While the holiday season is usually a time to be merry and bright, it’s also a time when scams increase.

It’s back-to-school time, and if you’re preparing to go back to school, shopping for all the supplies your kids need, there are some things you want to keep in mind.

Hurricane season is officially underway. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is forecasting a slightly more active hurricane season compared to average. Now is the time to prepare, and one New River Valley business is doing just that after getting hit hard by Helene.

The excitement of tomorrow’s Metallica show may convince you to get last-minute tickets, but be sure to watch out for scams.

Holiday scams are prevalent, with scammers posing as legitimate entities to steal personal information, urging vigilance and caution when sharing private details.

During the holiday season, you might be looking for ways to give back, and what better way than Giving Tuesday?

Investigations into potential fraud related to voter registration applications in three Pennsylvania counties have become fodder for online misinformation, including from Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump.

Parents tend to spend hundreds of dollars on school supplies every year, but this weekend you can save some money as tax free weekend starts tomorrow.

It’s tax time, and while you’re filing this year, keep an eye on tax-related scams.

10 News is working for you to help you protect your identity and clear out some clutter along the way.

The Better Business Bureau says to be on the look out for scams on Amazon Prime Day

If you are searching for baby formula online, beware of the scams lurking on the web.

Tax filing season is here but so are the scammers looking to take your money.

The Better Business Bureau is sounding the alarm on three scams you need to know about.

What you should be keeping in mind as you shop online this Cyber Monday.

There’s still a few weeks left of summer and if you’re planning a last-minute vacation, the Better Business Bureau Serving Western Virginia is warning against vacation rental scams.

The three-day sales tax holiday begins Friday August 6, at 12:01 a.m. and runs through Sunday 11:59 p.m.

With the beautiful weather over the last several weeks, many have already gotten started on their home improvement projects, but beware of scammers. Unlike other scams, with home improvement scams you typically get the service, but it isn’t always quality work and can cause more problems than what you were trying to originally fix. It seems like a lot, but Julie Wheeler, president and CEO of BBB Serving Western Virginia said doing the homework on the front end will save you the hassle on the back end. Around this time of year, Wheeler said some contractors, a lot of times roof repair and pavement contractors, go door to door offering to do services with leftover supplies. Home improvement scams are fifth on the BBB’s 2020 list of riskiest scams across the U.S.For 11 tips from the BBB on hiring trustworthy contractors, click here.

Spring cleaning doesn’t just apply to your home, the Better Business Bureau recommends you do some digital cleaning too. April is Digital Spring Cleaning Month. Digital spring cleaning is cleaning up your online presence and protecting yourself from identity theft, credit card fraud and a list of other problems you really don’t want to have. Julie Wheeler, BBB Serving Western Virginia’s president and CEO, recommended people start with apps on their phones and computer. To take your digital spring cleaning up a notch, click here for additional tips.

More than 46,000 scams nationwide were reported to the Better Business Bureau Scam Tracker in 2020. The BBB scam tracker saw nearly 25% more reports in 2020 compared to 2019. “Locally, the (government agency) imposter scams were number one followed very close to online scams. His regret is finding out about the BBB Scam Tracker after the fact. The FTC found the gift cards scammers ask for the most are Ebay, Google Play, iTunes, Amazon and Target.

Valentine’s Day is just a few days away, but don’t let it make you vulnerable to scams. With love in the air, Julie Wheeler, president and CEO of Better Business Bureau Serving Western Virginia said people become more vulnerable and the number of romance scams become more popular. Beware of demands by a match to send money . For a look at the BBB’s study on romance scams and the different stages, click here. The BBB advised to keep your guard up for multiple types of flower delivery scams.

The Better Business Bureau Serving Western Virginia warns this is a time scammers take advantage of with lottery and sweepstakes scams. Lottery and sweepstakes scams have been around for years. Wheeler said people let their guard down they hear scam artists use well-known names like Publishers Clearing House for a sweepstakes win, sometimes they even use BBB to create credibility. It should be noted the real Publishers Clearing House is BBB accredited. Bradford paid a total of $1,600 in four pre-paid visa gift cards.

