Consumer

May 1, 2013

Popular daily deal site LivingSocial is the latest in a long series of web-based services to undergo massive cyberattacks over the course of the last few months. Just last week, the service was hacked, and the ...

Air Travel Safety Notice: TSA to Continue Ban on Small Knives on Airplanes

April 26, 2013

Anyone familiar with travel knows that there's a pretty long list of items not allowed on an airplane. Earlier this month, the TSA made waves when Administrator John Pistole announced upcoming changes to the ag...

A color photo of two hands exchanging money in front of a cash register.

Why Do Retail Stores Ask for Your ZIP Code?

April 24, 2013

Article, Consumer, Financial Services, General Consumer

3

Retail shopping is never a two-way street. Many stores ask consumers for personal information when they make a purchase, but a few recent lawsuits are questioning this practice. What are stores doing with your ...

Making Cents Off Our Senses: How Retailers Manipulate Us to Impulse Buy and Spend More Money

April 22, 2013

When we shop, random store items often catch our eye and we end up buying things we don't necessarily need. But there's more to impulse shopping than thoughtlessly grabbing -- in reality, consumers are constant...

A color photo of the 2013 Dodge Ram 1500 pickup truck.

Chrysler Recalls Over 200,000 US Vehicles Including Dodge and Jeep Models

April 18, 2013

The Chrysler Group recently recalled 215,000 vehicles in the United States. A variety of makes and models from Chrysler, Dodge, and Jeep are said to be facing a variety of issues that could present problems for...

Best Cell Phone Customer Service: Verizon, AT&T, Sprint or T-Mobile?

Sean O'Connor

April 16, 2013

Article, Consumer, General Consumer, Mobile Services

2

There's a lot to consider when you're choosing a new cell phone carrier and customer service is among the most important factors. If you're signing a two-year contract with a wireless provider like Verizon, AT&...

Winners Announced in FTC Robocall Challenge to Stop Annoying Telemarketer Calls

April 12, 2013

Article, Consumer, Mobile Services

Nothing ruins a family dinner like an unwanted spam call. In fact, no one wants a robocall at any hour of the day; it’s frustrating to pick up the phone and be greeted by a recording. At least you can tell off ...

A color photo of a 2010 Subaru Outback in some snow.

Huge Subaru Recall Prompted by Brake Issue: Is Your Car Unsafe?

April 8, 2013

Do you drive a Subaru Outback or a Subaru Legacy? Your car might be among a huge safety recall. Recently, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced that it's going to recall about 215,000 Sub...

Deadly Backyard Dangers: Why You Need to Call 811 Before Any Home Improvement Project

April 3, 2013

When you get inspiration for a home improvement project, it’s tempting to grab your toolkit and get started right away. But wait before you take a shovel to Mom’s tulip bed, or hire workers to tear up your driv...

Father, Daughter, Mother, and Son Smiling and Eating Dinner Outside

How Restaurant Loyalty Club Memberships Can Help You Save Big

March 29, 2013

Article, Consumer, General Consumer, Restaurants

2

Everyone's got a favorite snack spot. Maybe you routinely find yourself at Chili's on Thursday nights, overloading on appetizers with your co-workers. Or perhaps you've got a post-workout soft spot for Jamba Ju...

Photo of a Woman on iPhone Getting Free Walmart Gift Card Text Message Spam

FTC To Free Gift Card Text Message Spammers: “Game Over”

March 22, 2013

Article, Consumer, Featured, General Consumer, Mobile Services

Striking another victory for consumers, the FTC recently announced that they're cracking down on the text message spammers behind sites like TargetContests.com, BestBuyWin.net and PrizePatrol.net/Walmart. Ea...

Recap: Scambook’s Twitter Chat with USA.gov and FTC

March 6, 2013

Article, Consumer, Featured, General Consumer

Did you miss Wednesday's Twitter chat with USA.gov, the FTC and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau? As part of National Consumer Protection Week, the three agencies held a live Q&A session on Twitter ...

Photo of Scabble tiles spelling SAVE on top of a pile of US dollar bills

National Consumer Protection Week 2013: 5 Tips Every Consumer Should Know

March 4, 2013

Article, Consumer, Financial Services, General Consumer

It's National Consumer Protection Week! Well, every week is Consumer Protection Week here at Scambook, but this official campaign is a great opportunity to raise awareness for consumer rights and safety tips. ...

3D Graphic Rendering of a Gavel Representing Consumer Justice For Acai Berry Victims

Consumer Victory: FTC Shuts Down Fake News Sites Selling Acai Ultraberry Diet Products

February 15, 2013

Article, Consumer, General Consumer, Health and Fitness Programs

In a recent win for consumers, the Federal Trade Commission has cracked down on fake new sites promoting Acai Berry weight loss products. The affiliate marketing network behind these schemes will be forced to s...

YouTube Thumbnail Featuring K-VON & 3 Craigslist Tips

Don’t Get Scammed on Craigslist: 3 New Anti-Fraud Safety Tips

February 4, 2013

Article, Consumer, Craigslist, Featured, General Consumer, Listing Fraud, Video

7

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6DHWBu5CIE (more…)...

Illustration of Human Brain Against Red and Yellow Comic Book Background

This Is Your Brain on Bargains: Why Sites Like NoMoreRack, BargainRoom and JustFab Are Hard to Resist

January 28, 2013

Do sales make you crazy? Do you ever feel like you lose control and experience buyer's remorse after stopping by the clearance rack? If so, you're not alone. There's a reason why we're drawn to penny auctions a...

Photo of a Spooky Keyboard Used by a Craigslist Scammer

10 Tips to Avoid Being Scammed on Craigslist

January 14, 2013

Article, Consumer, Craigslist, General Consumer, Listing Fraud

35

Craigslist can be a very dangerous place. Whether you're buying, selling, looking for a new job, hunting for an apartment to rent, or just giving away an old book shelf, scammers will always be thinking up new ...

Graphic of KVON Comedy in a Scambook TV YouTube Video

4 Reasons Why You Don’t Need an Extended Warranty

January 14, 2013

Article, Consumer, Featured, General Consumer, Video

8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AyM42eieMHY&rel=0 (more…)...

Photo of a White Phone Plagued by Robocalls and Telemarketers

Stop the Robocall Epidemic and Help the FTC