Consumerist: Consumer Alert

Beware Phishers Exploiting Banking Chaos

Ben Popken — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 13:03:42 EDT

The various takeovers and mergers in the financial fallout give phishers a new opportunity to try to scam you into giving over your bank account warns the FTC. As most of you know, any unexpected email message that looks like it came from a financial institution, asking you to “update,” “validate,” or “confirm” your account information is invariably a scam. Unwitting victims are redirected to a login site that looks like it's for their bank, but is really just a way to steal your account logins and/or personal information for use in further identity theft. Here's the FTC's tips for getting "hooked" by the "phishers" (gotta love it when the Feds pun)...

* Don’t reply to an email or pop-up message that asks for personal or financial information, and don’t click on links in the message – even if it appears to be from your bank. Don’t cut and paste a link from the message into your Web browser, either. Phishers can make links look like they go one place, but actually redirect you to another.

* Some scammers call with a recorded message, or send an email that appears to be from an institution, and ask you to call a phone number to update your account. Because they use Voice over Internet Protocol technology, the area code you call does not reflect where the scammers are. To reach an institution you do business with, call the number on your financial statements.

* Use anti-virus and anti-spyware software, as well as a firewall, and update them regularly.

* Don’t email personal or financial information. Email is not a secure way to send sensitive information.

* Review your financial account statements as soon as you receive them to check for unauthorized charges.

* Be cautious about opening any attachment or downloading any files from emails you receive, regardless of who sent them. These files can contain viruses or other software that can weaken your computer’s security.

* Forward phishing emails to spam@uce.gov – and to the institution or company impersonated in the phishing email. You also may report phishing email to reportphishing@antiphishing.org. The Anti-Phishing Working Group, a consortium of ISPs, security vendors, financial institutions and law enforcement agencies, uses these reports to fight phishing.

* If you’ve been scammed, visit the Federal Trade Commission’s Identity Theft website at ftc.gov/idtheft for important information on next steps to take.

Bank Failures, Mergers and Takeovers: A “Phish-erman’s Special” [FTC]

Beware The Grannie Scammers

Ben Popken — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 12:31:45 EDT

Watch out, grannie, there's a new scam out there and they've got your number. Like we told you last week, conmen are calling up elderly folk and using social engineering to pose as their grandchildren, and they need money money fast. Usually they say they were traveling in Canada and just got in a car accident and need thousands of dollars for repairs or bail. How do the scammers fool the grandparents?

They say things like, "it's me, your favorite grandchild." The grandparent might fill in the name of the grandchild the person sounds like and the con goes on from there. I'll bet you anything the scammers are using demographically targeted telemarketing lists. While many citizens have recognized the scam and reported it, others fell prey. One person sent $15,000.

One thing we didn't mention last week is that right here we have a classic scam sign ripped from the pages of The Field Guide to Scam Identification and Detection. Remember that anytime ANYONE asks for money to be wired, it's a giant warning sign that you might be getting scammed. Proceed with extra caution. In this case, call the grandchild back directly or speak with other family members to verify. Most Consumerist readers are probably too savvy to fall for this, so share this information with other family members and friends who could benefit from it.

Senior Citizens Nationwide Report Losing Thousands of Dollars to Telephone Scam [BBB]
Ogden couple falls victim to scam [KSL]
'Emergency' scam targets senior citizens [KATU]

PREVIOUSLY: Scammers Pose As Grandchildren Pleading For Emergency Cash

(Photo: Getty)

Some Outsourced Dental Implants Test Positive For Lead

Ben Popken — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 18:41:04 EDT

If you're getting dental implant work done, you may want to ask if they outsource to other countries. A KPHO investigation bought 13 crowns from labs in China, Thailand and the US. Ten of them came back positive for lead, with levels from 110 parts per million to 240 parts per million. The problem may be from the surface stain used to whiten and brighten the teeth. Throughout history, lead has been used in paints because it's bright, cheap, and highly durable.

Some Dental Work May Contain Lead, Tests Show [KPHO] (Thanks to Nicole!) (Photo: dental ben)

FDA Bans Import Of 30 Popular Generic Drugs

Ben Popken — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 14:52:06 EDT

The FDA has banned the import of 30 different generic drugs made by Ranbaxy due to unresolved ongoing concerns about quality controls in the manufacturing process. Some of them are popular, like a generic for Zocor. The complete list inside. If you're taking any of the affected drugs, keep taking them. The FDA found no evidence to suggest any consumers are at risk. If you have concerns, consult your doctor.

