Crime

Friday, February 28, 2025

Scams related to recent LA wildfires surging

Suzanne Potter, producer/reporter, California News Service, a bureau of Public News Service.   Scams are rising in the wake of the Los Angeles fires, according to a warning on social media from the Pasadena Police Department – so experts have some tips on how to avoid becoming a victim. There have been reports of people pretending to be fire victims, approaching shoppers […]
Wednesday, February 19, 2025

SoCal landlord and a real estate agent charged with price gouging fire victim

A SoCal landlord and a real estate agent are facing charges of price gouging a wildfire victim. California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced the charges yesterday following an investigation. The victim reportedly was forced to evacuate due to the Eaton Fire last month. Following that deadly fire and the one in the Palisades, Governor Gavin Newsom signed an emergency order […]
Monday, February 10, 2025

Hate crimes still a problem in California

    Suzanne Potter, producer/reporter, California News Service, a bureau of Public News Service.   State data show that hate-crime reports almost doubled between 2019 and 2023 – so the Civil Rights Division is promoting its new CA vs Hate hotline. Since its launch in May 2023, the hotline has received more than 1,000 reports of hate incidents, but almost none […]
Monday, December 30, 2024

Warnings about end-of-the-year scams

Suzanne Potter, producer/reporter, California News Service, a bureau of Public News Service.   Many people in California are still expecting holiday packages this week and the U.S. Postal Service is warning customers not to fall for “smishing” scams. John Hyatt, strategic communication specialist for the United States Postal Service, said smishing is the practice of sending fake text messages to […]
Sunday, December 22, 2024

Three major banks sued for fraud by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

  A government agency that protects consumers has sued JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, and Wells Fargo. The three major banks and the operator of Zelle, a popular payment app, were sued last Friday, December 20. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accused them of allowing fraud to fester on Zelle’s peer-to-peer network. The CFPB says shoddy safeguards on the network […]