Author Archives: virginiasmp

Playing cupid? A quick online shopping scroll shows tons of exciting Valentine’s gifts for those you love. If you order now, many sellers guarantee delivery on or before Valentine’s Day. But what happens when your order doesn’t arrive by that guaranteed date? As a customer, you have rights. Here’s what to know.  (Read More)

Scammers follow the headlines — and the seasons. As the new year rolls around, we’re sure to hear lots of “new year, new you” advertising around health and fitness products. But some of those promotions are just scams out to get your money. Here’s how to spot them. (Read More)

As your social media and mailboxes fill up with New Year’s greetings, you might see some unfamiliar names. Are the messages from long-lost friends or romance scammers trying to get close? Here are some things to watch for. (Read More)

You’ve surely received one (if not dozens) of these texts, noting that your U.S. Postal Service, UPS or FedEx delivery has been kept on hold because of an issue with your address, insufficient postage, or nobody was home to receive it. Just visit [a link will usually be included here] to provide more information, payContinue reading “Package Delivery Problem? Maybe Not. Americans Are Swamped With Scam Texts”

The Better Business Bureau® is warning consumers about Health Central USA, a company that sells various health products online. BBB serving Dallas, Lubbock and Wichita Falls investigated Health Central USA in early 2022 after the peak of the baby formula shortage. This company caught the attention of BBB when it was advertising baby formula at a discounted price withoutContinue reading “Beware of purchasing products from Health Central USA”

One day in late September, I woke up to an alarming text from my investment adviser, saying he had replied to the email I’d sent him. Problem was, I hadn’t sent him an email. Muttering expletives, I hurriedly checked online and saw that someone had logged in to my investment account and transferred out $4,000.Continue reading “What I Learned After Hackers Attacked Me and Stole $4,000”

Most consumers love the convenience of making purchases online and having them shipped straight to their doorstep. But with millions of packages delivered each year, con artists and thieves have developed many ways to steal from shoppers. Fortunately, there are also many ways to protect yourself from their shady tactics. (Read More)

One reason that scammers are so difficult to stop, security experts say, is that they keep raising their game. They’re continually perfecting their scams, taking advantage of tech innovations and honing their methods to better manipulate their targets. “We keep coming up with different tools to combat scams and fraud, but it’s just like playingContinue reading “6 Top Scams to Watch Out for in 2024”

When demand for something exceeds its supply, scammers are quick to take advantage. It’s happened recently with popular toys, baby formula, and even rental cars. Now, it’s happening with Ozempic, a prescription-only drug for people with Type 2 diabetes. Scammers are aware of the drug’s popularity for weight loss, and they’re targeting folks looking for a convenient wayContinue reading “Looking for Ozempic? Spot a scam before you buy phony medicine”

Does it ever feel like you’re getting more robocalls than calls from actual humans? Illegal robocalls aren’t just annoying — they’re also often scams. But you might be wondering — how did they get my number in the first place? (Read More)