Author Archives: virginiasmp

It sounds like a sci-fi movie plot: A scammer uses a card reader to scan your credit card and steal your data from afar. For protection, a range of products — fanny packs, purses, card sleeves, wallets and more, some rather pricey — promise to shield your card from unauthorized access.  (Read More)

Planning to travel this holiday season? No matter where you’re going (over the river and through the woods), how you’re getting there (planes, trains, and automobiles), or where you’re staying (home for the holidays), here are the scams to avoid along the way. Just in time for a holiday vacation, you might think you’ve won aContinue reading “Stay scam free, no matter how far away you roam”

The Better Business Bureau® is urging people to use caution when doing business with Prime Pack Logistics and Prime Path, LLC. Prime Pack Logistics uses an address in Steubenville, OH, inside Fort Steuben Mall, but a representative for the mall told BBB there’s no such store at that location. Prime Path, LLC uses a Louisville, KYContinue reading “Job seekers should use caution when applying for work from home jobs”

You’re dreaming of bright sun, blue water and gentle sea breezes, and you feel so lucky to have won a free cruise through an ad, a sweepstakes or a raffle. Unfortunately, instead of celebrating your good fortune with piña coladas on the top deck, you find yourself scrambling to recover your money when the cruiseContinue reading “Key Ways to Avoid Cruise Scams When Planning Your Next Trip”

Scams can be hard to spot because they often look just like the real thing. That includes job scams. They crop up on real job sites, including places like LinkedIn. Scammers have even invited people to do things like 45-minute interviews, putting in the time so you let your guard down. So how do you tell aContinue reading “How to spot the latest job scams”

Securing tickets to popular sporting events and concerts can be difficult and competitive. Many stadiums and venues have gone to only accepting digital tickets, making the possibility for scams all the more likely. Here is what you need to know about online ticket purchases. Thanks to the internet, there are countless ways for consumers to find ticketsContinue reading “Buying tickets to the big game or concert? Don’t get scammed”

With age comes wisdom. But even the wisest among us have become victims of scams, which are epidemic — and growing in sophistication with the help of rapidly advancing tech tools. The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center received 101,068 reports from people age 60 and over in 2023, and they’d lost more than $3.4 billion to onlineContinue reading “25 Great Ways to Avoid Scams”

Whether you’re excited about buying the car of your dreams or just trying to make your budget stretch to get reliable transportation, the car buying process can be stressful. It can also be costlier than expected, because of misleading ads and hidden fees at the dealer. The FTC’s new Combating Auto Retail Scams (CARS) RuleContinue reading “The new CARS Rule: What you need to know”

Debt collection scams can be one of the most frightening and persistent scam types. Victims often report that scammers harass them or their family members for weeks or even months, both at home and at work, trying to get them to pay a debt they don’t even owe. BBB receives numerous reports of con artistsContinue reading “How to recognize phony debt collection calls and texts”

If you’re a frequent traveler, mark this date: May 7, 2025. Starting then, you’ll need a Real ID — which is an enhanced driver’s license or state ID card — to board a domestic flight. Here’s additional incentive: Waiting too long could not only jeopardize your next trip, but make you susceptible to a Real ID scam.Continue reading “6 Ways to Avoid a Real ID Scam as TSA Deadline Nears”