BBB SCAM STOP PROGRAM
Somewhere in Central Illinos, a phone is ringing, and this one is going to cost somebody
Scammers don't care who picks up. They have scripts designed to fool us all.
The BBB Scam Stop Program equips businesses, residents, and cities to answer back.
Three lanes. One mission.
Powered by BBB Scam Tracker · Backed by Accredited Businesses across Central Illinois · Free. Forever.
HEADS UP. TRENDING RIGHT NOW IN CENTRAL ILLINOIS
Fake "Google verification" calls and more are hitting Central Illinois businesses this week. Do not pay.
THE STORY. WHY THIS MATTERS
The HVAC shop owner picked up the phone at 2:14 PM on a Tuesday.
The caller introduced himself as Andrew, with Google Business Listings. Polite. Professional. Well-spoken. He said the company's profile was about to be flagged "unverified" — search rankings would collapse, reviews would vanish, the business would go effectively invisible on Google within the week.
The shop owner panicked. He had been meaning to deal with his online presence for two years. He had just never gotten around to it. Now it sounded like the decision was being made for him.
Andrew had a fix. A one-time verification fee. $399. He would walk through the entire process, secure the listing, restore the rankings. All he needed was a credit card.
Then came a second issue. A duplicate listing had been created by a competitor. If it wasn't secured, all the negative reviews would land on the real one. Another $799.
Then a "premium placement fee." $497.
Then a "monitoring service." $29 a month for a year.
By the end of the call, the shop owner felt relieved. Finally, the Google problem was handled.
What Actually Happened
WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED
Google does not call businesses to verify them. Ever.
Google does not charge a fee to fix a listing. Ever.
Google does not sell "premium placement" or "monitoring" through outbound phone calls. Ever.
The duplicate listing wasn't real. The monitoring service didn't exist. The phone number was spoofed.
Any business owner can check verification and update their Google Business Profile themselves, directly through Google's own free profile tool.
The $2,043.00? Gone. By the time the shop owner mentioned it to anyone a week later, the "support line" wasn't picking up.
WHY IT WORKS
1. The fear of invisibility. Local businesses live or die on Google. When someone calls and says "your listing is about to disappear," the reflex is to act fast, before the damage is done.
2. The relief of finally "doing the thing." Most business owners know they should be more active with their online presence. They have been putting it off. So when someone calls and offers to handle it right now, part of them is grateful. They get to check a box. They get to feel like the problem is solved.
That is the real scam. Not the caller.
The scam is believing you don't have time to question it because you have been avoiding it.
THE SCAM STOP PROGRAM. BBB OF CENTRAL ILLINOIS
If your business gets a call like this, hang up. Then open Google's official Business Profile tool and check your listing yourself. If something genuinely looks off, contact BBB of Central Illinois. We will help you sort out what is real and what is not. No charge. No upsell.
PICK YOUR LANE
Subscribe for free local scam alerts and access BBB Scam Stop resources for Central Illinois.
Whether you run a business, live in the community, or serve one from city hall, the Scam Stop Program has a lane built for you. All three are free. All three are BBB-backed. All three start today.
FOR BUSINESSES
Protect your customers. Protect your team.
The HVAC shop owner isn't alone. Every week, Central Illinois businesses lose money to calls just like his.
Join BBB Scam Stop to receive practical resources for recognizing scams, responding to suspicious activity, and helping protect customers from impersonation..
A monthly business scam update.
Practical employee scam-awareness guidance.
Customer-facing scam-prevention resources.
Access to the BBB Scam Stop Business Fraud-Readiness Scorecard.
Links to current Central Illinois scam activity and reporting resources.
Free to join. BBB Accreditation is not required.
FOR RESIDENTS
Protect the people you care about.
The scammer who called the HVAC shop is running the same script on your parents, your neighbors, and your friends. Get the BBB Scam Stop Alert in your inbox monthly, plus opt-in text alerts the moment a trending scam hits Central Illinois. Free. Local. Written for real people.
Monthly Central Illinois scam updates.
Optional urgent scam alerts when a serious local trend appears.
Plain-language prevention tips you can share with family.
Quick links to report a scam or find help after one.
Free to join. Unsubscribe anytime. Message and data rates may apply for text alerts.
FOR CITIES AND INSTITUTIONS
Help your community stay one step ahead.
Cities, libraries, law-enforcement agencies, chambers, senior organizations, financial institutions, schools, and nonprofits can help extend trusted scam-prevention information to the people they serve.
Share-ready monthly scam updates.
Local prevention messaging for newsletters, websites, and social media.
Access to Central Illinois scam activity and reporting resources.
Opportunities to share the Scam Stop website widget and community education tools.
There is no cost to explore a partnership.
THE SHAPE OF THE PROBLEM
Scams are not rare. They are just quiet.
$10 Billion Plus
Lost to scams in the U.S. every year
1 in 4
Adults targeted by a scam per year
Most
Never tell anyone it happened
The Scam Stop Program is not about scaring people. It is about making sure they see it coming.
Trusted across Central Illinois
The week we almost paid $800 to a fake Google verification service, the Scam Stop Program alert hit my inbox. I hung up the phone and kept my money. Every business owner in Peoria needs this.
Our seniors were getting hammered by imposter calls. Partnering with the BBB meant we finally had clear, trustworthy materials to hand them at the front desk. It's making a real difference in East Peoria.
I signed up for the resident text alerts after my mom got tricked by a tech support scam. Now, when a new scheme hits the area, I know about it instantly and can warn my family before the phone rings.
Three Lanes. One Page. Pick Yours.
Whichever lane you take, you are helping shut this down for everyone else in Central Illinois.
Or report a scam right now. Anonymously. Free.
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