BBB report finds military consumers at higher risk for marketplace losses

Written by: BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU OF MINNESOTA AND NORTH DAKOTA

Burnsville, MN

Military consumers face unique challenges in the marketplace that can result in higher median losses to scammers and other marketplace fraud, according to the Better Business Bureau’s new report, Military Consumers & Marketplace Trust: An Analysis of Marketplace Challenges Facing the Military Community (BBB.org/MilitaryReport).

The report looked at the more than 28,000 business complaints and 5,000 scam reports submitted to BBB by military consumers in 2018 and then compared those to reports of all consumers in the U.S. and Canada to highlight key differences reported by military consumers. The BBB Institute for Marketplace Trust partnered with the Association of Military Banks of America (AMBA) to release this report during Military Consumer Month.

Military consumers reported losing a median of $200 when falling victim to a scam, according to data collected through BBB Scam Tracker®, BBB’s interactive online reporting tool (BBB.org/ScamTracker). This is 32% higher than the $152 reported by all consumers in 2018.

One scenario in which military consumers are often forced to make quicker purchasing decisions than the majority of consumers is during Permanent Change of Station moves. Military consumers filed more complaints about securing and maintaining their homes, moving, and purchases related to relocation than the general population, and they also reported higher rates of losing money to home improvement scammers. Relocation can also make finding secure, stable employment a challenge for spouses and other family members.

“Employment scams were the riskiest scams for military consumers, as they were for all consumers in 2018, according to the BBB Scam Tracker Risk Report,” BBB Institute Executive Director Melissa Lanning Trumpower said. “The difference is that for military consumers the median losses reported were $2,460—more than double that of all consumers.”

Because scammers don’t care about legalities or ethics, education is a consumer’s best defense in preventing themselves from losing money to fraudsters. Reports like the one released today help guide the education efforts of BBB and its partners.

For more details from Military Consumers & Marketplace Trust: An Analysis of Marketplace Challenges Facing the Military Community, you can view the full report at BBB.org/MilitaryReport. Learn more about BBB Military Line® and BBB’s resources and tools for military consumers at BBB.org/Military.

You May Also Like…

Minot Airman recognized as AFGSC NCO of the Year

Minot Airman recognized as AFGSC NCO of the Year

Tech. Sgt. Jennel Edwards, 91st Security Forces Group evaluator, has been recognized by Air Force Global Strike Command as the NCO of the Year for 2022.U.S. Air Force photo MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. -- Humbleness, accountability, empathy, teachability, emotional...

Mayor Tom Ross Backs “Home for The Holidays” Program

Mayor Tom Ross Backs “Home for The Holidays” Program

Budweiser Donates Motorcycle For Raffle It’s always nice to be able to spend time with family during the holiday season, if you have the time and the resources to do so. Mayor Tom Ross was having a conversation with Col Daniel Hoadley and Col Kenneth McGhee about the...

Hemp, CBD, THC8, THC9, and Marijuana

Hemp, CBD, THC8, THC9, and Marijuana

The possession, distribution, and/or ingestion of hemp products, cannabidiol (CBD), delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC8), delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC9), and marijuana are illegal in the military and are cause for discharge from the United States Air Force. Use of...

0 Comments

Subscribe to our Weekly Post Brief

Subscribe to our Weekly Post Brief

Join our mailing list to receive the latest news and updates from the Northern Sentry

You have Successfully Subscribed!