Here's the drugs affected by the embargo:

Acyclovir
Cefprozil
Cefuroxime Axetil
Cephalexin
Ciprofloxacin HCl
Clarithromycin
Fenofibrate
Fluconazole
Fosinopril Sodium
Fosinopril Sodium and Hydrochlorothiazide
Gabapentin
Ganciclovir Sodium
Glimepiride
Isotretinoin
Lamivudine
Loratadine (OTC)
Metformin HCl
Nefazodone HCl
Nitrofurantoin; Nitrofurantoin and Macrocrystalline
Ofloxacin
Pravastatin Sodium
Ranitidine
Simvastatin
Terazosin HCl
Valacyclovir HCl
Zidovudine (PEPFAR)

Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients
Clarithromycin
Valacyclovir HCl
Pravastatin Sodium
Acyclovir
Ciprofloxacin HCl
Ganciclovir Sodium *
Gabapentin

These are the citations from the warning letters the FDA sent to Ranbaxy that were not resolved and prompted the import ban:

* The facility's beta-lactam containment program (measures taken to control cross-contamination), which appeared inadequate to prevent the potential for cross-contamination of pharmaceuticals;
* Inadequate batch production and control records;
* Inadequate failure investigations; (A failure investigation is done to address any manufacturing control or product rejection to determine the root cause and prevent recurrence); and,
* Inadequate aseptic (sterile) processing operations.
* The lack of assurance responsible individuals were present to determine the firm was taking necessary steps under cGMP (current Good Manufacturing Practice);
* Inaccurate written records of the cleaning and use of major equipment;
* Incomplete batch production and control records; and,
* Inadequate procedures for the review and approval of production and control records for drug products

FDA Issues Warning Letters to Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd., and an Import Alert for Drugs from Two Ranbaxy Plants in India [FDA] (Thanks to Chris!)

(Photo: Schodts)

Beware Balance Billing

Ben Popken — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 12:40:26 EDT

When insurers don't pay the full amount of the bill, health-care providers are going after patients to make up the difference. It's known as "balance billing," and it's often illegal, BusinessWeek reports. Under state and federal laws, doctors and hospitals generally need to be dealing with the insurers, instead of pressuring vulnerable patients. Have you had any success with fighting balance billing? Leave your story in the comments.

Medical Bills You Shouldn't Pay [BusinessWeek] (Thanks to Eric!) (Photo: jgodsey)

Carter's Tagless Baby Clothes Causing Rashes?

Ben Popken — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 17:31:09 EDT

Parents are complaining online that Carter's line of "tagless" baby clothes could be responsible for causing rashes and sores on babies. Instead of a traditional tag on the inside back of the shirt, a "tagless" has a solid silk-screen flat label. Carter's is said to be aware of the problem and that it's limited to their Fall 2007 line of tagless infant clothing. One blogger described the effect the shirt had on her daughter, writing, "Her back will turn very red and start oozing right where the tag (stamp) is in the back, the rash will appear as the exact size and shape of the stamp. The redness will then spread out from there." Googling "carters tagless" reveals a number of parents complaining about the same issue. I smell class action lawsuit.

4 Ways Gas Pumps Screw You

Ben Popken — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 13:58:34 EDT

There's 4 main ways a gas pump can screw you over:

1. Meter Jump
You go to put gas in but before you pull the nozzle switch, there's already a dollar amount on the meter. This usually happens because some part inside is worn out. When you hit the activation switch it's supposed to recharge itself with a bit of gas, but when meter jump occurs, the meter is charging you for the gas that's charging the system.

2. Meter Creep
The nozzle clicks off because it thinks the tank is full, but the machine keeps adding pennies even though no gas is flowing.

3. Short Volume
Can happen for a number of reasons, but essentially the pump is not pumping as much gas it says it is.

4. Big Sign, Little Price, But Little Sign, Bigger Price This is when the big sign facing the road shows a lower price than is on your pump or on your receipt. With gas prices fluctuating the way they do these days, this usually happens because the gas station didn't get a chance to change the sign yet.

The reality is that consumers are not getting shafted at the pump that much, and of them, the first three we mentioned are the most common.

