Last year we warned about cigarettes in flowerpots causing fires. Now fire departments say it's happening!

How to keep your kids safe from adult websites

When little kids use a search engine to find their favorite TV show website, they can be directed to questionable sites. Here is how to protect your children or grandchildren

Don't pay too much for cars!

I have been shopping for a car lately and a consumer recognized me on a dealer’s lot and asked me for advice. I suggested that she spend $14 dollars on Consumer Reports bottom line car buying service. You tell Consumer Reports the car you are interesting in and they tell you almost exactly how much you should pay. Never pay the price on the window without doing your homework!
Over the years, I've had a lot of complaints from people who were not careful when buying cars and have lost a lot of money.
To buy wisely, go to a public library and find out from Consumer Reports about problem cars to avoid, cars with the best repair records and most miles per gallon, and their general price range. Many consumers don’t take this step and buy problems. And when these cars break down,the dealer in most cases won’t refund your money, but will be happy to let you trade in for another and get hundreds of dollars more from you.
In fact, it’s very easy to pay thousands of dollars too much for new and used cars. So before buying, look for the April (car) issue of Consumer Reports at the library.

Free money! They send you a fake check and ask you to buy gift cards for them as commission

Con artists have found a new way to get victims to send them money besides Western Union. The common denominator of both methods is that the criminal doesn't have to reveal his real name or address to collect the money.
Victims are told free money is available to them--supposedly for education, debt relief, low income subsidy or any other type of "financial aid."
Victims apply for their grant and are sent a check, typically for $4975, and are told to turn over part of the check for the broker's commission. The victim is instructed to send the broker's commission by purchasing a Green Dot prepaid card that you can buy at a neighborhood retailer and then use anywhere worldwide that MasterCard® Debit Cards or Visa® Debit Cards are accepted, including ATMs.
The victim is promised a second,larger check after the stored value card's serial numbers are emailed to the "broker" who uses the serial numbers to get money from the card.
Eventually, the original check is returned as counterfeit.

More complaints about home security door-to-door salespeople canvassing wisconsin

There now appear to be four companies from Utah selling home security systems door-to-door in Wisconsin. Here are TV stories from WKOW-TV in Madison and WITI-TV in Milwaukee.

Scam targeting military families

A classic scam involves a family getting an emergency call about a family member who has been injured or is in some kind of trouble. The family is asked for money or information that can be used for identity theft. WKBT-TV in La Crosse says it now happening to military families.

$1 charge leads to credit fraud suspicion

By Abby Wucherer, Daily Register

When Rudy Wehert of Poynette was notified of a $1 charge to his Home Depot credit card that he never made, he immediately recalled a radio show he listened to just days earlier.

The show, "Up Front with Vicki McKenna," discussed scams that commandeer financial accounts through random number generators.

"The way I understand it, they run these numbers through the computers. That's the way (Glen) Loyd from consumer protection was discussing it," Wehert said.

The Wisconsin Office of Privacy Protection says bank, credit card and credit union offers may make you vulnerable to theft and fraud

Are you getting blank checks in the mail from your existing credit companies? The checks, a marketing tool for credit companies are called convenience checks and are mailed to consumers everyday. The checks are intended to make it easy for you, the consumer to pay off other bills or access cash quickly. The convenience checks probably have your actual account and/or routing numbers, making fraud incredibly easy. They come in your mailbox and can make you vulnerable to theft and fraud if your mail is intercepted.
The Wisconsin Office of Privacy Protection says that if you do not want to receive any in your mailbox, opt-out of marketing offers by following these simple steps. Call your existing bank, credit union or card issuer and ask them to opt you out of all marketing offers, including convenience checks. While you're at it, ask them to refrain from increasing the limit you can borrow unless you request it and sending you an upgraded card, i.e. from gold to platinum.. All of these marketing strategies may make you vulnerable or at best give you more material to shred.
Probably the best time to opt out is when you open a new account. The next time you have a few minutes, grab your credit cards, turn them over and call customer service. (Same thing with your bank statements.) Ask them to remove you from all marketing lists—including for any “affiliates.” They may ask you to put your request in writing. They have 120 days to comply with written requests. Oh, and if you ever order additional or replacement cards or accounts, make sure you opt-out again.
Additionally, you can opt-out of pre-approved credit offers that you do not have an existing relationship with at (888)567-8688 or online at www.optoutprescreen.com.

