Scammers ultimately rely on their victims being less armed with knowledge than they are.

Fake door-to-door salespeople, seemingly free home improvement updates, and all kinds of trickery are costing Americans a lot of money. Unfortunately, the proliferation of the internet has actually provided even more opportunities for intelligent criminals to weasel their way into your wallet. At the same time, there are more resources for checking out businesses than ever before, and no one can hide forever in the age of the internet.

If you don’t know a business personally, it’s easy to make a bad call in a tense moment. This is why the Better Business Bureau suggests you research a business before you pay for anything. Every facet of modern life has at least a few scammers. One case in Buffalo saw many people become furious after receiving parking tickets that they didn’t believe they should’ve gotten. Some of the Buffalo residents that received tickets did go ahead and pay for them, but in the end it turned out that the towing company was giving out tickets without a licence.

In cases like this and many others, a serious loss of money can be avoided with some research. The company that gave out the tickets was not listed on the BBB website and there was little information available online. If a company has no reputation and no real online presence, it’s usually better to be cautious. You can always call the BBB to ask questions about a business or make complaints.

There are also plenty of resources for people to share their experiences at any given business. Google reviews is one of the most common and simple to look for, and apps like Yelp allow consumers to share their experiences with others.