Fraud

School's out for Texas diploma mill

Jorgen Wouters Oct 22nd 2010 @ 9:00AM EST Filed Under: Fraud, School, Consumer Ally

Three online "home school" diploma mills have been shut down by the Texas Attorney General for illegally marketing and selling fake high school diplomas for $225 a pop.

A temporary restraining order was issued against Teri Tout-Dennis and Mike Martin, who serve as director of education and executive school director, respectively, of a holding company called Advent Harvest Academy Corp., which operates three online "home schools."

The schools named in the attorney general's lawsuit include Sunrise Private High School, Longhorn Private High School and Bluebonnet Private High School. Texas is seeking court-ordered restitution for customers who paid the defendants $225 to enroll in their program, take their "tests" and receive their worthless diplomas.

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Walmart to pay New Jersey $775,000 over expired infant formula, drugs

Linda Doell Oct 20th 2010 @ 5:00PM EST Filed Under: Fraud, Consumer Ally, In the News

Walmart will pay $775,000 to New Jersey to settle allegations it sold expired infant formula and nonprescription drugs in its stores, said state Attorney General Paula T. Dow.

The settlement ends a 2008 lawsuit the state brought against Walmart, Target and Drug Fair for violating New Jersey's consumer fraud law. Target settled with the state in November 2009, paying $375,000. Drug Fair went out of business before it could settle with the state.

Walmart admitted no wrongdoing or liability as part of the settlement .

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Nine tips for consumers shopping for identity theft protection

Stella M. Chavez Oct 20th 2010 @ 8:00AM EST Filed Under: Family Money, Fraud, Identity Theft, Consumer Ally, In the News

a photo collage for identity theft -- a big eye in a computer

National Protect Your Identity Week is underway and numerous companies have wasted no time in letting consumers know that they offer the best service to combat fraud and theft.

But the Consumer Federation of America warns that many of these companies make false promises and exaggerated or misleading claims.

"Identity theft services may be able to help resolve your identity theft problems, but no service can absolutely prevent your personal information from being stolen," Susan Grant, the organization's director of consumer protection, said in a statement. "It's important for consumers to know what to steer clear of when purchasing identity theft services."

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Mortgage modification company owner settles fraud allegations

Linda Doell Oct 19th 2010 @ 10:17AM EST Filed Under: Home, Fraud, Consumer Ally, Mortgages, Refinancing

The owner of New Day Financial Solutions Inc. agreed to pay New Jersey up to $805,000 to settle allegations that he defrauded homeowners trying to avoid foreclosures, said state Attorney General Paula T. Dow.

The state claimed New Day and other companies owned by Stephen Pasch of Somerset County broke New Jersey law by taking upfront fees from homeowners for mortgage modification help. Pasch also owns American Credit Repair and Settlement, NDROA Inc. and Paramount Debt Settlement USA. In a related case, attorney Ejike N. Uzor of Newark agreed to settle similar state claims for $25,000. Uzor's two companies, Uzor Financial Solutions and Ejike N. Uzor and Associates were also named in the state's 2009 lawsuit.

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FDA warns 8 companies to stop marketing dangerous cures

Jorgen Wouters Oct 15th 2010 @ 1:30PM EST Filed Under: Health, Fraud, Consumer Ally, In the News

The Food and Drug Administration warned eight companies to stop peddling unapproved, illegal and potentially deadly cures for grave illnesses such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease.

All eight companies market over-the-counter (OTC) chelation products online, which are not approved the FDA and involve the use of chemicals to remove heavy metals from the body in a process fraught with potential danger. Chelation products can alter the levels of certain substances in the blood, and even when used under medical supervision can cause dehydration, kidney failure and death.

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Phony tax e-mail pretends to be from IRS as extension filing day arrives

Linda Doell Oct 15th 2010 @ 10:00AM EST Filed Under: Tax, Fraud, Identity Theft, Consumer Ally

As Friday's tax deadline approaches for those who applied for extensions in April, don't be fooled if you get an e-mail that appears to be from the U.S. Internal Revenue Service -- it's a scam to trick you into giving up personal information to potential ID thieves.

The Better Business Bureau, Greater Maryland issued an alert to be on the lookout for an e-mail with the subject line: "Your Tax Payment ID: 010377149 has been rejected. Urgent Report information," following reports from consumers and businesses who received the message.

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TD Bank won't refund fraudulent charges: Help Me, WalletPop!

Jean Chatzky Oct 15th 2010 @ 9:30AM EST Filed Under: Banks, Fraud, Consumer Ally, Banking - Checking Account

If you're having a problem with a business, Consumer Ally can help. Write us at HelpMe@WalletPop.com.

Q. Last year, I found out someone "hot carded" my debit card and racked up $7,600 in charges. I filed a Regulation E claim on that day, and a police report. Ever since then I've been going back and forth with TD Bank trying to get my money back. They denied me two times, and now the detective from the police department won't even call me back.

There were multiple purchases ranging from $20 to $1,200. I never once received a phone call inquiring about these purchases from the bank. The majority of them occurred in the Bronx, N.Y., including purchases at Target, AutoZone, Sleepy's and McDonald's. I'm 24-years-old and it took me a very long time to save that money. I've been living check-to-check making ends meet since then. I take my credit score very seriously, and this has started to affect it adversely. How do I go against a bank?
Deniz Sica

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Protect your money when you travel with these clever tricks

Jason Cochran Oct 15th 2010 @ 8:30AM EST Filed Under: Travel, Fraud, Video, Go For Less

You put locks on your doors and codes on your bank account, so when you travel, you should be just as crafty in protecting your money. From "dummy wallets" to a secret weapon that comes with a key, keep your hard-earned cash safe on the road with these tips. Click to watch.

America's Most Stolen Products

WalletPop Staff Oct 14th 2010 @ 6:00AM EST Filed Under: Food, Fraud

By Minyanville.com

Which retail goods are most alluring to professional shoplifters? The list may surprise you.

Shoplifting crimes usually only make the headlines when a Hollywood actress is caught like a deer in he BERJAYA

adlights sneaking designer clothes past a knowing security guard, or when the wealthy daughter of the former mayor of New York decides she'd rather not pay for her makeup. But for every celebrity with a mug shot, there's an army of professional thieves walking off unnoticed, stashing millions of dollars in retail goods. Meat is stuffed under skirts. Razor blades are loaded into "boost" bags. Baby formula is taken and resold to unwitting parents or to eager drug dealers who use the powder to cut cocaine.

Not surprisingly, American stores saw a spike in shoplifting in 2008, when the economy hit a downturn. According to the Global Retail Theft Barometer, produced by the UK-based Center for Retail Research, retail crimes such as shoplifting, employee theft, and supply chain fraud rose 8.8% in the United States, to $42.2 billion, that year. In 2007, retail crimes rose 1.5%.

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