Scams & Rip-Offs

Cram charges on your cell phone bill

There could be a scam lurking in your cell phone bill that's ugly yet so preventable. As more and more Americans disconnect their landlines, criminals have migrated to where the opportunity is (the cell phone industry) and with them has gone the "cram." "Cramming" is the practice where crooks will ...

• 1:48 p.m. Friday, May 18, 2012

Chase now facing criminal probe

As anger mounts against JPMorgan Chase, now comes word that there's a criminal investigation into $2 billion of speculative gambling losses because company traders tried to hedge their bets against the marketplace. At a recent Chase shareholder meeting, people were practically throwing pies at pictures of chief executive Jamie Dimon. ...

• 1:23 p.m. Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Warning signs of investment scams

What's behind the continuing lure of Ponzi schemes? I think it's that we want to believe the path to El Dorado is easy. I believe it's an oversimplification to say it's all just about greed. It's really that we want things to be easy, we want that one answer that ...

• 1:35 p.m. Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Are you being harassed over an old VHS rental late fee?

More than three million people are being harassed over debts of dubious origin from the defunct video rental chains Hollywood Video and Movie Gallery. When these chains went bust, their collection records were apparently in complete disarray. The collection agency that has been attempting to track down alleged debtors has ...

• 1:35 p.m. Friday, May 11, 2012
• Comments  (3)    Votes  (1)

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New scam with rental properties

If you're looking to rent a house, how can you be sure your landlord is legit and not a con artist posing as a landlord? Clark warns renters about a new scam that's hot in foreclosure markets.

• 12:00 a.m. Monday, May 7, 2012

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Stolen cell phones being sold on Craigslist

If you have an expensive smart phone, you know criminals would love to steal it. But there's something coming that will put a serious crimp in their ability to resell stolen cell phones.

• 12:00 a.m. Thursday, May 3, 2012

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Should you trade in foreign currency?

When the stock market wobbles, you might look for a quick score by investing in foreign currency. Is this a good way to make money? Here's Clark's advice.

• 12:00 a.m. Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Military warned to stay away from for-profit colleges

Military personnel seeking a college education after they serve their country are getting ripped off by recruiters at for-profits colleges. While there are new rules in place to protect them, I'm recommending you take one additional step to safeguard yourself or your loved one in the military. It is so ...

• 1:38 p.m. Tuesday, May 1, 2012
• Comments  (2)   

Rent control is an enemy of capitalism

Rent control is an enemy of people finding affordable, decent housing and of capitalism itself. When I was in college during the early '70s, I paid $249/month for a rent-controlled apartment in Silver Spring, Md. Despite near galloping inflation, my rent only reset from $249 to $257 at that time. ...

• 2:36 p.m. Monday, April 30, 2012

FBI warns of malware that could permanently prevent Internet access

Your computer could have a rampant type of malware on it that could potentially take you offline -- permanently -- after July 9. We've had what seems like a crisis a day for both Mac and PC users in recent weeks. Mac users were recently subjected to the largest attack ...

• 1:43 p.m. Wednesday, April 25, 2012
• Comments  (4)