• housing crisis

    Top 3 Foreclosure Scams To Avoid

    With so many people facing foreclosure these days, it's a good idea to educate yourself about the types of scams that take advantage of folks who are having trouble paying their bills. Even if you are doing ok, perhaps you can help someone else by recognizing a scam. More »

    2:29 PM on Tue Nov 25 2008
    By Meg Marco
    8,282 views, 19 comments

    Most discussed HogwartsAlum: I've heard of the first one. That last one IS scary. What would someone do in that situation? more »

  • consumer 101

    Holiday Scams: Research Charities Before Handing Over Your Cash

    This is the time of year when scammers try to weasel nice people out of their cash by pretending to represent a charity. Don't fall for it! When considering giving to a charity, take some time to do a little research. Here are few websites that will help you find a legit charity that will use your money for good — rather than evil. Or iPods. More »

    4:58 PM on Mon Nov 24 2008
    By Meg Marco
    5,572 views, 84 comments

    Most discussed Transuranic: Instead of giving money to the Salvation Army bell-ringers, I'll usually slip a piece of paper in there reading "when more »

  • scams

    Your PS3s Are Stuck In The UK And You Have To Buy Four More

    Mea culpa. It sounded like a good idea, but the "people-powered" comparison shopping site we wrote about, beatmyprice.com, got one of our readers scammed when she used it in a non-savvy fashion. Rebecca ordered a PS3 from the sketchy-as-hell looking "omexelectronics.biz" for $260. After she ordered it with her Discover Card, she got an email telling her to complete the transaction via Western Union instead. She did so. Big mistake. More »

    6:17 PM on Fri Nov 21 2008
    By Ben Popken
    22,345 views, 93 comments

    Most discussed miguelggarcia: Apparently that company is now on: [www.omexelectronics.biz] Please note that they are based in Spain (I'll have to assume that's the more »

  • scams

    Woman Loses $400,000 To Nigerian Email Scam

    Why did this woman, a reverend and a nurse, give over $400,000 to Nigerian email scammers? It started with just $100. The emails told her a long-lost relative with the same last name had $20.5 million caught up in the banks of Nigeria. Janella Spears just had to help with a few processing fees... More »

    1:22 PM on Fri Nov 14 2008
    By Ben Popken
    40,632 views, 204 comments

    Most discussed XianZhuXuande: I feel like I should feel bad for someone in this position, but the greed required to fall for something more »

  • scams

    US National Bank Scammers Still Extorting Hapless Consumers

    "US National Bank" is still at it, calling up people and threatening them with jail time unless they pay up for debts they never took out and USNB doesn't own. Here's K's story of how "Harry Wilson" called him up screaming and yelling. But after speaking to a consumer lawyer, K learned what he needed to say to get the extortionist to stop phone-harassing him. You'll learn too after you read the story inside... More »

    6:10 PM on Thu Nov 13 2008
    By Ben Popken
    11,087 views, 50 comments

    Most discussed dumblonde: Under US law, can you be jailed for a debt? Where I live (in Puerto Rico), prison because of debt more »

  • international motor productions

    International Motor Productions Screws Reader Over $500 Deposit On Misrepresented, Wrecked, BMW

    Aaron went shopping on AutoTrader and saw a BMW he liked sold by International Motor Productions. The lady over the phone, Brigette Brown, told him everything about the car was perfect. He put down a $500 deposit and flew down from Chicago to check it out with his friend Nathan. There he discovered the body panels didn't line up and the tires were mismatched and worn. When he took it for a test drive, it pulled under acceleration and made horrible noises. He took it to a reputable dealer who inspected the car and assessed it had been in an accident and had frame damage. When he took it back to International Motor Productions and asked for his deposit back... More »

    2:05 PM on Thu Nov 13 2008
    By Ben Popken
    19,551 views, 59 comments

    Most discussed Ellomdian: Erm, Carfax? Anyone who has EVER looked at a car online could tell you that. The carfax is based on more »

  • class action lawsuits

    Classmates.com Sued Because Classmates Weren't Really Looking For Him

    You know how Classmates.com has all those ads and spams telling you how your old school chums are looking for you? Well someone is suing them because after seeing those promotions, he paid to sign up, only to discover no one was actually looking for him. Shocking, I know, but when you think about it, what's more shocking is that it's taken 13 years for someone to do it. It's a pretty clear-cut case of false advertising.Sayeth the lawsuit:

    Upon logging into his Gold Membership profile in order to view the classmate contacts … Plaintiff discovered that in fact, no former classmate of his had tried to contact him or view his profile," the complaint reads. "Of those www.classmates.com users who were characterized ... as members who viewed Plaintiff's profile, none were former classmates of Plaintiff or persons familiar with or known to Plaintiff for that matter.

    If approved, the suit seeks class action status.

    Classmates.com User Sues; Schoolmates Weren't Really Looking for Him [WIRED]

    10:28 AM on Thu Nov 13 2008
    By Ben Popken
    10,792 views, 66 comments

    Most discussed apronk: Classmates missed their opportunity. They were one of the first social networking sites on the scene. Instead they blew it more »

  • scams

    Mystery Shopping Company Wants Me To Test A Wire Service By Sending Them Money

    Here's a crafty scam. Scammers, posing as a legitimate Mystery Shopping company, send out checks asking the "shopper" to wire back a portion of the money in order to test the wire service. Of course, it turns out that the checks are fake — but it's too late for the hapless victim. He's already wired the money! It's an old scam, with a new twist. More »

    4:14 PM on Tue Nov 11 2008
    By Meg Marco
    12,280 views, 54 comments

    Most discussed Applekid: Has anyone ever been a mystery shopper? Care to educate us on how they fill your coffers for the spending more »

  • scams

    She-Grifters Scam Granddad For $10,000+ A Month

    Shaun says his 80+-year old grandfather, Steve, is being scammed out of over $10,000 a month. It seems Steve recently hired a female gardener who introduced him to a "wealthy friend," and now he's loaning them money to pay for groceries, cable, home upkeep, and, get this, bodyguards to protect her from an ex-husband and son who to want to kill her. When the family tries to intervene, Steve says the family is trying to put him in a nursing home and steal his money. Shaun is at a loss. How can he help his grandfather, who doesn't want to be helped? Shaun's story, inside... More »

    3:05 PM on Tue Nov 11 2008
    By Ben Popken
    17,839 views, 116 comments

    Most discussed winstonthorne: Go and confront the woman in person. Bring a large friend. Be polite, but firm. more »