#consumer-fraud

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Law
fromwww.theguardian.com
21 hours ago

Colorado funeral home owner given 18-year sentence in decaying bodies case

A Colorado funeral home owner was sentenced to 18 years for defrauding families of over $130,000, providing concrete-filled urns instead of cremains, and mishandling nearly 200 decomposing bodies.
Privacy professionals
fromWIRED
3 days ago

Do You Need an Identity Protection Service for Safe Browsing?

Identity theft protection services function as insurance products offering reactive compensation for damages rather than active prevention, with coverage details and sub-benefit caps critically affecting actual protection value.
DC food
fromFast Company
3 days ago

'I have been Regina Georged': Why the David protein bar lawsuit has social media cackling over 'Mean Girls' memes

A class-action lawsuit alleges David Protein misrepresented calorie and fat content in its protein bars, claiming 83% more calories and 400% more fat than labeled.
Media industry
fromwww.independent.co.uk
1 week ago

Warning issued to shoppers over fake Tesco and Amazon sites made by scammers

Over 28,000 scam websites impersonating major retailers like Tesco and Amazon were discovered in January, with typosquatting being a primary method to deceive online shoppers into revealing personal information.
UK news
fromwww.bbc.com
1 week ago

'I was threatened with rape after locksmith scam'

A woman was scammed by a rogue locksmith who inflated charges from £49 to £1,293 and subsequently threatened her with sexual violence via text message.
fromBoston.com
1 week ago

Wedding photo company's sudden bankruptcy leaves more than 100 Mass. couples scrambling

According to documents in the Northern District of Texas U.S. Bankruptcy Court, the owners of Yours Truly Media, Paul and Amy Bolton, filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy on Feb. 26. The couple listed their debts as primarily business-related, with liabilities of over $2 million. The creditors' list includes photographers and videographers the couple still owed thousands of dollars to, along with 478 couples from more than 10 states.
Media industry
SF real estate
fromBusiness Insider
1 week ago

Homebuyers have another thing to worry about. This time, it's 'housefishing.'

AI-enhanced real estate listings create deceptive discrepancies between online photos and actual property conditions, frustrating buyers and realtors through misleading presentations.
#food-labeling
fromwww.bbc.com
1 month ago

Secret filming catches locksmith charging 10 times quote

A couple initially expecting to pay less than 50 for a locksmith became victims of a "bait-and-switch scam" which ended up costing them more than 5,000, an investigation has found. The scam involves baiting a customer with an initial cheap quote before adding on hidden charges and carrying out unnecessary work that leads to spiralling costs. As part of the BBC's investigation, the company involved - 24/7 Locksmiths UK - was secretly filmed trying to charge up to 10 times the original quote for the job.
UK news
US politics
fromJezebel
1 month ago

The MAGA Lifestyle Means Endlessly Getting Ripped Off by Grifters

Many MAGA-oriented consumer brands take orders, frequently fail to fulfill them, and profit from customers' political loyalty and reluctance to pursue refunds or complaints.
fromwww.mercurynews.com
1 month ago

Kim Kardashian's SKIMS to pay $200,000 fine over fraud allegations

Skims' unconscionable business practices meant that the company did not have a system in place to shield New Jersey consumers buying online from being charged sales tax, the AG's office said. Kardashian founded the body-positive apparel and skin care company in 2019, so those practices were in place from the get-go, according to authorities. Celebs from Kim Cattrall to Anthony Hopkins have swanned or snickered in the reality star's shapewear, slimming face masks and even a bra with a built-in nipple.
Law
fromABC7 San Francisco
2 months ago

AI-powered 'cloned voice' scams on the rise, experts warn. Here's how to protect yourself

Cyber security experts are warning we should be on alert for AI scams -- and there's one circulating using the cloned voices of victims' loved ones. Here's how it works. Scammers gather voice samples from videos posted on social media, and in some cases even your own voicemail. They then use AI to replicate how that person sounds. Three seconds of audio is all it takes! Some victims report the voices are identical.
Information security
fromLos Angeles Times
3 months ago

Pet owners find 'grisly' scene inside San Marcos crematory. Owner arrested, accused of grand theft

Angel Paws Pet Cremation appeared to be a nondescript San Marcos business, where grieving clients brought in their dearly departed pets - until they stopped getting their calls returned, and the building began to smell. Angel Paws owner Christopher Settle was arrested Tuesday for alleged grand theft, in a scheme prosecutors say involved taking in pets for cremations, collecting the payment, and leaving them in freezers to rot as he distributed false ashes.
Pets
fromSourcing Journal
3 months ago

Arizona Sues Temu for 'Infecting' Phones With Data-Stealing Malware

"We allege that Temu has repeatedly and willfully violated the Arizona Consumer Fraud Act and put the privacy of Arizonans, including minors, at extreme risk," she said. "Arizonans should be aware that behind Temu's low prices and shiny advertising, there is real danger. The Temu app can infect users' devices with malware to steal their private data while carefully hiding its tracks."
E-Commerce
fromMUO
3 months ago

U.S. senators push for a Meta crackdown after reports of billions in scam ads

Two U.S. senators are pushing the heads of the Federal Trade Commission and the Securities and Exchange Commission to probe Meta Platforms after a recent Reuters investigation revealed the social media giant earned $16 billion from advertising scams and banned goods in 2024. A letter from Senators Josh Hawley (R‑MO) and Richard Blumenthal (D‑CT) to the agencies calls for a full investigation into Meta, pointing out that internal documents show Meta earned about 10% of its annual revenue from scam and fraudulent ads last year.
US politics
Information security
fromABC7 San Francisco
5 months ago

San Jose dad lured to Bitcoin ATM by scammer claiming to be son in latest scheme to steal money

Scammers use Bitcoin ATMs to force victims to convert cash into cryptocurrency, enabling rapid theft while leaving blockchain traces that can sometimes aid investigations.
US politics
fromwww.independent.co.uk
5 months ago

Learner drivers urged to beware of fake lessons and tests here's how to spot them

Learner drivers face rapidly rising scams with significant average losses, fuelled by test backlogs and fake DVSA websites that block customers after payment.
US politics
fromwww.independent.co.uk
6 months ago

Car parking scams are on the rise here are key tips from experts to stay safe

Drivers are being targeted by rising parking scams using fake texts, fraudulent QR codes and tampered machines; check fine details and type carefully.
Gadgets
fromArs Technica
9 months ago

Shopper denied $51 refund for 20TB HDD that's mostly a weighted plastic box

Beware of low-cost storage devices, as they may turn out to be scams featuring deceptive firmware and fake capacities.
NYC parents
fromEngadget
10 months ago

New Jersey AG sues Discord over alleged child safety failures

New Jersey's Attorney General is suing Discord over safety controls, alleging misleading practices regarding child safety.
Discord defends its safety measures amidst ongoing legal challenges.
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