Steve Bernas, President and CEO of the Better Business Bureau (BBB), joins The Ray Stevens Show to discuss essential tips for consumers during the holiday season. The conversation covers a wide range of topics, from gift card rules to the latest scams targeting unsuspecting shoppers.

Bernas clarifies that gift cards do not expire as quickly as they once did but urges consumers to use them promptly. He warns against buying cards from secondary markets like flea markets and advises checking the physical card for tampering (e.g., stickers over barcodes or exposed PINs).

For service workers like mail carriers, Bernas recommends buying gift cards directly from retailers or reputable websites rather than following unsolicited links.

They discussion highlights the rise of puppy scams (fake online pet listings) and phone/text scams. Bernas advises never answering calls from unrecognized numbers and being wary of "fear factor" messages, such as fake package delivery alerts or unauthorized bank charges.

Consumers are encouraged to sign up for credit card purchase alerts and to regularly monitor their credit. Bernas emphasizes using annualcreditreport.com to get free reports and to "freeze" credit as a proactive safety measure. Bernas warns that most scams rely on creating a sense of urgency. He advises taking at least 30 minutes to research a claim before providing any money or personal information.

Listeners are directed to bbb.org to research businesses, report scams via the Scam Tracker, and find reputable organizations they can trust.