Uber and out? Scary reminder
It turns out that some time ago, someone hacked the ride service Uber and stole approximately 57 million credit card numbers, along with authenticating information for those cards. In my opinion, most people in this area don’t have much to worry about, in that Uber isn’t a major player in …
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 7 YEARS, 1 MONTH AGO
Listen and learn from Ann's sad romantic tale
The eternal search for a soul mate, modern technology and the light speed of the internet make for a very dangerous but tempting combination for many seeking love. This mix has not been lost on crooks, scammers, thieves, con artists and perverts. The bad actors depend upon the honesty of …
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 7 YEARS, 2 MONTHS AGO
Two words to live by (and save your $$$)
First, thanks and apologies to my regular readers for bearing with the repetition of the subject contained in today’s column. The information bears repeating. And repeating. And maybe repeating.
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 7 YEARS, 2 MONTHS AGO
Cars: Here's one Gap you don't want to fall into
Next to your home, cars are often the largest purchase a consumer makes (hopefully not THE largest). Because that’s the case, I want to spend some time on this subject. I average at least five calls a week from local consumers with complaints relating to cars and trucks.
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 7 YEARS, 2 MONTHS AGO
You know about scammers, but also beware of skimmers
Two incidents of credit card skimming were recently reported in North Idaho. The skimming machines were placed on gas pumps at local food stores. Luckily, a couple of sharp consumers caught the scam. They just happened to check their balances online and caught two big unauthorized charges, right after using …
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 7 YEARS, 2 MONTHS AGO
Before your fireplace sparks to life, do this
If you’ve ever had a chimney flu fire you probably have your chimney inspected once a year BEFORE fireplace season. Flu fires are one of the most terrifying fire events a homeowner can experience. Chimney fires account for more than 26,000 fires per year in the U.S. Be sure to …
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 7 YEARS, 2 MONTHS AGO
Latest in a long line of scams
I tell people where to go. Not in the traditional, negative sense, but rather, where they can find information to answer their consumer questions.
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 7 YEARS, 2 MONTHS AGO
Hey, kids! Seniors aren't the only targets
During the past few months it seems that many — if not most — of the scams and cons we’ve covered, specifically target those of us who are over the age of 50. It seems that the elderly are being disproportionately targeted. This is not necessarily true.
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 7 YEARS, 3 MONTHS AGO
Debt is a vampire
Everyone knows that being in debt can suck the happiness out of your life. Debt will destroy your attitude, your relationships, and your personality.
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 7 YEARS, 3 MONTHS AGO
That police benefit fund only benefits bad guys
You might get a call asking for donations to the CDA Police Coalition Benefit Fund.
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 7 YEARS, 3 MONTHS AGO
Local war on scammers paying off for consumers
It’s a sad fact that the crooks and scammers specifically target the elderly. I can’t tell you how many older people call me and are very upset. Lately, more and more consumers, and especially older consumers, have been calling me to report that they’ve avoided scams via internet, mail and …
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 7 YEARS, 3 MONTHS AGO
'I'll sue!' But irked consumers rarely do
While most of us have never actually gone to court over a consumer issue, we’ve all felt like throwing down the legal gauntlet at least a few times in our lives. The problem is that often, the amount of money in question isn’t large, or the circumstance surrounding our situation …
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 7 YEARS, 3 MONTHS AGO
Some pretty big scammers receive unearned support
Guess who the IRS just gave $7.25 million? Good old Equifax.
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 7 YEARS, 3 MONTHS AGO
Warning: 'Official' mail scam won't stop until you ignore it
“OFFICIAL” MAIL: Lately, many consumers in our area have been receiving very “official” looking mail. The crooks come at us from many directions; one is the “official” call — from the IRS, the Social Security, Publishers Clearing House, etc. — another is through the mail, sometimes they even use FedEx, …
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 7 YEARS, 3 MONTHS AGO
Get it in writing
THREE LITTLE WORDS: We all know that in real estate the three most important words are “location, location, location.” Guess what the three most important words are in consumerism — “contract, contract, contract.” As an example, this week, more than half of the calls I got would have been unnecessary …
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 7 YEARS, 3 MONTHS AGO
Let's talk about smishing - maybe on the radio
It’s so gratifying to see our community becoming more aware of good consumer practices. I’m beginning to get almost as many tips on scams from readers as I am getting consumer requests for assistance. Calls and emails range from 20 per day to a high of 67.
