Eligible Alaskans will be receiving Permanent Fund Dividends in the amount of $878.00. The influx of cash is important to the community, but Better Business Bureau warns that more money usually means more problems.
“There’s typically a spike in scam complaints surrounding PFD disbursements and it’s critical that Alaskans are cautious of coincidentally-timed ‘opportunities,’” says Robert W.G. Andrew, CEO of BBB serving Alaska, Oregon and Western Washington.
In general, avoid situations where significant upfront fees are requested:
- Investment seminars: Beware if “free” seminars pitch “guaranteed” or “zero-risk” investment opportunities in real estate, stocks or timeshares, but require upfront fees or cannot provide substantiation of claims.
- Work-from-home jobs: Very few work-from-home jobs are legitimate; avoid jobs where employers are difficult to locate, require upfront payments for “marketing collateral” or starter kits, or simply sound too good to be true.
- Talent scouts: Fraudulent agencies travel the country and host one-day or two-day events to cast models and actors; some require large down payments for contracts, then skip town or never come through with talent offers—read KTUU Channel 2’s story from October 2010: Child Talent Search Could be a Scam.
Report suspected PFD fraud to the Alaska Department of Revenue’s Permanent Fund Dividend Division. For more shopping tips and financial advice, visit alaska.bbb.org.
About your BBB serving Alaska, Oregon and Western Washington:
For 100 years, BBB has been advancing marketplace trust. BBB is a neutral not-for-profit organization that helps consumers find businesses, brands and charities they can trust. For more information on ethical business standards, BBB Accreditation, BBB Business Reviews, Charity Reviews, complaints, events and anti-fraud tips, contact BBB or visit www.bbb.org.
