Video: Fireworks Are Fun Until They Blow Up In Your Pants

There's more to the story about the person who died from drinking lamp oil. One 84-year-old NJ lady died after mistaking tiki torch oil for apple juice. 4 other NJ residents were hospitalized after doing the same. One of them was an 8-year old girl, now suffering permanent lung damage. Oddly, the victims were located in separate parts of the state. NJ Poison Information and Education System executive director Steve Marcus told Gothamist, "During my 40 years in medicine, you get an occasional kid who ingests kerosene, but I have never seen this kind of cluster." (The Happening Part 2? Neurotoxins disable the part of people's brains that makes them distinguish between household cleaners and refreshing beverages?) All of them drank the same product, oil in a clear plastic bottle labeled "Tiki Torch Fuel," sold by Lamplight Farms, Inc. Amber in color, it's visually indistinguishable from apple juice. Don't forget to always keep chemicals under the sink and away from food, and always in original bottles. That some of these almost seem designed to look like tasty energy drinks doesn't help matters.

PREVIOUSLY: Don't Drink Lamp Oil Or You'll Die

More Beef Recalled For E. Coli

After Nebraska Beef, Ltd., recalled 531,707 pounds of beef for a possible E.coli contamination, Kroger is recalling beef from its stores and from stores selling beef under its label. The recall includes nearly all kinds and weights of ground beef with Kroger labels sold between 5/21 and 6/08. The sell-by date on them will fall between 5/21 and 6/05. Not included are ground beef in sealed tubes in 1,3, or 5lb sizes, or Frozen Beef Patties or Ground Beef Patties found in the frozen food aisle. Other caveats apply and there may be more updates, check the Kroger Recall page for the latest information. E.coli can cause food poisoning or even death. If you have any of this meat, you can either throw it away or return it to Kroger for a full refund.

Nebraska Firm Recalls Beef Products Due To Possible E. coli O157:H7 Contamination [USDA]
Ground Beef Recall [Kroger] (Thanks to Kimberley!)
E. Coli Illnesses Prompt Beef Recall [NYT]
(Photo: Getty)

Check Serial Numbers On Used Service Gadgets Before Buying

Reader Mike reports he got screwed buying a used TiVo off eBay. It turned out 1) It would need a new $20 access card for DirecTV to activate it and 2) DirecTV wouldn't authorize sending a new access card because the box was linked to a defaulted account. The lesson Mike says he learned is that, "If anyone plans on buying any used DirectTV equipment make sure you call DirectTV with the Serial Number and RID number off the unit BEFORE you purchase it to make sure it's not coming from a defaulted account. If not, you chance buying an electronic brick." This is true when buying other used electronic service items with service contracts linked to them, like cellphones.

(Photo: striatic)

BBB Complaint Gets LA Fitness To Refund $5620 They Stole From You 3 Years Ago

I was ripped off to the tune of $5620. They refused for 3 years to refund my money. Then they told me I have I have no recourse. It was electronic funds transfer for personal training that I never authorized. The people who did it were fired shortly after. It had happened to several other members, and most of the cases were settled. Except mine.

Beware: Calls From "The Jobline" Actually $9/Minute Scam

Consumers report receiving automated message calls from a service calling itself "The Jobline" where you're told they have jobs for you if you call back, but it turns out it's just a scam. If you call the number back, you will get charged $9 per minute, according to messages left in online forums where people share information on telemarketing numbers. They seem to be using the number 976-4477 in different area codes. A scam targeting people already hard up for work and money, that's pretty high on the Richter scale of sleaziness.

773-976-4477 [800notes] (Thanks to Skurry!)

(Photo: Getty)

Dateline Investigates Shady Annuity Salesmen Targeting Seniors

Dateline did a hidden camera investigation into the world of shady annuity salesmen targeting seniors and playing on their emotions to lock their life savings away in funds they may never live to receive the benefit from, or pay stiff penalties, not disclosed in the sales pitch, for early withdrawal. In this clip, Dateline producers attended "Annuity University," a two-day session run by Tyrone Clark to teach them how to sell to elders. He settled with the state of Massachusetts after he published a sales pamphlet that told salespeople to treat seniors "like they were selling to a twelve year old" and to hit their "fear, anger, and greed buttons" to make the sale. He also sells questionable self-promotional tools and services. In one of them, a fake radio guy will call up the salesperson and interview them like they're a financial expert on the radio. The session is recorded and the salesman gets CDs to pass out, so they can pass themselves off as legitimate financial advisers. Video, inside...

4.2 Million Credit Cards Exposed In Hannaford Supermarket Security Breach

A security breach at the Hannaford east coast supermarket chain has lead to the exposure of some 4.2 million credit cards. The company said it was aware of at least 1,800 cases of fraud directly connected to the breach. If you shopped at Hannaford's from Dec. 7 to March 10., when the breach is thought to have occurred, now is a great time to close your current credit and debit cards and get new ones. Side note: when clicking around their official website we found many sub-pages are down, saying they're currently "undergoing site maintenance."

Breach Exposes 4.2M Credit, Debt Cards [AP] (Thanks to Rich!)

Check Your Credit Card For Fake Charges From "Ich Services"

"For Security Purposes, This Card Is Not Active" Is A Lie

Cruise Ship Art Auctions Scams

Here's a fun scam: buying art at auction on cruise ships. In one case, a woman paid $20,000 for what she thought were high-value Salvadore Dali, but when they got shipped to her, an independent appraiser told her they were worth maybe $700 each. The business is conducted on international waters, so there's no consumer protection laws to throw you a lifesaver. Consumerama says they're not even run under real auction rules, but are instead, "coordinated inebriated sales hysteria."

Cruise Ship Art Auctions: Disasters at Sea [Consumerama]
(Photo: jimg944)

Pensioneer Saves For Cruise For 10 Years, Misses Flight, Princess Cruises Keeps All Her Money

A 78-year old pensioner saved for a cruise for 10 years, but after she missed an airplane connection, she missed the cruise ship and Princess Cruises gets to keep her $2500 paid for the cruise. They're also keeping the $559.80 the airlines refunded because she didn't take the flight. (See how that works? You don't get charged unless you actually use their service...) You gotta read the Washington Post column for the full run-down of all the different things that went wrong on this lil old lady's trip.

For the cruise industry, cancellation fees of 100% are the norm. It's clearly stated in the fine print on your contract. Since there's disclosure, the FTC isn't of the opinion that there's anything wrong with it. With these non-existent refund policies, perhaps floating prison rides are one time travel insurance is worthwhile?

The Dream Trip That Wasn't [Washington Post]
RELATED: Princess Cruise Lines Requires Death Certificate To Get Off Junk Mail List
(Photo: Getty)

Consumers are getting a shock as they stock up on holiday supplies: it's not just Christmas cheer they're spreading, but lead. The back of many decorations are sporting this label:

"Handling the plastic used in this product exposes you to lead, a chemical known to the State of California to cause birth defects and other reproductive harm. Wash hands after use."