BBB Tip of the Week

If you are like many, when you need to call a big-name online company for customer support or to get more information, you look for a toll-free number on the company’s website. However, online companies may not make it easy to find. An online search sounds like a good alternative. You may find the phone number on an obscure webpage of the company’s site. And online searching is quick and easy.

Online searching is also a way scammers try to trick unaware victims. Scammers use web addresses that look very similar to companies. They also buy prime space on search engine results by placing ads at the top and right-hand side of searches for big-name companies.

This means that the toll-free customer service phone number you found when searching online may not be trustworthy. A scammer may be waiting at the other end of the call to convince you to pay for technical service or sell a product they will never deliver.

Better Business Bureau offers the following tips for staying safe when searching online for customer support numbers:

Search through the website you know is legitimate to find a customer service phone number and look for a “Contact” or “Help” link, which can sometimes be found at the bottom of the webpage.

If you are unsure if a website is legitimate, search for the company at www.bbb.org first. In most cases, a company’s BBB Business Review will include the website address and a contact phone number, though not usually toll-free.

Not all online businesses provide a phone number for customers. Many rely on customer chat, online submission forms or email. Consider using one of these contact methods if you are having trouble finding a phone number.

If you find a fake web address or phone number for a big-name company, report it to the FTC at www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov and to BBB at www.bbb.org/scams/. By reporting, you may help prevent others from becoming victims.

Knowing which phone numbers are toll-free and which are not can be tricky as well. Currently, toll free phone numbers in the U.S. have one of the following area codes: 800, 888, 877, 866, 855, or 844. Other area codes that begin with an 8 are not toll free and may even be for international numbers.

For more tips you can trust, visit www.bbb.org/ eastern-washington or call (509) 455-4200.

Erin T. Dodge, BBB editor