BBB: that “appliance repair” number you Googled may belong to a scammer

A broken fridge sends people straight to a search engine — which is exactly what scammers count on.

The Better Business Bureau reports a pattern where fake customer-service numbers and repair ads appear in search results. A caller takes your payment info, promises next-day service for an upfront fee, then no one arrives — and when you call back, they deny ever speaking with you. In some cases an imposter shows up and demands a cash trip fee before touching the appliance.

BBB’s guidance is concrete: pull the contact number from the official company website or your warranty paperwork, be wary of vague repeated five-star praise, and pay by credit card so a charge can be disputed. OwnWise reinforces that first step — pinning down the real fault and whether it’s under warranty or recall — so you reach the legitimate manufacturer or service path on the first try.