Stats from the Arizona Department of Weights and Measures:

66,000 fuel devices statewide
22,000 device inspections per year
9% of inspections find actionable problems
1-2% of the inspections find pumps shorting the customers

"Meters and gas pumps wear out and parts need to be replaced, a gas pump is a pretty complicated piece of equipment," said Steve Meissner, Communications Director of the Arizona Department of Weights and Measures.

However, If you notice any discrepancy, you should bring it up with the store. If they don't fix the problem or you don't like their answer, contact your local weights and measures department. They will take complaints by phone, email or letter. They investigate every complaint and if you request it, they will let you know the exact results of their inspection.

How do you know if there's a discrepancy? One commenter Verdigris use this technique: "...fill your tank by stopping at the 10 gallon mark. If the price is ten times the amount of 1 gallon, you know you aren't getting screwed. I tend to keep my eye on the price when it gets around 10 gallons every time I fill up."

RELATED: Keeping the pumps on time [Contra Costa Times]

(Photo: whatatravisty)

7 Scam Warnings For Online Job Hunters

Ben Popken — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 12:47:15 EDT

According to legends we've heard, it's possible to find a job by searching online. Flimflammers are also looking for you, looking to defraud job seekers. The BBB has 7 red flags to should watch out for that could indicate that job opportunity is just a scam.

1. Employer e-mails are rife with grammatical and spelling errors
2. E-mails purporting to be from job posting Web sites claiming there’s a problem with a job hunter’s account
3. An employer asks for extensive personal information such as social security or bank account numbers
4. An employer offers the opportunity to become rich without leaving home
5. An employer asks for money upfront
6. The salary and benefits offered seem too-good-to-be-true
7. The job requires the employee to wire money through Western Union or MoneyGram

Most of these are common sense, yet, somehow, they still keep working on people desperate for work.

Look for Seven Red Flags when Searching for Jobs Online [BBB]

(Photo: Getty)

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

Ben Popken — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 12:26:25 EDT

Enjoy yourselves out there this 4th, folks, but do remember to be careful with those fireworks, as seen in this edited version of the CPSC fireworks safety video set to Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture. It's funny when mannequins blow up. Your hands, jeans, or the desk in front of your face, not so much.

Actually, The Lamp Oil Looked Like Apple Juice

Ben Popken — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 11:55:20 EDT

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

Ben Popken — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 08:59:21 EDT

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

Ben Popken — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 15:51:11 EDT

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

Ben Popken — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 13:18:32 EDT

I don't know why so many gyms decide to run themselves like giant fitness scams, jacking people's money from their bank account and never letting them leave a contract, but after hearing a bunch of horror stories, this is probably the worst. It definitely is in terms of dollar amounts. Here's her story, and how she fought back and won:

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.

They proceeded to string me along and ignore my letters and phone calls for a few years until they could rest on statute of limitations.

An online complaint filed with the BBB resulted in me being contacted personally by one of the company's VPs via phone the very next day. A month later, after a few faxes and verifications, I was FedExed a check for the full amount.

Since I'm sure I'm not the only one this happened to, if people are out of options, the BBB complaint, a bit of tenacity, and valid paperwork might be a viable option.

Score another one for the BBB. Like I said before, filing a complaint with the BBB can actually work, as long as the company is concerned about maintaining a good reputation.

This is also a good time to review some Consumerist guidelines for getting a gym membership:

Read the contract carefully.
Get a month-to-month membership.
Pay by credit card. That way you can do a chargeback if they try anything sneaky.
Don't give them your bank account info.

Have you ever had trouble getting out of a gym membership? What did you do about it?

(Photo: mrflip)

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

Ben Popken — Fri, 16 May 2008 11:22:06 EDT

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

Ben Popken — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 15:45:25 EDT

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...

So why are annuities bad for Seniors? Well, In a 2002 article, the WSJ said, "The higher fees of most annuities can often cancel out their tax advantages; most annuities lock in investors for years; and annuities saddle heirs with higher taxes, unlike mutual funds or most other investments." Make sure to warn elder friends and family members about letting sales people into their homes, and caution them against putting the money they worked for their whole life into an annuity.

Tricks of the trade [Dateline via AllFinancialMatters]

Hospitals are reusing medical devices labeled ...

