RALEIGH, N.C. -- Cheating and stealing is a full time, multi-billion dollar business for scammers. According to the Better Business Bureau, annual losses resulting from scams are estimated to exceed $50-billion, with more than 15 million people losing money in 2016 alone. 

While many people believe it’s the elderly that often fall victim, the BBB says it’s 18-24 year-olds that are most likely to lose money from a scam.

The Executive Director of the Better Business Bureau serving Eastern North Carolina's Educational Foundation, Steve Fromme, says he heard stories of college students loosing thousands of dollars to scams. That’s when he decided to create an engaging and interactive program called SCAMBUSTERS®, to help protective them. 

Fromme and Community Outreach Specialist Kayla Gilbert sat down with Spectrum News anchor Caroline Blair to explain the program and it’s benefits.

SCAMBUSTERS® is typically used with high school and college ages students to inform consumers of online, social media, and in-person scams.  Here’s the way the game works according to the Better Business Bureau serving Eastern North Carolina:

• Participants are divided into four teams.
• Each team will be presented an offer. Students are to discuss out loud as to whether they believe the offer is legitimate or a scam.
• If they get the answer correct, the team will get to throw two 6” foam dice for points.
• The team with the highest score at the end is the winner.

BBB chapters across the country are using the successful program to teach people of all ages in their area. If you would like to learn more about the SCAMBUSTERS® program, you can call Steve Fromme at 919-277-4227 or email him at sfromme@raleigh.bbb.org or visit their website.