consumer alert

Sunday, December 14, 2025

Tech support scammers are getting more skillful at pretending to be legitimate

Tech Support Scams     (StatePoint) Ever received an unexpected alert by text or email claiming there is a problem with your computer that the sender needs your help to fix? That could very well have been a tech support scam. Tech Support Scam Tactics The scammer impersonates an expert who may have more technical knowledge than you and pretends […]
Wednesday, December 10, 2025

Medical debt relief an early holiday gift for some in Los Angeles County

Medical Debt   Suzanne Potter, producer,, California News Service, a bureau of Public News Service.   Christmas is coming early this year for some families in Los Angeles County.  This week, letters are arriving in the mail letting them know their medical debt is being forgiven. Starting last year, some $363 million in medical debt owed by 171,000 people has […]
Sunday, December 7, 2025

Scammers are targeting holiday travelers

Holiday Travel    (StatePoint) Holiday season travelers are a key target for scammers and criminals looking to cash in on distracted victims. Visa has observed an uptick in 2025 of sophisticated, travel-related scams where well-known travel providers are convincingly impersonated, and, according to a McAfee Travel Report, one in five Americans has fallen victim to a travel scam. Artificial intelligence […]
Saturday, December 6, 2025

Statewide advisory about poisoning from wild mushrooms

Health Alert​   December 5, 2025 NR25-023 State advises public not to forage for wild mushrooms during this high-risk season What You Need to Know: An outbreak of serious illness associated with eating foraged wild mushrooms has been reported. CDPH is urging individuals to avoid foraging for and eating wild mushrooms while risk of amatoxin poisoning is high.   SACRAMENTO – The […]
Tuesday, November 25, 2025

Medicare costs rising in CA and across the country

  Suzanne Potter, producer, California News Service, a bureau of Public News Service.   The federal government just announced 2026 Medicare cost increases. Medicare Part B premiums are going up almost 9.7%, or about $18 a month, which will eat up part of next year’s annual Social Security cost-of-living adjustment. In addition, the deductible for a hospital admission under Medicare Part […]
Friday, November 14, 2025

Get rid of leftover paint on America Recycles Day

  Suzanne Potter, producer, California News Service, a bureau of Public News Service.   This Saturday is “America Recycles Day” and the nonprofit PaintCare is making it free and easy to get rid of the leftover paint in your garage or shed. According to the Product Stewardship Institute, 10% of the U.S. house paint purchased each year, about 80 million gallons, goes unused. […]
Monday, November 10, 2025

Chipotle Mexican Grill settles lawsuit over gift cards

Chipotle Mexican Grill has agreed to pay $246,000 to settle a consumer protection lawsuit. The national chain has over 500 restaurants in California, including two in Burbank.  The suit alleges the popular eatery did not allow consumers to cash out Chipotle gift cards with a balance of less than $10. Investigators from the Los Angeles Department of Consumer and Business […]
Saturday, September 27, 2025

Amazon slapped with a historic $2.5 billion settlement which includes paybacks to consumers

The Federal Trade Commission has reached a historic $2.5 billion settlement with Amazon.  The FTC claims Amazon tricked millions of customers into signing up for Prime subscription services. “The evidence showed that Amazon used sophisticated subscription traps designed to manipulate consumers into enrolling in Prime, and then made it exceedingly hard for consumers to end their subscription,” according to FTC […]
Friday, September 12, 2025

CA bill to put the brakes on auto retail scams headed to the desk of Governor Newsom

  Suzanne Potter, producer, California News Service, a bureau of Public News Service.   You know how some car dealerships tell people one price to get them in the door, then jack it up with a bunch of add-ons? It would become illegal under a bill being considered in California. The Combating Auto Retail Scams Act has been approved by the legislature […]
Wednesday, June 4, 2025

Watch out for Medicare scams

  Suzanne Potter, producer, California News Service, a bureau of Public News Service.   Medicare loses $60 billion to $80 billion a year to fraud, and this year, for Medicare Fraud Prevention Week, your local Senior Medicare Patrol has good advice on how to spot a con. There are plenty of scams to be aware of. Karen Joy Fletcher, communications director with […]
Sunday, May 25, 2025

More consumers are buying electric vehicles, especially in California

  Terri Dee, producer, Indiana News Service, a bureau of Public News Service.     Supporters of electric vehicle ownership say there are several advantages to owning one. Studies show EVs can convert 85% to 90% of their energy into forward movement. Most of the electricity used in an EV vehicle is American-made, and an EV can be charged at […]