Some Americans may have already received a second stimulus check, but these COVID-19 relief payments can also lead to scams. According to the Better Business Bureau, beware of texts, calls or emails asking for you to verify personal information to get your $600 check. There are only two ways you’ll receive it, and both depend on how you got your 2019 tax returns. A common stimulus check scam is an email or message asking you to click on a link for a bogus application to get your payment. For more on what to lookout for and what to do if you come in contact with a scam, click here.

Roanoke, Va. – From PPE to at-home tests, scammers are still preying on people during this pandemic. Better Business Bureau Western Virginia is warning people to not purchase coronavirus vaccines, especially online. She said scammers are taking advantage of people’s vulnerability during this pandemic. “I mean it’s just given them the perfect storm because obviously people are concerned,” Wheeler said. Instead, she urges people to rely on the state government’s distribution announcements and personal primary physicians.

ROANOKE, Va. – You may have already seen it in your email or Facebook timeline, but the “Secret Sister Gift Exchange” scam is back. This is an example of an invite to join the Secret Sister Gift Exchange, a pyramid scheme illegal in the U.S. (Copyright 2020 by WSLS 10 - All rights reserved.) The status welcomes you to join the Secret Sister Gift Exchange where you buy a $10 or more gift and receive 6-36 gifts in return. According to Wheeler, the Secret Sister Gift Exchange scam has been around since 2015 and returns every year during the holidays. You will receive little to no money back on your “investment” or gift exchange.

ROANOKE, Va. The national Better Business Bureau Scam Tracker shows more fraud pet website reports in April than the first three months of 2020 combined. In Virginia, 27 puppy scams were reported since this March with more than $8,000 dollars scammed; one victim is in Roanoke. A 2017 BBB study shows 80% of sponsored links for pet searches are a scam. If you see a fraudulent site, report it here on the BBB Scam Tracker. Below are BBBs tips on what to look out for so you dont fall victim to a puppy scam.

ROANOKE, Va. – The biggest holiday shopping days are almost here. And that’s probably the biggest risks we see during Cyber Monday and even during the shopping season.”Also, make sure you’re aware of the return policy. If you know you’re not going to be there and make sure you get those packages in a timely fashion.”Another reminder for the holiday shopping season, don’t forget about local businesses. The BBB reminds shoppers to sign up for email alerts, check social media for deals and don’t just shop small, eat small too. For additional holiday shopping tips and reminders, click here.

Holiday shopping deals are popping up earlier and earlier, and that means scammers are on the prowl. Some major retailers have already held their specials typically saved for Black Friday. Local Better Business Bureau leaders said with the shopping period being even more spread out than in past years, people need to be on the lookout for scammers. Wheeler said people should only buy online from trusted sources, know the return policies and when the packages are supposed to be delivered. Copyright 2019 by WSLS 10 - All rights reserved.

Holiday shopping deals are popping up earlier and earlier, and that means scammers are on the prowl. Some major retailers have already held their specials typically saved for Black Friday. Local Better Business Bureau leaders said with the shopping period being even more spread out than in past years, people need to be on the lookout for scammers. Wheeler said people should only buy online from trusted sources, know the return policies and when the packages are supposed to be delivered. Copyright 2019 by WSLS 10 - All rights reserved.

Despite federal efforts to stop them, spam calls are on the rise once again. There was an increase in spam calls of more than 10% in October compared to the previous month. In October, there were nearly 19 million spam robocalls made to people in the Roanoke Valley and more than 7 million in the Lynchburg area. Here are the local stats for the month of October:Roanoke: 18.9 million spam calls Debt Collector 31.73% Religious 16.23% Telemarketer 15.35% Health Insurance 14.11%Lynchburg: 7.4 million spam calls Debt Collector 37.11% Telemarketer 16.14% Healthcare 13.30% Loan Offer 12%The data comes from the company behind the call-blocking app, RoboKiller, which also studies and tracks spam calls. The app blocks spam calls and even answers them with bots, wasting the scammers time.

ROANOKE, Va. – Thousands of college students have recently arrived on campuses in southwest Virginia, and scammers could be targeting them. The Better Business Bureau has some warnings for students to help them avoid losing money to scams. Wheeler said students shouldn’t ever give out their debit card number to someone else and they shouldn’t share personal information, which is something to watch out for in close spaces like dorms. She said students should be skeptical of credit card offers. She said if students want a credit card, it’s best to work with their parents in their hometown if they haven’t built up their credit.