Sydney Waters
Host - Consumer HandbookSydney Waters is the new Regional Director of Better Business Bureau in Cape Girardeau and responsible for outreach efforts in Southern Illinois and Eastern and Southwest Missouri.
Waters is a Southern Illinois native who brings a wealth of experience in nonprofit outreach, marketing, and volunteer and event coordination in the Cape Girardeau area to her role.
She obtained her degree at the University of West Florida in Pensacola and worked there for several years before moving back to Southern Illinois in 2019 to raise her family.
Before her role with BBB, Waters worked in the international horticultural world and for the National Park Service. Most recently, she served as an events and volunteer coordinator for Old Town Cape Inc., a downtown revitalization and historic preservation-focused nonprofit representing 130 blocks, 4,500 residents, and 300+ businesses and organizations in downtown Cape Girardeau.
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Cybercrime poses a big threat to businesses. According to Netwrix's 2025 Cybersecurity Trends Report, 51% of responding businesses surveyed experienced a security incident in the past 12 months, with 75% reporting financial damage due to attacks. -
Impersonation is a common tactic used in all sorts of scams, but recently, BBB has received reports of a few different cases where scammers impersonated a reputable local business to trick customers or fellow businesses into handing over their money. -
As the weather cools down and we start to enjoy fall festivals, markets, and other events, keep an eye out for events that don’t deliver on their promises. -
Any business that considers itself ethical knows that good customer service can’t be compromised upon. That said, exceptional customer service takes time and money. That’s where artificial intelligence can help. AI tools can give your team additional resources and support to help them focus on creating a great experience for all customers. -
Since 2021, identity and information theft reports to BBB Scam TrackerSM have totaled more than 16,600 and monetary losses are rising, according to a new study by the Better Business Bureau’s® International Investigations Initiative. -
What's a verification code, and why are they so important? Six-digit verification codes are a form of two-factor authentication, a process that helps keep your important online accounts secure. For example, you might get a text message or email with a six-digit code that you must enter when you log into your bank account. This extra level of protection keeps scammers and hackers out. -
If you’re traveling internationally, you may need to renew your passport. Consumers unaware of the passport renewal process may fall victim to online scams. -
Whether you’re looking for an internship, a remote way to work during the school year, or a post-grad career, job hunting can be a lot. It doesn’t help that there are tons of fake listings floating around. -
If you have a college student who's starting a new school year, now's a good time to talk about taking care of their money and personal information while they're on campus. -
Have you ever gotten a package you didn’t order? It might seem like a fun surprise, but it might be the setup for a scam known as brushing.