Ben Popken — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 10:15:29 EDT

Hospitals are reusing medical devices labeled as "one-time use" to save money. [WSJ]

4.2 Million Credit Cards Exposed In Hannaford Supermarket Security Breach

Ben Popken — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 17:52:35 EDT

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"

Ben Popken — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 17:25:16 EDT

Check your credit card statements for fraudulent charges from a company called "ICH Services," reports KETV. They're defrauding consumers across the country at $9.95 a pop with unwarranted credit card charges. If you notice it on your bill, call up your credit card company or bank and dispute the charge. And since your information is now in the hands of criminals, you may want to close down the account and get a new card while you're at it.

HSBC Confirms Customer Card Data Was Stolen

Ben Popken — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 13:23:58 EST

HSBC confirmed that thieves stole card payment data from the bank and they were reissuing 6,000 atm/debit cards to customers affected by the breach. One Consumerist reader, Keith, had $2000 stolen from him via an ATM in Bulgaria, and another, Emily, had $2,800 siphoned from her account from ATMs located clear across the country. (Emily also got interviewed on WCBS and we got a mention and a screenshot). Checking the comments section, it looks like 11 other Consumerist readers were affected by the HSBC fraud as well, with a number of the fraudulent withdrawals being made from Montreal and Canada. Sounds like the thieves stole the data, which contained both card numbers and PIN codes, and then cloned ATM/debit cards. If you're an HSBC customer, might be a good time to change your PIN number.

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

Ben Popken — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 09:00:00 EST

When you get a new or replacement credit card in the mail, you have to call the number on the back to activate it, or else you can't use it, right? Wrong. Despite the sticker on the back that says, "For security purposes, this card is not active," credit card companies are mailing out cards that can be used without phone activation. This is a problem if the letter containing your credit card is intercepted by an identity thief, like what happened to reader PC Guy. The kicker? He didn't even request the card, it was a forcible reissue when his store-branded card switched from Visa to Mastercard. His story, inside.

One afternoon, I received a call on my cell phone with "unavailable" appearing on the Caller-id. Ordinarily, I might have just ignored it, but I answered the call and an electronic voice informed me that it was Chase Fraud Services calling about unusual activity on my account—the call continued as follows:
Recording:

Chase: Hello, this is Chase Fraud Services with an urgent call regarding your Chase Credit Card. We have determined there may be fraudulent activity on your account. Please take a moment to confirm recent purchases. Please press one to continue:

Me: One

Chase: Did you make a purchase on (yesterday's date—they waited one day to call me) in the amount of $14.95 at [redacted—internet site]?

Press one for yes or two for no.

Me: Two

Chase: Let me confirm, you did not make a purchase yesterday in the amount of $14.95 at [redacted—internet site]?

Silence...

Chase: Did you make a purchase on (yesterday's date) in the amount of $39.95 at (an Internet Data broker—for what I later found out was a background report on me)

Chase: Press one for yes and two for no.

Me: Two

Chase: Please hold for a representative.

[Five minute hold time in order to speak to a fraud representative.]

Chase: Sir, before we proceed with this call, I need to verify your identity. What are the last 4 digits...?

Me: Excuse me, but I refuse to provide you with any personal information. I did not initiate this call and I have no proof you are who you say you are. And for all I know, this could be a" phishing" scam.

[What in the world is Chase thinking by calling customers asking them to identify themselves? It's no wonder people fall prey to phishing scams.]

Chase: Sir, this is not a phishing scam, this is Chase.

Me: Well, that's reassuring.

Chase: Sir, do you have your Toys-R-us Master Card in your possession?

Me: Not on me, but it is at home.

Chase: So you are confirming that you received it?

Me: Wait a second, this is a phishing scam! I have a Toys-R-us VISA and not a MasterCard. Besides, my card doesn't expire anytime soon, so why are you asking if I received it?

Chase: Sir, I am going to suspend this account, and place a fraud alert on your credit report. Please do not use your card; we will replace it with a new account number.

Me: Wait a second, what the hell are you talking about? I haven't used my card in months. It doesn't expire, and it's a Visa, not a MasterCard! Please explain what's going on here.

Chase: Sir, we sent you a new card about a month ago.

Me: Why did you do that when it doesn't expire anytime soon?

Chase: We had a branding change. The store signed on with MasterCard and as a result, we sent you a new card with a new account number.

Me: And is there a reason why you guys didn't bother to notify me to expect a new card in the mail?

Chase: Sir, we have millions of customers, we couldn't possibly notify every customer each time we send out a new or renewal card.

