Airline security questionable

Consumer Reports

This space was going to warn about Superbowl scams. Instead, here is the "another-one-bites-the-dust" bird boogie:

You can bail out of this silly video after a minute or so...There's nothing new then.

Criminals con utilizing operators for the deaf

Criminals email relay operators and get them to make calls and unwittingly set up victims.

Consumer pricing trends in 2008

CBS Morning Show

Uncovering a big problem with online purchases

AARP

Report: PETA killed 97 percent of companion animals according to VDACS

Yahoo

In retirement, too, money isn't everything

Wall Street Journal

Be wary of questionable contractors

A storm of questionable contractors are flooding Wisconisn communities hit by tornados.

Thanks

The Milwaukee Journal linked to our video showing electronic devices used to steal our identies.

Sneaky fee alerts: Some rental car agencies charge even if you top off the gas tank

Red Tape Chronicles

Spoofing scam hits a West Bend bank

WKOW-TV Madison

Ransomware' Extorts Payment With Phone Call

PCWorld

IRS may restrict refund anticipation loans

Loans

Auto repair chain must install cameras to protect customers

Cameras

Consumer Reports top 10 questionable products

Products

Madison couple in foreclosure face additional threats

Advice from the WI Office of Privacy Protection

David Tatar, a Wisconsin Consumer Protection manager, demonstrates electronic devices used in ID theft and talks about what he's learned during the first year of the Office of Privacy Protection

Receive email on your cell phone

New York Times video

Criticizing a lawyer is free speech

Lawyer suing lawyer rating service loses

Online retailer charged after Consumer Protection investigation

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Virtual credit card offers extra protection

The Wisconsin State Journal tells about a new type of credit card number that can be generated for one time use

Feds share $40 coupon to help with TV transition

Washington Post: "Millions of $40 government coupons became available Tuesday to help low-tech television owners buy special converter boxes for older TVs that might not work after the switch to digital broadcasting."

Here's how easy it is to break into your luggage

Toy packaging creates headaches for parents

The reporter in this story uses a variety of potentially dangerous tools to make his point about how hard it is to open toy packages. It's a good point. Several years ago, I required hand surgery after using a scissors to remove plastic wrapping.

Do people really fall for the Nigerian scam? Meet a victim in the Green Bay area

Weights and Measures inspectors protecting you from overcharges

Milwuakee Journal analyzes statistics from weights and measures inspections

Check out travel agencies with Consumer Protection before turning over your money

Consumers will keep on paying for new TV's on monthly utility bills

Some of those new flat screen TV's use a lot more electricity than the old ones.

National recall of kids clothing with drawstrings after WI Consumer Protection finds them in local stores

What to do if a merchant charges your credit card without your permisson

Cybershopping safety

Mike Ivey: Gift cards: the $8 billion sucking sound

The Madison Capitol Times' Mike Ivey on gift cards

With the 11-2 Green Bay Packers winning the NFC North, look out for ticket rip-offs!

WBAY-TV in Green Bay interviews WI Consumer Protection on how to protect yourself

Christmas shoppping: This miniature credit card reader can be used by criminals to steal your credit card information in restaurants and stores

Gift check giving and receiving advice from Slate's Dear Prudence

Consumer Reports on how to get the lowest price when online Christmas shopping

Consumer Reports says that dynamic pricing means that you may be charged more than someone else when shopping on line.

Contractor prosecuted after WI Consumer Protection investigates

Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reports on questionable contractors and how to avoid them.

Spamming your cellphone

WKOW Video Player

Analysis of identity theft statistics

"Between 2004-2006 there was a significant increase in theft via the Internet, lost or stolen wallets, and home and car robberies." This is an interesting analysis of identity theft during 2006.

Bank trash can lead to ID theft

The numbers you need for Christmas shopping

Get the real numbers on electronics for Christmas.

Give this Christmas, but give wisely!

60 Minutes: The biggest theft ever of customer credit cards

The

$8 billion squandered on gift cards

Grace period getting shorter for paying credit card bills

To avoid getting late payment fees, pay attention to notices from your bank.

Coupons from cell phones

Here is an example of what might be coming to your community.

Coping with cell phone spam

The spam coming in on cell phones costs you money.

Is your password a pushover?

To many of us are guilty of using weak passwords.

Cranky over cell phone charger

Hand cranked cell phone charger said not to be worth it.

Consumers misunderstand privacy notices

Those privacy notices you get in the mail may not be what you think they are. After the first paragraphs where the company tells you how important your privacy is, they may go on to tell you that they are actually sharing your private information.

Staying safe and getting the best deal online

Optical stores flunk test

Problems with your eyes could be problems with your glasses.

Study finds many retailers easy to hack

Alleges that criminal can go down the street with a laptop and harvest and steal identities.

Wal-Mart allegedly overcharged for food

Following the trail of a spammer

Here's how spammers trick you.

Weight loss products top scam on federal list

Picking safe toys for children

WKOW-TV warns about a new credit card scam

You can stop financial junk mail starting in January

Congress says financial companies have to offer you opt outs for junk mail.

Questionable marketing gets around No Call List

Some companies are trying to get you to unknowingly sign off on the No Call List.

More help for the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commision?

Kipplinger's reports that Congress may provide more funding for the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

What to look for when purchasing a computer

Walt Mossberg's advice when buying a new computer.

