Author Archives: virginiasmp

One minute last December Leslie Montgomery was a medieval warlord pillaging a nearby kingdom. The next she was a retiree drowning in a flood of confusing Medicare sales calls. The 75-year-old had been deeply immersed in her favorite free online game when a banner ad appeared warning her that she might be missing out onContinue reading “Medicare shoppers often face a barrage of unsolicited calls and aggressive ads”

Is there anything more frustrating than not being able to access your social media accounts? Scammers are betting there isn’t. Lately, BBB Scam Tracker has seen multiple reports of a scam in which con artists trick people out of their money by promising they can recover social media accounts. (Read More)

Last month, two men were arrested in Fayetteville, Georgia, after authorities reportedly found 211 pieces of stolen mail in their possession, including 151 personal checks worth almost $50,000. They’d swiped the stash from a large blue mailbox in front of the Fayetteville post office, according to the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office. (Read More)

When a college or university claims it has relationships with well-known employers, those promises may convince people to attend — even if those promises aren’t true. That’s exactly what happened with Sollers College, according to an FTC lawsuit. Read on for advice on how to spot these schools — and avoid them. (Read More)

If you watch daytime television, especially talk shows, game shows or reality court dramas, brace yourself for the annual barrage of commercials featuring one-time celebrities urging you to sign up for their favorite Medicare plan.(Read More)

Zombie debt is defined as debt that has been “raised from the dead,” so to speak. It could even be something you never owed at all. When a person doesn’t pay a debt, the lender will take action – by phone, letter, or even a court case – to collect the money they are owed.Continue reading “What you need to know about zombie debt”

Last year, Pittsburgh resident Molly Sinclair, 54, suddenly received ominous-sounding messages from two local banks where she’s a customer. One warned her that her account had been locked because of unusual activity, and instructed her to click a link in order to verify the transaction. The other simply said that her account was locked, andContinue reading “Bank Impersonation Is the Most Common Text Scam: What You Need to Know”

The three national credit reporting agencies — Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion — have permanently extended a program that lets you check your credit report at each of the agencies once a week for free. Visit AnnualCreditReport.com to request free copies of your credit reports. Other sites may charge you or be fraudulent sites set up to stealContinue reading “You now have permanent access to free weekly credit reports”

During Medicare’s Open Enrollment Period (OEP), which takes place October 15 through December 7 each year, Medicare beneficiaries can choose Medicare plans that are best for them. Beneficiaries enrolled in Original Medicare can compare and change prescription drug plans (Part D) and Medigap plans. (Read More)

What should be considered in crowdfunding requests?It is not unusual for fundraising to start within hours after a tragedy has occurred. Please keep in mind that while some crowdfunding sites take precautions in carefully screening, vetting, and managing postings after a tragedy, others might not. If you are unsure, review the posting procedures described onContinue reading “Donating to shooting victims in Maine”