BBB Tracker Finds Riskiest Employment Scams in 2018

Employment scams were the riskiest scams in 2018, according to the latest report from the Better Business Bureau’s (BBB), Tech-Savvy Scammers Work to Con More Victims: 2018 BBB Scam Tracker Risk Report (BBB.org/RiskReport). Employment scams had more instances and higher losses than in previous years when it ranked the third riskiest. The report is based on data supplied by consumers to BBB Scam TrackerSM (BBB.org/ScamTracker) and is based on the BBB Risk Index—a unique algorithm that calculates exposure, susceptibility and monetary loss to offer a more accurate assessment of scam risk.

It’s the first time in the three years this report has been issued that one scam dominated across so many demographic subgroups. It was the riskiest scam in three of the six age groups, and for both men and women. It was also the riskiest scam for military families, veterans and students.

The Risk Report indicates one possible reason: Amazon was in the news a lot in 2018 with its high profile search for a second headquarters. It was also the 6th most impersonated organization mentioned in BBB Scam Tracker reports, after not even making the top 15 in previous years. In 2017, only 24 BBB Scam Tracker reports were employment scams that mentioned Amazon. In 2018, that jumped to 564.

Better Business Bureau has been serving the local communities since 1936. The overall mission of BBB is to be the leader in advancing marketplace trust. Learn more online at bbb.org/nebraska or call (800) 649-6814.