Large Companies Drawn into E-Mail Scams

From my Consumer Alert on WSIL: 9-26-08

It's not at all unusual to find some spam-email in your inbox from time to time, but now more and more major companies are busy defending themselves from email scams that use the company's name. Take Fed-Ex for example... Several News 3 viewers report receiving an email that said $800,000 dollars was reserved in an account for them, and the they could have the funds shipped if they pay a $150 security fee to Fed-Ex.

Officials with the company say they do not request payment or personal information through email and the company has devoted a section of their web-site to protecting yourself against fraudulent emails. Furthermore- the company posts examples of the scam messages- which are very similar to what those in southern Illinois are reporting.

For more information: http://fedex/com/us/fraud.
For examples of email fraud: http://www.fedex.com/us/fraud/examples.html

The Coca-Cola company is taking similar measures. There are several scams circulating using the company name, saying the recipient has won some sort of sweepstakes or cash prize- but claiming the winnings means giving up your personal financial information.

Representatives with the Coca-Cola company provide some things to look out for in emails that appear to come from large corporations. Though the emails appear to be official, look closely for the following:

-spelling and grammatical errors
-improper use of trademarks
-non-corporate email accounts
-requests for personal information

Keep Your Web-Mail Safe

The web isn't always safe... That's a lesson Republican vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin learned the hard way. According to the Associated Press, someone recently hacked into her Yahoo! Email account, which she used to conduct official state business as the governor of Alaska.

According to Consumer Reports, the hacker used the "reset password" feature which lets users retrieve or change their password if they can confirm their identity with personal information--
like their birthday or spouse's name.

Consumer Reports offers some tips to avoid becoming a victim:
-choose your security questions and answers carefully- avoiding those that might be easily guessed.
-Use passwords that are a mix of numbers, letters, and symbols
-Vusing public computers to check web accounts.

For more information, visit the Consumer Reports website:
http://blogs.consumerreports.org/electronics/2008/09/palins-hacked-e.html?resultPageIndex=1&resultIndex=1&searchTerm=email%20palin

Alcoholic Energy Drinks... a good idea?

You may have caught this story during the 5:30 half hour on News 3 This Morning. Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan is calling on MillerCoors LLC to cease plans to introduce a new alcoholic energy drink known as "Sparks Red"-- that contains significantly elevated alcohol content.

Check out Madigan's website for more details...
http://illinoisattorneygeneral.gov/pressroom/2008_09/20080917.html

My question to you- what do you think? Madigan says this is a dangerous drink for young drinkers to be exposed to. Is the concept of an alcoholic energy drink unsafe? Leave a comment or email your feedback to eeddington@wsiltv.com

Attn: Marion Residents- Phone Scam

Marion police say residents are receiving calls from unkown person(s) soliciting funds for the Marion Police Department. They're asking for donations to "make the streets of Marion safer". The police department is not, and will not be engaged in any fundraisers. This is a scam- and those who receive these calls should hang up and report the incident to local authorities.

Attn: IL Southern 7 Counties- LIHEAP Energy Assistance Available

Some of you may have barely turned your air conditioners off, but it's already time to start thinking about heating your home this winter, and also how you can pay for it. The Shawnee Development council is taking appointments and applications for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, also known as LIHEAP. Watch my interview with program manager Quintilla Batiste for more...

http://www.wsiltv.com/p/news_details.php?newsID=5586&type=morning

Saving on Phone Bills

The Illinois Citizens Utility board recently held a "phone bill clinic" in Marion letting you know how you can go about lowering the cost of your cell phone or landline bills.

