Next month, we'll be distributing this, our fifth consumer fact sheet in our "Look Before You Click" initiative, supported by a grant from the New York State Attorney General's office.

Now that you’ve read our tips to consider before you bid in an online auction, we’ll talk about the basic types of auction fraud, the number one Internet complaint among New York state consumers. Though online auctions can be a good source of bargains, and a great venue for unusual goods and specialized items for collectors, they also provide a number of opportunities for con artists. Click below to read our tips and share your feedback.

Continue reading "How to Spot Auction Fraud--Feedback Welcome!" »

Posted by Jorgen Wouters at 12:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Next month we'll be distributing this, our fourth consumer fact sheet in our "Look Before You Click" initiative that's supported by grants from the New York State Attorney General's office. It's about work-at-home scams, and provides tips for consumers to avoid getting taken in these tough economic times. Click below to read our tips and share your feedback.

Continue reading "Don't Get Hooked by Work-at-Home Scams--Help Us!" »

Posted by Jorgen Wouters at 02:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

You've probably heard about this. What steps does your favorite retailer take to protect your credit card information?

How about your favorite online retailer? On the sites where you shop, do you keep a credit card or two "on file," to make the checkout procedure easier? If you do, make sure it's not your primary credit card or, heaven forbid, a debit card to your checking account.

Continue reading "One Massive Shopping Hack - T.J. Maxxed" »

Posted by Beau Brendler at 11:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Our e-mailbox continues to overflow with questions about work-at-home sites, and here’s another we’d like to share. Recently, a reader wrote asking us if the site Consumer Rated Home Based Businesses is associated with Consumer Reports, and whether it’s legitimate.

As we told him, “Consumer Rated Home Based Businesses” is not affiliated in any way with Consumer Reports. In fact, our legal department has contacted them several times, since Consumers Union, the non-profit publisher of Consumer Reports magazine and ConsumerReports.org, owns the trademark, “Consumer Reports Online,” which they display at the bottom of their homepage.

Although the site does carry a disclaimer midway down the homepage in the left-hand column (“We are not affiliated with Consumer Reports a consumers union company”), it’s indistinct and not anywhere near their misappropriated Consumer Reports trademark. And as the e-mail from our reader demonstrates, it fails to serve its purpose.

Apart from trying to fool unsuspecting consumers, there are all sorts of clues—some obvious, some less so—that should help you recognize this site for what it is: yet another questionable work-at-home site.

Continue reading "Consumerreports-online.org is Not What it Appears to Be" »

Posted by Jorgen Wouters at 02:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)