WI man gets 30 months in prison for scamming consumers at online auction

Stop those unwanted catalogues from cluttering your mailbox

Eliminate unwanted catalogues

Keeping your car's repair codes a secret from you

The debate over car manufacturers keeping repair codes confidential.

10 ways to save on energy costs

Consumer Reports magazine on what you can do to save energy.

During its first year, the WI Office of Privacy Protection erased $1.5 million of debt for ID theft victims

Is your cell phone company extending your contract without you realizing it?

Consumer complaints about Google

Google helps millions, but some consumers are unhappy.

When your significant other is your computer

We may be spending more time with our computers than with our loved ones.

The 6 most common fake check scams

Scammers using fake checks are taking a ton of money out of Wisconsin communities. You will never be scammed this way if you are suspicious of checks coming from strangers and refuse to wire or send money cards to them.

Dime stores have turned into dollar stores and then some

Although they are sometimes criticised for the quality of their products, dollar stores are fun and offer bargains. But I recently learned that not all stores with "dollar" in their names are alike.

When my 6-year-old granddaughter asked me to take her to a dollar store in her hometown, I found two stores very close to each other. But when we went into them, she kept finding items that cost $3, $5, and $7.

Now I don't mind a store selling $7 items, I just think the store should change its advertising to say "dollars" store.

Best Buy adds disclaimer to in-store web lookalike advertising

Best Buy customers can access price information at in-store kiosks by clicking on a tab labeled "BestBuy.com," even though they are really not connecting to the internet site. Because in-store prices may be higher, a disclaimer has been added.

Free phone service listens to your calls and displays relevant ads

Former intelligence officers give away free phone service to young people in exchange for listening to what they say.

Many online retailers don't answer emails

If you feel like your online complaints are going unanswered, you may be right. Glen Loyd from the state Office of Consumer Protection joined WLUK-TV'S Good Day Wisconsin with the results of a new survey about online retailers.

We've learned a lot about ID theft during the first year of the Office of Privacy Protection

We are here for journalists interested in ID theft in Wisconsin. Recently the Janesville Gazette asked about skimming.

Unbalanced bank accounts bleed money

Young people pay $1 billion in overdraft penalties. Source of this information.

Fond Du Lac reporter buys a car carefully

A Fond Du Lac reporter sets good example for other young people in doing her home work before buying a car

177 people in Madison are waiting to check out books by Kevin Trudeau who is being sued for deceptive weight loss advertising

Use a travel agent to avoid scam vacations

Kevin Trudeau allegedly misleading consumers again

Infomercial king Kevin Trudeau is being sued again by the Federal Trade Commission which looks after the interests of U.S. consumers

On line criminals more sophisticated

Criminals selling infections headed for your computer

Public Investigators report on No Call violater

Ever wonder what happens to businesses that violate Wisconsins's No Call list? The Milwaukee Journal reports one of a number of prosecutions.

Alleges Wisconsin scale servicer not doing job accurately

Wisconsin weights and measures inspection alleges that a company servicing and repairing scales in many Wisconsin stores didn't do its job accurately. As a result, NCR Corp. is paying more than $50,000. (Milwaukee Journal Public Investigator Ellen Gabler reporting)

How your personal information spreads on the Internet

An expert quoted in Forbes says there could be a million copies of that information!

Five things to look for in a retirement home

Looking at retirement home for your parents or yourself? Smart Money tells what to look for.

Those free lunches offered by investment companies can be costly

A federal agency regulating investing companies warns consumers to be wary of free lunches.

Florida "free vacation" company settles with Wisconsin consumers

Did you accept a free vacation offer and then get your credit card charged hundreds of dollars? Press here to learn how to get your money back.

Jim Rabbitt of Consumer Protection says, "It's a black hole."

Most often it's buried in the fine print. And the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel says mandatory arbitration not always fair

Business Week magazine says too many college students are majoring in credit card debt

Keep your car safe from theives

Here are tips from the experts for keeping theives out of your car.

Puppy scam keeps nipping away at Wisconsin

Consumer Protection has been warning about the puppy scam since the beginning of the year. Fake ads with cute puppy photos and very low prices attract consumers who are told to wire the money.

Public Investigator debuts in Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Here's a new blog from the investigative reporters of Public Investigator

WKOW-TV interviews Consumer Protection about the mystery of shattering glass tabletops

Watch out for phishing scams on Monster.com

Monster.com, the place where many people in Wisconsin place their job resumes, has been hacked!

Signing up for Wisconsin's No Call List

Remember that you have to sign up every two years for Wisconsin's No Call List. You can sign up right now, by clicking the No Call link on this page.

Alleges misrepresentation at big box computer stores

PC World alleges that some salespeople at big box computer stores convince purchasers to buy unnecessary backups.

Warnings for flood victims

The WI Dept. of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection has warnings for flood victims about food, scammers, fires and explosions.

Think you have won an adjustable bed?

Complaints about adjustable bed company's alleged high pressure sales tactics.

80 percent of us don't read the fine print

In past weeks, I have been warning Wisconsin consumers about the fine print in contracts being sold by home alarm salespeople. By signing the contract, you may give up your right to a jury trial, for example. In this article from the Newhouse News Service consumers are told what to look for in the small print.