Me: Why is that? I signed up for Chase alerts, electronic statements and electronic notifications—it doesn't cost you anything to email a customer.

Chase: Sir, I don't make the rules.

Me: This is just outrageous. I don't want yet a third account number generated. Please do not send me a new card. Just close the account.

Chase: Sorry sir, I cannot do that.

Me: What do you mean you cannot do that?

Chase: Sir, when we suspend an account for fraudulent activity, the system automatically generates a new account number. So there is nothing I can do. You will receive a letter from Chase, please sign and have it notarized and return it or you will be held responsible for the unauthorized charges.

Me: Wait a second, something doesn't make sense. How did anyone manage to use the new card
if it requires activation from my home phone number?

Chase: That is a good question. Hold on a moment.

Chase: Sir, it was not activated. And rest assured that all these charges were declined as a result.

Me: Excuse me, but if they were declined, then why are you sending me a letter to be notarized?

Chase: Sir, it's a procedure we must follow under these circumstances.

Still thinking that this bizarre conversation was a phishing experiment, I logged on to Chase online and confirmed that my available credit was reduced to zero on this account. The call was legit, after all! What we have here is a perfect storm of coincidences that led to this incident and if you think ID theft cannot happen to you, think again. The credit card was not stolen. It was not intercepted in the mailing process. It turns out that a careless Postal Service letter carrier delivered it to the wrong address, directly into the hands of a professional ID thief.

Without missing a beat, that person managed to use the card on the Internet for a small purchase at [redacted—internet site] presumably to see if it works, and then proceeded to use the card to pay for a background check on me at two data brokers. The Chase fraud representative lied—Chase did not, in fact, decline these charges.

In an attempt to find out who used my card, I called each merchant and I was informed that they are unable to give me any information because they could ultimately be held liable if I went after that person. I later found out they live in my zip code and through other sources, their name and address. (all three merchants agreed to immediately reverse the charges—something I asked them not to do, because I wanted Chase to investigate this).

I learned that the magnetic strip on the back of the credit card remains deactivated until a phone call is made to activate it. However the account number itself, will work if it is used online. [ed. The magnetic strip is just a dumb magnet. The "activation" occurs within the electronic credit card systems, not within the card itself]

I consider myself a savvy consumer having put in place measures to prevent this from ever happening in the first place:
1) I signed up for a credit report monitoring service that emails me whenever there is new or unusual spending activity.
2) I routinely shred all documents containing personal information.
3) I opted out at the DMA website and subscribed to Catalog Choice to eliminate junk mail.
4) I signed up for electronic statements to prevent misdirected mail
5) I routinely monitor my FICO score.
6) I signed up for credit card alerts sent to my BlackBerry.
7) I pay all my bills using Internet banking instead of sending checks in the mail.

Following this incident, I had to take additional measures to protect myself by placing a credit freeze on my credit report at all three credit bureaus as I learned that the "fraud alert" Chase placed for me is not foolproof. Apparently, if someone applies for credit electronically, the computer does not recognize the alert. (one reason why "Life lock" is a bunch of BS) Additionally, I went to www.optoutprescreen.com to opt out of pre-approved offers for credit and insurance and filed a report with the postal inspector regarding this incident. I also just learned that at least one bank will allow you to pick up renewal cards at a branch, instead of having it mailed to your home.
[Consumerist editors - you may want to use the following for an additional article—although it is related to this incident, it bears a separate warning:]

Do you frequently get a letter in your mailbox addressed to a neighbor? Or, perhaps, addressed to someone living down the block? Did it ever occur to you that if you are receiving that letter addressed to someone else, perhaps they are receiving your mail?

You may not be aware that the postal service has a regular carrier working your route on a five day work week. As mail is delivered six days a week, that means one day each week (usually on a Tuesday) a substitute carrier delivers your mail and they rarely know the route. These subs are not the most accurate to begin with and the postal service rarely keeps them on a regular schedule. So you can be sure that once a week mail will be delivered to the wrong address.

That is generally not a problem when all your neighbors are honest people. But, find someone who just happens to be in foreclosure or is about to be evicted and you may find yourself in my situation.With shoddy mail service, the banks are effectively playing Russian roulette with your account and personal information when they bombard you with balance transfer checks and unsolicited cards at random.

