As the year 2000 approaches, Y2K disaster-related fears are intensifying. Scam artists know this and are only too eager to take advantage of consumers and businesses seeking to safeguard their equipment, finances, or loved ones from “impending” computer and electronic malfunctions.

Better Business Bureaus (BBB) report incidences of disreputable businesses peddling “miracle” hardware/software solutions; con artists soliciting personal information (social security numbers and bank account and credit card numbers) from unsuspecting consumers seeking to protect their finances during the change-over to the new century; offers of over-priced survival kits; and unsolicited e-mails selling religious memorabilia “guaranteed” to guard against the coming “end of the world.”

A new publication produced by the BBB is now available to educate consumers and businesses about these and other Y2K-related promotions. Titled Year 2000 and You, the BBB publication features the latest Y2K preparedness information from the BBB system, the American Red Cross, the Federal Trade Commission and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.

“This new brochure will help consumers and businesses alike recognize the most common Year 2000 scams and enable them to take pro-active, common sense steps to protect against problems that might arise from Y2K,” said Paulette Hotton, president of the Connecticut Better Business Bureaus. Created with input from top government, association and industry leaders, the BBB’s Y2K brochure has easy-to-use checklists and user-friendly text that show consumers how to respond wisely to legitimate concerns that arise from potential Y2K computer problems.

The following are just a few of the con artists and scams this BBB publication warns against: l Opportunists looking for investors to finance phony Y2K solutions l Consultants or businesses selling services or software that aren’t Y2K compliant or don’t fix Y2K problems as promised l Solution providers pitching miracle Y2K solutions at “too good to be true” prices l Exorbitant prices being charged for services and so-called “survival supplies” (i.e. bottled water, candles, canned foods, “guaranteed” access to fuel, etc) l Y2K-specific scams such as: The Bogus Banker scam; Credit Card “Stickers”; Trojan Book Safes; Funny Money Scam; and The Bogus Bells.

The BBB publication also offers a checklist of “common sense” steps to prepare for the Year 2000. Included are recommendations from the American Red Cross that are pertinent in the event of any potential disaster crisis. To receive a copy of this BBB publication, contact the Connecticut BBB at 203/269-2700 ext. 2 or send $2 and a self-addressed stamped envelope to the CBBB Publication Fulfillment Department, 4200 Wilson Blvd, Arlington, VA 22203 (bulk copies are available at discount prices). A copy of the brochure is posted on the BBB central Web site at www.bbb.org/library/y2k.html.