BBB Study Examines How Scammers Have Changed Tactics Over the Years

Saturday, September 5th, 2026 -- 8:00 AM

(Wisconsin Radio Network) A new long-term study by the Better Business Bureau examines how scammers have changed tactics over the years.

According to the Wisconsin Radio Network, Spokesperson Lisa Schiller says while the scams may be the same the tools and methods crooks use to pull them off continue to evolve.

“Job scams, business scams. Online gambling has really increased lately. Online vehicle purchase scams, very big. Identity theft, sweepstakes scams. I mean, the list goes on and on.”

Schiller says evolving technologies have simply allowed scammers to more easily deliver their scams while also dodging current regulations that are in place to attempt to prevent the scams. Criminals have expanded their nets to find victims with AI generated websites and increased use of text messaging to dodge regulations on phone calls.

“So we have a new study out. It's called the blueprint of a scam kind of like the anatomy of a scam. And it examines patterns of reports and it shares stories to highlight the tools that scammers use.”

Spokesperson Lisa Schiller says the number of scams reported to the B B B have increased dramatically over the last three years, as criminals turn to emerging tech to continue to trick people.

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