PC Guy is not the only one. KNTV did an investigation on this and the new credit cards they ordered were able to not just be used online, they could swipe them at stores, too. When questioned, Washington Mutual said they allow for small purchases to be made on non-activated cards as a courtesy to their customers. You know what would be a real courtesy? Protecting me from identity theft.

Scammers are calling up people and pretending ...

Ben Popken — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 11:39:21 EST

Scammers are calling up people and pretending to be from the government and here to help with getting you your tax rebate. All you have to do is give them your bank account information. [9news]

Here's another fraudulent charge to watch ...

Ben Popken — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 13:10:12 EST

Here's another fraudulent charge to watch out: charges in the amount of $9.45 or $9.40 from your checking account from an "advertising company" called HBS. A reader says it happened to him, and when he searched online, he found others, a good number of whom had ordered credit reports from Equifax... [800notes]

Cruise Ship Art Auctions Scams

Ben Popken — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 10:24:57 EST

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)

Sergeants SentryPro XFC flea treatment gives ...

Ben Popken — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 17:29:54 EST

Sergeants SentryPro XFC flea treatment gives pets Pyrethrin Toxicity, causing them to vomit and not be able to walk, and in one case, a dog died. Petco still has the stuff on its shelves. [Gibberish Is My Native Language]

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

Ben Popken — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 09:19:56 EST

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)

Beware Lead-Laden Christmas Decorations

Ben Popken — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 10:48:36 EST

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."

The label is required on any product sold in California with enough lead or toxic ingredients to cause cancer or birth defects. Since it's cheaper just to print the label on all the products, residents in other states are seeing the label as well.

Guess the kids won't be helping hang the trimmings this year. And if they do, spend some quality family time in a group hand washing.

Deck the halls with ... poison? [St. Petersburg Times] (Thanks to Therese!)
(Photo: ZekeDMS)

Dinner Plates On Walmart Shelves Contain Lead

Ben Popken — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 18:56:43 EST

What are you feeding your children tonight? How about a hearty helping of lead? KUTV did a followup on their report yesterday about lead in dinner plates. Their investigative reporter bought more plates from Walmart. After heating them to 85 degrees, the plates leached out lead at .381 parts per million. The plates were made in China. The government says that anything below 2.0 is acceptable. But unlike a toy where you're mainly just coming in skin contact with the toy, with a plate, the lead is actually seeping into the food and you're eating it.

Lead Plates Followup: Utah Wants To Know! [KUTV] (Thanks to Jay!)
PREVIOUSLY: Baby Poisoned By Lead-Tainted Walmart Plates

Baby Poisoned By Lead-Tainted Walmart Plates

Ben Popken — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 19:39:24 EST

A Utah child developed painful constipation after it was discovered that her family was using lead-tainted plates sold by Walmart. Investigators found the plates had lead levels of 11. Utah considers anything about 1 "unacceptable."

The plates were sold under the name "Home Trends," and while no longer on store shelves, are likely on some the shelves of some consumer's cupboards. There's been no recall for the plates.

Toddler Poisoned By Lead Paint From Plates [KUTV]

Sprint Charges Developmentally Disabled Girl $10,000 For Text Messages

Ben Popken — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 08:54:18 EDT

Red Tape Chronicles has followed up on the Developmentally disabled 18-year old Amanda Clark who ran up $10,000 in premium text messages whom we told you about last week. The text messages were part of teenage text chat services advertised in the back of her teen mags. "Hook a hottie," they said. Sprint agreed to cut the bill in half but won't budge further. The UK-based text message company says that since she texted "Y" in response to the message, 'Y' to: '74447' to start. 14+ textconnectusa.com Help?1-866-662-7132. Send STOP to end.100c per msg rcvd + std msg fees," the girl should have been completely informed as to the service's cost and the family is plumb out of luck. In all, 642 messages were received.

The cost for so-called "premium" text messages can quickly skyrocket. Cellphone companies need to also develop early-warning and fraud protection systems similar to credit card companies. Parents paying for their kids' cellphone bill should check it more than once a month so they can catch charges before they get out of hand. Also, it might be wise to include text message services among the list of "stranger dangers" you tell your kids to stay away from.

In a related story, we told you how to partially and/or fully turn of text messages to fight text message spam.

