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With the New Year here, Better Business Bureau (BBB) has 10 resolutions that can help you fight scammers, prevent identity theft and save money in 2014. 

“In this day and age, you can’t afford to make mistakes”, said Mechele Agbayani Mills, President and CEO of BBB Serving Central East Texas. “Taking preventive measures before opening your wallet is well worth the time and effort to keep from becoming a victim.”

BBB provides the following resolutions to help consumers have a safe, scam-free 2014:

1. Always check a business out with BBB before you buy.  Nearly 400,000 businesses meet BBB standards and are qualified to use an Accredited Business seal on their websites and at business locations.  Visit www.bbb.org to find BBB Business Reviews for nearly 4 million businesses across North America.

2. Be skeptical of “job offers” that promise easy money. With high unemployment and long job searches common, scammers are targeting people desperate to find jobs. Beware of any job offer, work-at-home scheme or business opportunity that promises big money for little work and no experience.

3. Always read the fine print—especially with “free” trial offers. Thousands of consumers complained to BBB this year after signing up for a “free” trial offer online that resulted in repeated charges to their credit or debit cards, sometimes amounting to hundreds of dollars every month. Read the terms and conditions of any “free” trial offer before handing over credit or debit card numbers.

4. Keep your computer safe. If you haven’t already done so, install anti-virus software on your computer and check regularly for software and operating system updates and patches. Don’t open attachments or click on links in emails unless you can confirm the email came from someone you trust.

5. Never wire money to someone you don’t know. Many scams require that the victim wire money back to the scammers. Scammers know that tracking money sent via MoneyGram, Western Union, or via Green Dot Moneypak is extremely difficult. Once you’ve wired the money, it’s nearly impossible to get it back.

6. Fight identity theft. Shred paper documents that include sensitive financial data and dispose of computers, cell phones and digital data safely. BBB offers tips and checklists on what to shred, and hosts annual Secure Your ID events nationwide to help you stay safe.