All “Larry, the Cable Guy” jokes aside, cable consumers now have a new cable company scam to watch out for—and this cable guy doesn’t even work for the company. Crooks have discovered that by presenting themselves as an employee of a cable company, they can gain easy access to a consumer’s home or finances. The in-person cable company scam In November, William Charles Arnold … [Read more...] about Easy tips to avoid the cable company scam
security issues
Mailbox skimmers make the rounds
In my post about holiday package scams two weeks ago, I warned about scammers who follow package delivery trucks and steal delivered packages from in front of homes before the package can be taken in. There’s another type of theft that is becoming more prevalent and it also has to do with deliveries. Instead of packages, we’re talking about mailbox skimmers, i.e., good old mail … [Read more...] about Mailbox skimmers make the rounds
Reviewing online reviews — are they naughty or nice?
Do you use online reviews to make a purchasing decision? Whether we’re shopping for a book, a vacation resort, or a new car, those of us who shop online go looking for reviews made by others. Those online reviews can be very helpful, but are they always reliable? In a word—no.There are really two types of online reviews. The first is that which is posted on the product page … [Read more...] about Reviewing online reviews — are they naughty or nice?
Five best holiday shopping tips to stay safe
The holiday shopping season starts earlier every year. Unfortunately, the season of peace and love also brings plenty of opportunities for scammers to take advantage of unsuspecting consumers. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) posted a list of ten holiday shopping tips on November 20. I’ve pared down the list to my five favorites. Unless otherwise noted, the links in my Five … [Read more...] about Five best holiday shopping tips to stay safe
Click4Support scam shut down by FTC
On November 13, 2015, a tech support company operating what's being called the Click4Support scam was shut down. The shutdown was a cooperative effort between the states of Connecticut and Pennsylvania, and Federal Trade Commission (FTC). There are plenty of other scams like this one out there. That makes the methods used in the Click4Support scam to bilk consumers out of $17.5 … [Read more...] about Click4Support scam shut down by FTC