Price for 'premium' text messages? $10,000 [Red Tape Chronicles]

PREVIOUSLY: "Premium Texting" By Disabled Daughter Results In $10,000 Sprint Bill

Hiring Unlicensed Contractor Like Inviting Devil Into Your Parlor

Ben Popken — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 10:37:09 EDT

You might think you're saving a buck by going with their advertised cheap services, but they're bidding without insurance, worker's compensation, or training. MSNBC's new investigative series "Home Wreckers" tapes a police sting operation aimed at snatching up sketchy contractors. One of the guys is accused by several homeowners of low-balling bids, which then end shoot up in price over the course of the project. He also takes customer's money and then never finishes the repairs. The police search his car and find ecstasy hidden in it. The police show off pictures of other contractors who were found to be convicted child molesters, on probation for attempted murder, registered sex offenders, on a state's 10 most wanted list, and on Megan's List. They advise to only hire licensed and bonded contractors, as they have to go through background checks and drug tests. You wouldn't want to let some ex-con in your house, or around your kids.

Home Wreckers [MSNBC] (Thanks to Jordan!)

"VersaDebt" Telemarketers Behind Rate-Lowering Robot Calls?

Ben Popken — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 01:16:16 EDT

The company behind "Possible Credit Card Scam Alert: We'll Lower Your Rates, Purrs Robot Message..." is called VersaDebt, according to one reader who was able to string them along long enough to find out.

Consumer reports on various scam-watch sites allege that what VersaDebt does is charge you $900 to call up your credit card company and negotiate a lower interest rate, but never even delivers on this specious-sounding promise.

A poster on Rip-Off Report said the company never responded to any calls and kept disputing her credit card chargeback. Some internet users say VersaDebt is behind a telemarketing phone number (954-689-7681) complained about on 800 Notes. This number is also mentioned on whocalled.us as using auto-dialers to pitch extended car warranty coverage. They also say VersaDebt has gone through several location and name changes, being alternately known as "Debt First."

VersaDebt's website looks thrown together, and one of its pages is broken. Doing a WHOIS on VersaDebt shows it was registered by a Burt O'Donald of Miami Florida, President of "Innovative Business Marketing, Inc." Perusing his site showed "IBM" was involved in of exciting business opportunities, like selling online pharmacy merchant storefronts, and offshore power generation.

Remember, when a robot calls, no matter how tempting his offer sounds, hang up. These robots are no friends to the human.

PREVIOUSLY: Possible Credit Card Scam Alert: We'll Lower Your Rates, Purrs Robot Message...
(Photo: Table Of Malcontents)

Beware The Tow Truck Pirates

Ben Popken — Tue, 02 Oct 2007 12:42:37 EDT

This '05 KNBC investigation uncovered a rogue industry of pirate tow truck drivers in Southern California. A system of spotters kept watch for any driver who left the premises attached to a parking lot, and got paid $25-50 for calling in targets. In some cases, drivers were gone from their cars for less than 15 minutes.

If they wanted their car back, drivers were shaken down for $180-$250, either on the spot or at the company's impound, payable only in cash. What's amazing is that the stores aren't even aware that the towing is going on.

There's one reason to hold on to your receipt. Only with dogged persistence and showing the receipt to prove they were patronizing the business whose parking lot it were citizens able to dissuade tow truck drivers from taking their car - provided they were caught in the act.

Park At Your Own Risk
Tow Truck Pirates
(Photo: Getty)

Consumer Group Finds Lead In More Children's Toys

Ben Popken — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 09:06:03 EDT

Extremely high levels of lead were found in a Go Diego Go backpack, a Superfly monkey and a pair of Circo Lulu boots, the Center for Health, Environment and Justice (a group dedicated to ridding the world of PVC) reported in a new study released yesterday. In all, 11 items they tested contained lead levels and/or heavy metals well over the safety standard, 10 of which contained PVC, or vinyl. The backpack had levels of 4,600 parts per million. The CPSC standard is 600 parts per million.

550,000 More Chinese Toys Recalled for Lead [NYT]

Rite Aid Recalls Antifreeze-Laced Smoke Machine Fuel

Ben Popken — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 16:13:33 EDT

Jennifer reports, "Spoke to someone in [Rite Aid] corporate today- while they still insist the product is safe (no msds, though), they did say that due to "customer concern" (later rephrased as "all your calls") they are recalling the product!"

Looks like the first official Consumerist.com recall was a success.

