Avoid charity scams when you donate to help hurricane survivors
Our hearts go out people suffering from the effects of Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton. And although we want to […]
Scams
Watch out for solar panel installation scams
A salesperson knocked on my door and told me I could get rooftop solar panels at little or no cost?
Watch out for mystery shopping scams that give you a fake check then ask you for gift cards payments
If you’re looking for a new job, getting paid to shop might sound like a good way to make money. Companies hire mystery shoppers to try products or services and share experiences about things like buying or returning something, or their overall customer experience. But while some mystery shopping jobs are legitimate, many aren’t. So how do you spot the scams?
On this day of love, be wary of romance scams
It breaks my heart every time I see a story on television about a romance scam. The people, often older women, have been taken in by fast-talking scammers who have honed their skills in carrying out big romance lies. Right now, as I’m writing this, I’m listening to story on TV about a woman who lost $100,000 to a romance scam.
After winter storms, watch out scams
Winter is far from over with heavy rains causing extensive damage in California and Nevada this week. At least three people died from fallen tree incidents in northern California on Sunday and more than 200,000 households remained without power Monday night. Dealing with the aftermath of flooding, wind damage, or other storm destruction isn’t easy.
A $50 coat from Pendleton? No, I fell for a scam
For two years, I’ve been shopping for a new red coat. Challenging and time consuming, including returning one I ordered online that didn’t fit, I finally bought an O.K. purple one. Then, I saw a brown plaid Pendleton coat advertised on Facebook for $50. Wow, I thought, that’s a great price. So, I ordered it although it isn’t a color that I like at all.
Most online shopping scams start on Facebook and Instagram, survey shows
More than two thirds of online shopping scams begin on the social media platforms Instagram and Facebook, according to an analysis by the Lloyds Banking Group. Fraudsters are preying on shoppers in search of a deal. They’re creating fake business pages, social media ads, and online stores.
Watch out for investment scam targeting WeChat groups
An “investment opportunity” extremely popular on the social media platform WeChat stole millions from the Chinese community in the United States. Social media posts urged people to “invest” in various household goods and electronics, promising returns of 20-40 percent in one to three months. But it was really a scam.
Two student loan debt relief scammers shut down
Paying off student loans is a big job, especially since it usually takes most people years to achieve it. Consumers need to beware of debt relief companies that promise quick loan forgiveness. Scammers claim they’ll help you, for a fee, but their schemes often leave you deeper in debt. The FTC has stopped two student loan debt relief schemes.