WBAY-TV interviews consumer protection about criminals altering caller ID

Madison area Consumer Protection manager David Tatar shows technology used to alter a caller's voice and caller ID.

Elderly Madison couple loses $100,000 to scammer/May lose more

Door-to-door crews wanting you to sign contracts

Consumers are complaining to us about door-to-door sellers--with no permits--pressuring them, failing to leave, and doing shoddy work. (The I Team as WTMJ-TV in Milwaukee recently warned about an out-of-state firm selling home alarms.)

These days door-to-door salespeople want you to sign contracts for a number of different services. Know that some of these contracts have four-pages with small print that may commit you to payments for years to come.

Don’t be pressured to sign no matter what they are promising until you have carefully read the contract and have done comparison shopping with similar firms in your home town.

Sometimes the salespeople don’t have all the facts and make verbal promises that the company won’t back up. If the promise isn’t written, be skeptical.

Remember, when someone knocks on your door, your instinct for hospitality and politeness may take over and make your vulnerable.

Years ago, an Appleton bus driver told me he signed a contract for expensive windows because he wanted to go to bed and the the salesman wouldn’t leave.

I also just received a call from an Appleton area man who thinks his car may have been stolen by a salesman who stepped into his home, asking for drink of water. The car was stolen Sunday night as the home owner was going to bed. He says he knows the salesman saw his key rack.

You could be dropping off Wisconsin's No Call List!

Consumer Protection often gets calls from consumers wanting to know if they are still on the No Call List--typically after they receive a rash of telemarketing calls. A lot of people fall off the list because they don't remember that you have to sign up every two years. Consumer Protection recommends that you sign up every year so you don't forget. You might want to register on your birthday and give yourself a continuous present. Sign up by calling 1-866-966-2255 or by visiting NoCall.Wisconsin.gov

You have to still be careful when cancelling an internet service provider!

Although AOL will be refunding money to Wisconsin residents who received AOL bills after cancelling the Internet service, consumers still need to make sure they aren't being billed when cancelling any Internet service. Two times in recent years, complaints about Internet service providers landed in Consumer Protection's Top Ten List.

What's your experience with eBay?

A Consumer Reports survey found almost half of eBay users surveyed encountered questionable tactics. More than 170 consumers have filed complaints about their eBay experience with the Bureau of Consumer Protection in Wisconsin.

Cars nag us for service; houses just sit there and deteriorate

Here's why some of us take better care of our cars than our houses...even though our houses cost twenty times more.

Don't pay too much for a car!

I have been shopping for a car lately and a consumer recognized me on a dealer’s lot and asked me for advice. I suggested that she spend $14 dollars on Consumer Reports bottom line car buying service. You tell Consumer Reports the car you are interesting in and they tell you almost exactly how much you should pay. Never pay the price on the window without doing your homework!
Over the years, I've had a lot of complaints from people who were not careful when buying cars and have lost a lot of money.
To buy wisely, go to a public library and find out from Consumer Reports about problem cars to avoid, cars with the best repair records and most miles per gallon, and their general price range. Many consumers don’t take this step and buy problems. And when these cars break down, the dealer in most cases won’t take them back, but will be happy to let you trade in for another and gets hundreds of dollars more from you.
In fact, it’s very easy to pay thousands of dollars too much for new and used cars. So before buying, look for the April (car) issue of Consumer Reports at the library.

Testing toys for safety

The federal government doesn't test toys for safety, but if a child is hurt the incident must be reported. From the online magazine Slate, here is how toys are tested. Consumer Protection works with the U.S Consumer Product Safety Commission to protect consumers from dangerous products.

Cruising canines

Here are the results of Washington Post tests of devices to keep dogs safe riding in cars.

Department of Justice files action against Kool View Windows for deceptive marketing practices

Lawsuit alleges window retailer of using misleading “100% rebate” scheme to sell its windows. This case was investigated by Consumer Protection at the Department of Agriculture Trade and Consumer Protection. Consumers may call Consumer Protection at 1-800-422-7128

How the pros protect their identiy

This Wall Street Journal story tells how a former ID theft criminal protects his identity. These days, he "never uses a debit card and writes checks rarely, paying for most everything with a credit card because, he says, credit-card issuers do the most to shield consumers from fraud."