Leeds Area Chamber of Commerce Welcomes BBB to Discuss Fraud Prevention
Leeds Area Chamber of Commerce Welcomes BBB to Discuss Fraud Prevention
The Leeds Area Chamber of Commerce welcomed Carl Bates, President and CEO of the Better Business Bureau Serving Central & South Alabama, as the featured speaker for its April 24th chamber luncheon. The luncheon was sponsored by Kristi G Scott Group Powered by Premier Mortgage Resources.
With a mission to advance trust in the marketplace, the BBB sets standards, supports ethical practices, calls out bad behavior, and celebrates reputable businesses. Bates, who joined the BBB in 2020 and resides in Trussville, provided an overview of the organization’s work across 50 of Alabama’s 67 counties and its support of more than 4,000 accredited businesses.
He highlighted several tools available to the public, including:
- Customer reviews and complaint resolution
- Get a Quote tool to connect consumers with trustworthy businesses
- Scam Tracker to monitor and report fraudulent activity
- Business License Resource Guide, updated regularly and free to use
Bates also discussed the most impersonated organizations, such as Amazon, USPS, and Medicare, and the top scams affecting consumers nationally and in Alabama. He encouraged attendees to be proactive with security, offering tips such as checking credit reports weekly, avoiding window envelopes for checks, and following his “STOP-CALL-CONFIRM” method to avoid scams.
The BBB continues to promote consumer protection through educational initiatives, student contests, civic partnerships, and identity protection resources, including shredding services and scam awareness presentations.
For more resources and information, visit BBB.org.
Special thanks to Mrs. Mae Hinton and the First Methodist Church ladies for serving the meal, First Baptist Church Leeds for hosting, and our student diplomats, Sophie Gromko, Lilly Dawson, Clara Hansen, and Lauren Weems.
Shown in the photo: Steven Weems – First Baptist Church Leeds; Debbie Watkins – Bob Watkins Realty; Steve Karr – Chamber Board President, Leeds Arts Council; Carl Bates – BBB; and Amy Lee – Executive Director, Leeds Area Chamber of Commerce.
For more information about the Leeds Area Chamber of Commerce, please contact Amy Lee at amy@leedsareachamber.com, visit www.leedsareachamber.com, follow the Chamber on Facebook (@Leeds Area Chamber) and Instagram, or call 205-699-5001.