PREVIOUSLY: Rite Aid Selling Smoke Machine Fuel Containing Antifreeze

Rite Aid Selling Smoke Machine Fuel Containing Antifreeze

Ben Popken — Wed, 05 Sep 2007 21:48:48 EDT

Rite Aid is selling antifreeze-laced fog juice, the substance that is atomized and turned into a gas by smoke machines, isn't terribly concerned, reports reader Jennifer.

Instructions available on making your own smoke machine fuel specifically forbid using ethylene glycol, as it is a deadly poison. You remember your mother teaching you how it's bad to turn a poisonous liquid into a gas, right?

The distributor, Harry at First Imperial Trading Company, told Jennifer that ethylene glycol was a "harmless food additive." (He somehow must have it confused with propylene glycol...)

When Jennifer contacted the CPSC, they referred it to Rite Aid, who referred it back to the manufacturer. The local Rite Aid, however, did agree to take the bottles off the shelves, but what of the 5,000 other Rite Aids?

Walmart Flipflops Continue To Chemically Burn Wearers

Ben Popken — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 14:45:28 EDT

A North Texas woman says her Walmart flipflops gave her a nasty and painful rash, the same as Kerry's from Florida, whose injured feet we featured on The Consumerist.

Like Kerry, Walmart told her to file a complaint with the Chinese manufacturer of the bargain sandals.

In response to Fox4's inquiry, Walmart said, "Product safety is a top priority at Wal-Mart and we are taking this report very seriously. Of several million of this product sold, we have had only a few similar claims."

Oh, ok. The sandals only caused long lasting and severe rashes on a few people. We'll take the matter "very seriously"...after beach season is over.

Woman Claims Made-in-China Flipflops Injured Feet [FOX4] (VIDEO)
PREVIOUSLY: Woman Receives Severe Chemical Burns From Flip Flops, Walmart Tells Her To Complain To Manufacturer

Check Fraud Up As High Quality Printer Prices Drop

Ben Popken — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 10:59:02 EDT

With high-quality printers are widely available at the consumer level, check counterfeiting is on the rise, usually in conjunction with "advance fee scams," where someone is tricked into cashing an overpayment of some sort and then sending the remainder to another address, reports the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Then by some machination or another, the overpayment turns out to be fraudulent and the scammer vanishes. The image above shows various security features to look for when evaluating a check's verisimilitude.

Check fraud getting high tech [Seattle Post-Intelligencer]

Check Credit Card Statements For "STC SAWA RECHARGE RIYADH SA"

Ben Popken — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 19:36:02 EDT

Check your credit card and debit card statement for unauthorized charges from STC SAWA RECHARGE RIYADH SA. The Saudi Arabian phone card company is fraudulently passing charges to consumer's cards, usually for sums of $80. If you find one of these unwanted charges, contact your card company to dispute the charges. This may not be enough, as consumers report being the charges hitting their cards multiple times, even after reporting them. In these cases, it may be better to cancel the account.

There's seems to be no correlation between vendors victims used their cards with, perhaps pointing to a breach at the credit card company level.

STC SAWA Credit Card Fraud [Reseller Ratings]

When riding a taxi, it's a good idea to see ...

Ben Popken — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 20:38:36 EDT

When riding a taxi, it's a good idea to see if the meter has a sealed wire hanging from the meter, which shows the meter hasn't been tampered with, especially when riding in the Wild Wild West of taxi cities, Phoenix. [The Arizona Republic]

How To Identify Botulism Symptoms

Ben Popken — Fri, 27 Jul 2007 10:42:44 EDT

Botulism is an incredibly serious food-borne illness, and the Castleberry's recall means we should remind ourselves of the symptoms. According to WebMD they are:

Double vision

blurred vision

drooping eyelids

slurred speech

difficulty swallowing

dry mouth

muscle weakness

lethargic

feed poorly

constipated

have a weak cry

have poor muscle tone

These are the first signs of the muscle paralysis the bacteria inflicts. Untreated, they can lead to limb paralysis, or lung paralysis, in which case you're probably going to die. Symptoms usually appear 16-36 hours later, but can show up as soon as 6 hours and as late as 10 days.

If you experience any of these symptoms, seek immediate medical attention.

Botulism FAQs [WebMD]
(Photo: Getty)

PREVIOUSLY:
Cans Infected With Botulism Are Exploding!
Mission: Find Castleberry's Products Recalled For Botulism Still On The Shelves