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 7 YEARS, 3 MONTHS AGO
Don't cry over spilled (or spoiled) milk anymore
Especially for consumers who do drink milk, but not a lot of it — Ultra Pasteurized Milk! One of my pet peeves is opening a carton of milk that I remember having just purchased, (to be completely honest, sometimes I forget how long ago I actually purchased it!), and pouring …
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 7 YEARS, 4 MONTHS AGO
Beware area codes from Caribbean hell
Pay attention and you can avoid some very bad things.
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 7 YEARS, 4 MONTHS AGO
Everybody's got Equifax on the brain
My apologies to anyone to whom I have not responded. My email and voicemail have been inundated, thanks to the Equifax debacle. I will, within the next couple of days, clear all the voicemails and emails sent to me.
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 7 YEARS, 4 MONTHS AGO
Hold on, there: Vacation hold could be a scam
Here’s a nasty and dangerous one. I received an email from a reader detailing a scam I hadn’t heard of. It seems that someone had put a “vacation hold” on her mail, using the name of the homeowner. After a week or so, the homeowner noticed that she wasn’t getting …
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 7 YEARS, 4 MONTHS AGO
Learn from kind woman who lost $150K in scam
I got a call from a dear, compassionate lady who lost more than $150,000 in a scam allegedly benefitting Syrian children caught in the horrible fighting in that part of the world. She fell victim to a ruthless scammer and her own naive trust.
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 7 YEARS, 4 MONTHS AGO
How to select charities worthy of your money
Many readers let me know in no uncertain terms that my recommendation to donate to the Red Cross to help hurricane victims was a bad idea. The primary concern they voiced was that the salaries of the executive staff of the Red Cross were too high. The overall administrative costs …
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 7 YEARS, 4 MONTHS AGO
Press Consumer Guy issues hurricane charity scam alert
Be extremely careful giving any money to anyone asking for funds for Hurricane Harvey “victims.” If you want to donate money to help those affected, a great source is The American Red Cross.
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 7 YEARS, 4 MONTHS AGO
Beware HVAC companies that run hot and cold
A consumer called me with a real doozy. It seems a local company advertises some of the lowest prices in the area. So far so good, but when the local consumer decided to contract with them to replace her aging furnace and A/C unit, things didn’t go so smoothly. Her …
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 7 YEARS, 4 MONTHS AGO
Listen carefully whenever someone pulls heartstrings
One of the scam calls I really dislike is the fake charity call. It goes something like this:
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 7 YEARS, 4 MONTHS AGO
Lucky Bill: $3.1 million and a chest of cuss words
Last week my wife and I were jarred awake at 5:18 a.m. by a call from Publishers Clearing House informing us that we had won $3.1 million. Mr. John Peterson, who claimed to be a representative of PCH, also told us that we won a brand new Mercedes automobile, free …
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 7 YEARS, 5 MONTHS AGO
Bad roofs and bad faith made of same faulty stuff
A consumer called me with a major problem with a house he and his wife recently purchased — turns out the roof leaked. Boats should float and homes should be habitable. Under various laws it’s called Implied Merchantability — in other words, the item in question works for a particular …
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 7 YEARS, 5 MONTHS AGO
Oh, poo: The cool gadget isn't so great after all
I admit it. I’m a tech junkie. I’m what’s known in tech circles as an “early adopter.” What that means is I’m the guy who often buys things before the bugs are worked out.
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 7 YEARS, 5 MONTHS AGO
Ambulance ride home can be really painful
Here’s one we don’t think about too often. When we do, it’s usually too late.
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 7 YEARS, 5 MONTHS AGO
Even a mouse can catch a rat in the right trap
AT&T Update: The Northwest regional people at AT&T called me late last week. Without going into detail, they assured me that the individuals responsible for what I called “high pressure sales techniques” would no longer be a problem in our area. I fully understand that AT&T must be very careful …
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 7 YEARS, 5 MONTHS AGO
Guns you want back, sales guys you don't
Pony Express on U.S. 95 recently closed without notice due to the failing health of the owner, who has now passed away. A number of consumers who had placed their guns on consignment with Pony Express have contacted me, wanting to know who had custody of their firearms. I was …
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 7 YEARS, 5 MONTHS AGO
Timeshares can be ticking time bombs
I know there’s at least one person out there who is happy with the timeshare they purchased. There has to be at least one.
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 7 YEARS, 5 MONTHS AGO
That little bitty print can hurt in a big way
A consumer called me this week with a complicated problem. This guy knew his stuff. A local company had cheated him out of a few thousand dollars. It was too much to just forget about, but it was too little to be worth hiring an attorney to file a lawsuit. …
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 7 YEARS, 5 MONTHS AGO
Consumer Guy is in your corner Mondays, too
If it’s the CDA Press Consumer Guy, it must be Thursday, right?
