Media City Groove

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Media City Groove

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consumer alert

Monday, April 27, 2026
By Fronnie Lewis Monday, April 27, 2026
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The top scams that started on social media and rake in millions of dollars

Scams/Social Media— Scamming consumers on social media is popular and profitable for fraudsters. In new data from the Federal Trade Commission, nearly 30% of victims who reported losing money in 2025 say the scam started on social media. Those losses are staggering, $2.1 billion. That’s higher than any other form of contact and eight times higher than it was in […]
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Thursday, April 23, 2026
By Public News Service Thursday, April 23, 2026
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Recent data shows Trump’s economy is squeezing US credit card holders

Economy/Credit Cards—   By Mark Richardson, producer, Oregon News Service, a bureau of Public News Service.   Consumer advocates said price increases and high interest have many Americans, including Oregonians, drowning in debt and lawmakers have failed to protect them. A new analysis of credit card holders found more than 40% of U.S. adults cannot pay off their credit card balances monthly, […]
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Tuesday, April 14, 2026
By Fronnie Lewis Tuesday, April 14, 2026
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Watch out for a new text scam

USA/New Text Scam— A text scam is trolling for victims, according to the Federal Trade Commission. The agency sent out a consumer alert today saying it has seen a spike in reports of a text scam involving a fake traffic violation. Here is the link to the official notice about the scam and what to do if you receive this […]
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Saturday, April 4, 2026
By Public News Service Saturday, April 4, 2026
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Importance of sleep for stressed out Americans

USA/Sleep Deprived—   By Mike Moen, producer, Minnesota News Connection, a bureau of Public News Service.   Sleepless nights may be common for Minnesotans and other Americans deeply affected by the federal immigration crackdown and other stressful issues. However, it can be harmful to your help. The American Heart Association says poor sleep can worsen major cardiovascular disease risk factors, including […]
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Friday, March 13, 2026
By Public News Service Friday, March 13, 2026
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Cyberscams cost Americans billions of dollars each year

USA/Cyberscams—   Suzanne Potter, producer, California News Service, a bureau of Public News Service.   Online scams cost American consumers an estimated $119 billion each year, and took more than $18 billion from Californians. Those are just two of the scary findings in “The Scam Economy,” a new report from a coalition of nonprofit groups called Consumer Federation of America. The […]
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Saturday, February 14, 2026
By Fronnie Lewis Saturday, February 14, 2026
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Valentine’s Day warning about Mylar balloons

Valentine’s Day Warning—   Colorful and eye-catching Mylar balloons are a popular way to celebrate Valentine’s Day. However, they come with a warning and some precautions. These foil or metallic balloons, coated with a polyester film called Mylar, can spark electrical fires or cause power outages. The shiny balloons are blamed for more than 500 outages across Central, Coastal, and […]
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Tuesday, February 10, 2026
By Fronnie Lewis Tuesday, February 10, 2026
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Watch out scammers sending fake alerts about lottery wins

Lottery scams—   The California Lottery never sends out unsolicited emails, direct messages, texts, or phone calls. Nor does it ask winners to pay fees or taxes in advance to claim a prize. Only frausters do that. So watch out! Scammers are out to trick you into giving up your sensitive information and or hard-earned money. In a recent press […]
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Saturday, January 24, 2026
By Public News Service Saturday, January 24, 2026
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Lookout for car dealer scams

Car Dealer Scams   Suzanne Potter, producer, California News Service, a bureau of Public News Service.   Experts in California consumer law are warning car buyers about “yo-yo” scams, in which people take the car home but are called back to the lot a few days later to sign new financing paperwork, often at a higher rate. Many buyers don’t realize […]
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Sunday, January 4, 2026
By Guest Contributor Sunday, January 4, 2026
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10 doctor-recommended health resolutions for 2026

2026 Health Resolutions    (StatePoint)The American Medical Association (AMA) is offering Americans 10 evidence-based tips for staying healthy in 2026 and beyond: • Get health screenings: Schedule preventive visits, tests and screenings so your physician can catch conditions before they become more serious. • Manage stress: Mental health is part of overall health. Techniques such as meditation, deep breathing and […]
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Monday, December 29, 2025
By Guest Contributor Monday, December 29, 2025
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Consumer Alert: Don’t try to fix your credit with scammers

Consumer Alert from FTC   Need better credit to do things like get a loan, buy a car, or rent an apartment? There are things you can do, but don’t believe a credit repair company that promises to remove accurate and up-to-date information. Also, avoid companies that tell you to knowingly file a false identity theft report — that’s a […]
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