BBB Offers Scam Safety Tips

The Better Business Bureau of Northeast Georgia is offering tips to help people try to stay scam-free in 2015.

First, the BBB urged people to keep their computer programs up to date. The agency says people should remember to update their Internet browser, operating system, and other software.

BBB officials also urged people to set tough passwords consisting of both lowercase and capital letters with a mix of numbers and symbols.

In addition, the agency urged people to keep their smartphone safe by taking the same precautions on their mobile device as they do on their computer by protecting their phone with a passcode, keeping software up-to-date, and watching out for malware disguised as apps.

The BBB also encouraged people to know the telltale signs, explaining that a little common sense goes a long way in spotting scams.

BBB officials said people should watch out for anything that is too good to be true and be skeptical of any communications riddled with typos and poor grammar.

According to the BBB, if it looks like a scam, it probably is.

Finally, the BBB said people should research first and not act immediately.