About 1.3 million consumers complained to the Federal Trade Commission last year, saying they had problems with identity theft, Internet auctions and fake sweepstakes and lotteries. The number of complaints leveled off in 2010 after years of sharp increases. The top complaint, for the 11th year in a row, was identity theft. From concerns about public [...]
Word to the wary: There’s a scammer who might be out to get you. That’s the message from the Better Business Bureau, which recently released its 2010 list of the top 10 most-reported consumer scams. The annual list is based on complaints filed at 132 BBB offices. Here’s the list: Job hunting: Scams targeting job [...]
The Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) issued a trio of scam alerts yesterday involving social networking, online shopping and malware embedded in a phony holiday email from the White House. The IC3, a partnership between the FBI and the National White Collar Crime Center (NW3C), said the alert reflects recent cyber crime trends and new [...]
In the past year complaints of financial scams have more than doubled, as scam artists continue to craft “too good to be true” offers, phony employment schemes, fraudulent internet auctions, and bogus sweepstakes scenarios. In a recent report from the Attorney General, someone posing as PA’s Attorney General Tom Corbett, tried to convince a senior [...]
The popular “Cash for Clunkers” program was a deal for some, but for others, it was far from that. The cumbersome regulations have caused some applications to be kicked back because of technicalities, and some consumers have been told that their rebate was rejected, after already taking their new car off the lot. Dealers are [...]
After being hard hit by the stock market crash, many are desperate to rebuild their portfolios and recoup financial losses- but be careful. Scam artists are taking full advantage of eager investors by luring them with bogus, yet convincing offers. In response to this widespread trend, the Securities Commission’s Chief Counsel, Michael Byrne has compiled [...]
Almost all of us have experienced it- an unwanted or predatory phone call from a company or individual we do not know. Some phone scams offer foreclosure help or credit card debt assistance, while others warn that your car’s warranty will soon expire. State officials blame the tough economy for a rise in unwanted calls, [...]
At a time when people need their paychecks most, more workers are being stiffed. Complaints of wage theft have risen nationally, with allegations ranging from underpayment to complete neglect of payment. Despite not getting paid, workers are desperate so they’re sticking with their jobs in hopes that their employers will pay up in the end. [...]
Like clockwork, scammers seem to take advantage of consumers when new programs and incentives make the headlines. The Better Business Bureau has received numerous reports from consumers who received phone calls offering them assistance with filling out paperwork to obtain a voucher for the “Cash for Clunkers” Program- which is completely unnecessary because the dealers [...]
11 NY car dealers were accused of deceptive advertising practices in connection with the “Cash for Clunkers” program. The dealers neglected to mention important requirements, which misled consumers to believe they were eligible for the incentive when they were not, or that their car qualified when it did not. Before stepping foot at a dealership, [...]
