARY- The Better Business Bureau (BBB) is warning of scammers posing as the bureau and other organizations in an attempt to obtain information from businesses.

Local businesses are getting calls from an unknown number asking if their business is moving successfully, according to a release from the BBB.

BBB wants to assure Albertans that these phone calls are not coming from them, or from any other companies that have been named and impersonated, including Chambers, Trade Associations, and profit companies.

“These calls are designed to get your business or personal information,” said Sandra Crozier-McKee, president and CEO of BBB Serving Southern Alberta and East Kootenay in a release. “The more they know about you and your company, the easier it is for scammers to compromise your information.”

The scammers are asking for basic contact information such as the business address, phone number and mailing address.

“They ask the business if they are planning on moving, or if they’ve found a new space, and request their new information to update records,” said Leah Brownridge, marketing and communications coordinator with the BBB.

There is no trend or pattern for targeting specific types of businesses, she said.

“It appears to be random, as it usually is with most telemarketing scams.”

Proactively tracking company movements is not something BBB does.  If a business or customer calls to tell BBB a business has moved, then BBB may call to confirm.

BBB has received approximately 10 calls complaining of the scam from various businesses within the past two weeks.

According to the businesses that have contacted BBB directly, the scammers are claiming to be from Alberta Better Business Bureau, which does not exist.

In Alberta, there are only two bureaus: The BBB Serving Alberta and East Kootenay and the BBB Serving Central and Northern Alberta.

According to an Alberta business owner, the number that contacted them was 1-882-014-1112; for others it showed up as blocked, unknown, or private.

If you get a spoof call, BBB says:

• Don’t provide personal information to anyone you don’t know.
• Research the caller/emailer on bbb.org and ask for references.
• Ask for the person’s name and call the official organization to confirm you’re speaking with an official representative.
• Trust your instincts.

“Always be alert when getting unsolicited, unusual phone calls and confirm you are dealing with official and legitimate organizations,” said Crozier-McKee.

For more tips, visit bbb.org.