BBB is partnering with the City of Austin, local universities, chambers of commerce, nonprofit associations and small businesses to collaboratively host the nation's first citywide internship program.

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Between April 17th and April 19th, consumers on the PlayStation Network were unfortunately victims of a data breach and now have their personal information potentially compromised. This includes their PlayStation Network login, password and security answers as well as name, address, purchase history, billing address and credit card information. While Sony has turned off their PlayStation Network and enlisted an outside security firm to conduct an investigation, any person with an active PlayStation Network account should do the following:

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Many people use both credit and debit cards interchangeably out of habit. The main difference between a debit and a credit card purchase is that a debit card creates a DIRECT link to your bank account and money can be taken out quickly. Generally, a debit card is fine for most things, but the following 4 purchases should be made with a credit card whenever possible:

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If you're not familiar with the term "scareware," it is when a web page you are viewing disguises itself as a pop-up window claiming you need to install a security update. It "scare"s you into clicking on a link that downloads mal"ware" onto your computer. The window is VERY official looking:

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Valentine’s Day is less than a week away. While many people plan dates with significant others, look to get into the dating scene or simply want to let friends and family know that they care, scammers may unfortunately try to take advantage of the heightened communication around this special day. BBB wants you to be aware of 3 common scams that typically make an appearance during this time of year:

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We normally think of phishing attempts as those that come through your email or from malicious websites, but they can also come from phone solicitations as well. Case in point, today we received an alert that several consumers have received automated phone calls telling them their credit or debit cards have been locked or temporarily suspended. Conveniently enough, the message also invites them to enter information over the phone to solve the problem. BBB warns this not to be done.

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The summer season has officially arrived and that means vacations are right around the corner. With credit cards replacing traveler’s checks in popularity while away from home, it’s important to make sure your personal information stays safe. According to a 2009 Javelin Strategy and Research study, 43% of all fraud cases were due to lost or stolen checkbooks, debit cards and credit cards. BBB advises consumers on the go to keep these tips in mind…

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Most consumers and business owners receive unsolicted offers via e-mail, phone or mail. However, faxes can be used to push questionable offers as well, and we came across such an example today. The fax offered businesses a credit card or line of credit loan for what seemed like little work on the part of the business.

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BBB has received calls about a text message that consumers are receiving on their cell phones. The text message is claiming that they are having account issues with either a credit union in Corpus Christi or their Chase Bank credit card. The text message gives the email address “checkingissues@ccspcu.com” and the number 877-720-9395 as contact information.

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Most of the time, consumers can be sure that an unsolicited letter from an unknown source asking for personal information is a scam. We like that consumers turn to BBB for advice when they receive one because it helps us stay ahead of the scammers and bring awareness to those who may become future victims. However, we received an inquiry from a consumer who received the following letter from TexasSure asking for information about their car and insurance and it was not a scam...

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