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 7 YEARS, 6 MONTHS AGO
Beware the doorknockers offering sweet TV deals
Dish or Direct? Many consumers in our area use satellite TV instead of cable TV. A new and very dangerous scam has come to our area. Itinerant doorknockers are making the rounds offering about $50 off your monthly Dish or Direct TV bill. They arrive in a neighborhood in convoy, …
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 7 YEARS, 6 MONTHS AGO
Sorry, but a horrible contract can still be a legal contract
One very dedicated consumer called me with what I consider to be legitimate concerns about the long-term lease that an owner was insisting a lessor sign in order to be able to purchase a home. The prospective homeowner actually owns the home but not the property on which it sits, …
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 7 YEARS, 6 MONTHS AGO
That 'deputy' is just a jerk in Pocatello
Last week five different consumers called me with the same complaint: A man called them representing himself as a deputy sheriff. In each case, in a very ominous and threatening tone, he informed the consumer that they had ignored a summons to jury duty, and a warrant had been issued …
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 7 YEARS, 6 MONTHS AGO
Beware those who promise fixes for all your pains
I’ve received a large number of calls this week. It’s been a week of real ups and downs for me. I’m always gratified when readers feel like they can call me with questions. I can often immediately help them out of a sticky situation or give them the information that …
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 7 YEARS, 6 MONTHS AGO
Fraud, scams reaching epidemic proportions
A number of consumers called me during the last week complaining about unwanted telephone calls from sales people, scammers and con artists. Unfortunately, the number of calls to me is almost overwhelming — anywhere between 30 and 40 per week, and you know there are many more who have the …
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 7 YEARS, 7 MONTHS AGO
The dream job that's too good to be true
A company recently contacted me, looking for employees to work in Montana and the Dakotas in the oil and gas industry. The company is based in Denver but has a local contact telephone number. Those who are hired will be making a minimum wage of $29 per hour, plus about …
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 7 YEARS, 7 MONTHS AGO
Please read this first before using Craigslist
Craigslist is quickly jumping to the top of the list as a hideout for cheats, liars and scammers. Be hyper-aware if you’re using Craigslist. It doesn’t make any difference if you’re buying or selling.
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 7 YEARS, 8 MONTHS AGO
Big gift-card purchases often hint at a scam
I’ve been getting a lot of calls about scams involving gift cards. Gift cards have become the currency of choice for crooks, scammers and extortionists. Denominations are available from $10 up to $10,000. They’re available at coffee shops, gas stations, supermarkets and many other retailers.
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 7 YEARS, 8 MONTHS AGO
How to make yourself bulletproof from scams
Are seniors “easy marks” or are they just targeted more than other consumers for fraud and scams?
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 7 YEARS, 8 MONTHS AGO
Consumer alert: Scams, cults are often bedfellows
Once you sign a contract you have three days to cancel the contract — right?
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 7 YEARS, 8 MONTHS AGO
Gullible consumers are fraud's best pals
Some consumer complaints belong firmly on the shoulders of the complainer.
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 7 YEARS, 8 MONTHS AGO
Medical billing code errors really can make you sick
Now that we all have health insurance and everything is paid for, we don’t need to pay attention to our hospital/doctors/or other medical bills and charges. Right? WRONG!
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 7 YEARS, 9 MONTHS AGO
CONSUMER GUY: New blog broadens consumer insights
The CDA Press Consumer Guy is opening up more opportunities for consumers in our area to share their experiences with each other. It's my new blog.
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 7 YEARS, 9 MONTHS AGO
You get $150K for $2K? Um, no
This week I received a call from a woman in our area who told me about a new government program that helps elderly people with their expenses. The program sent her mother, who lives in North Dakota, $150,000 in cash! Obviously a scam.
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 7 YEARS, 9 MONTHS AGO
Scammed? You're far from alone
In this column I try to provide readers good, useful and timely information. I also provide regular updates on recent cases and issues. Today we’ll revisit some recent subjects and explore new topics.
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 7 YEARS, 9 MONTHS AGO
Before you hire that tree-trim guy...
Spring has sprung some green leaks.
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 7 YEARS, 10 MONTHS AGO
Spectrum complaints escalate; some woes resolved
Complaints about Spectrum have run — well, pretty much the entire spectrum.
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 7 YEARS, 10 MONTHS AGO
Sur-prize! You just lost $1,750
Here’s one to be particularly aware of. The scam goes like this:
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 7 YEARS, 11 MONTHS AGO
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