The CUB Cell Phone Saver website will allow you to upload a copy of your bill and give an analysis of the best plan for you...
http://www.citizensutilityboard.org/cellphonesaver.html

Watch my story on WSIL-TV:
http://www.wsiltv.com/p/news_details.php?newsID=5571&type=top

Recalls Issued 9/16

Deere & Company Recalls Gator XUV Utility Vehicles Due to Fire Hazard
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml08/08606.html

Regent Sports Recalls Soccer Goal Nets Following Strangulation Death of a Child
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml08/08400.html

Scam Artist Sentenced

A Las Vegas man will spend 29 years in prison after being convicted of heading-up a major tele-marketing scheme. Hundreds of thousands across the country were impacted by 33-year-old Kyle Kimoto's credit card scam. Including many in southern Illinois. Check out more of this story at wsiltv.com...

http://www.wsiltv.com/p/news_details.php?newsID=5592&type=top

September = Baby Safety Month

CPSC Focuses On Safety in the Nursery and Around the House for Baby Safety Month: Pillows Pose One of the Greatest Dangers Where Babies Sleep

Details...
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml08/08394.html

Phone Scam Alert

Phone Scam!
Attention southern Illinois residents- this was one of stories in my consumer report that aired Tuesday 9/9/08... By falling for a phone scam you could be helping prison inmates. Murphysboro Police say a resident at the Big Muddy River Assisted Living Center reports receiving a call from a man calling himself Sergeant Brown with the Illinois State Police. The scammer said one of the resident's family members was in an accident and the resident was asked to call another officer at a number he provided. State Police say this is a scam perpetrated by an inmate at the Cook County Jail. Police say allegedly if a person calls the number- the inmate receives $1,000 worth of phone calls.

What if you think you've been scammed on the phone?
The FTC says you should report it to botht he FTC and your State Attorney General... This way your complaint can be added to the Consumer Sentinel Network- it's a database used by law enforcement groups across the country to track down scam artists.

Federal Trade Commission:
1-877-FTC-HELP
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/index.shtml

Il. Attorney General Lisa Madigan's hotline:
800-243-0607
http://www.illinoisattorneygeneral.gov/

Recalls: Issued 9/3 and 9/4

Sony Recalls Notebook Computers Due to Burn Hazard
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml08/08392.html

Wolf Appliance Recalls Gas Ranges Due to Burn Hazard
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml08/08391.html

Pendants and Candle Charms Recalled Due to Risk of Lead Exposure
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml08/08390.html

Optave Inc. Recalls Action Baby Carriers Due to Fall Hazard
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml08/08389.html

UPDATE! New Recalls- 9/3/08

From Consumer Product Safety Commission:

Cordless Screwdrivers Recalled by Menards due to Fire and Burn Hazards
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml08/08388.html

Worldwise Inc. Recalls Retractable Dog Leashes; Metal Clasp Can Break and Cause Facial and Body Injuries to Dog Owners
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml08/08387.html

Circo Children’s Bobbie Socks Recalled Due to Choking Hazard; Sold Exclusively at Target
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml08/08386.html

Bicycles with Deda Forza Handlebar Stems Recalled by Deda Elementi Due to Crash Hazard
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml08/08385.html

Saving on a Sitter, Airborne Refund, Rapid Reel Recall

Consumer headlines: Wednesday, September 3, 2008

Saving on a Sitter (courtesy of Consumer Reports)

If you want to go out but either can't find a baby-sitter or don't want to pay for one, Consumer Reports suggests building a babysitting co-op on your community. The deal is that parents agree to watch each others kids for free. A Virginia mom says a group in her town runs on a point system- the more sitting you do, the more points you accumulate... Someone willing to be the secretary scouts for available members- those with the least points get called first. Parents also distribute tip sheets on their children. http://blogs.consumerreports.org/baby/2008/08/budget-baby-how.html

Airborne Refund- Deadline to Apply is Sept. 15 (ABC News)

Have you ever purchased a product called Airborne to cure your cold? You could have some money coming your way... That is, If you made the purchase between May first 2001 and November 29th 2007. Airborne has settled a class action law-suit and government charges brought by the FTC. Both accused the company of deceptive marketing. If you have your receipts, you can get your money back for ALL the Airborne you've ever purchased. Without receipts, you can still get a refund for up to six items-- a total of 63 dollars.
http://www.airbornehealthsettlement.com/

Rapid Reel Recall (Consumer Product Safety Commission)

Rapid Reel is recalling 7,000 portable garden hose carts sold nationwide at home repair retailers like ACE and True Value. The CPSC says the tires can explode while being inflated- causing risk for injury. Those sold between April 2005 and March 2006 are part of the recall. Consumers can contact Rapid Reel for free replacement tires.
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml08/08384.html