scams

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 […]
Saturday, September 7, 2024

Watch out for election scams

  Shanteya Hudson, producer/reporter, North Carolina News Service, a bureau of Public News Service.    Scammers are on the prowl this election season. They target the emotions of voters to steal donations, seek polling information, or gain their financial data. The Better Business Bureau is warning residents about bad actors impersonating campaigns and nonprofit organizations. Meredith Radford, senior communications specialist […]
Saturday, July 27, 2024

Burbank Police seeking information on grand theft suspect

Burbank Police are on the hunt for a grand theft suspect who reportedly carried out a phone scam. The victim lost a lot of money because he mistakenly believed he was purchasing a well-known computer anti-virus software from a legitimate source. However, that was not the case. In a news release this week, the BPD revealed details of the scam, […]
Sunday, June 30, 2024

Watch out for summertime scams

  By Edwin J. Viera, producer/reporter, Connecticut News Service, a bureau of Public News Service.   Amid the fun in the sun, residents everywhere should be on the alert for summertime scams. Fake utility workers Utility company impostor scams are prominent this time of year. Scammers might pose as utility company employees offering a home energy audit. Homeowners are asked […]
Tuesday, May 14, 2024

Comic book guide helps consumers avoid used car scams

By Suzanne Potter Reporter/Producer, California News Service, a bureau of Public News Service.    Buying a used car can be a risky proposition, but a new consumer guide can help people avoid common pitfalls. The nonprofit Oregon Consumer Justice just released the first edition of its free resource called the Consumer Confidence Comics. This unique guide doubles as an interactive comic […]
Friday, June 2, 2017

Bomb threat hoax targets Burbank businesses

Watch out! Scammers are targeting Burbank businesses with a bomb threat hoax. Over the past two weeks, Burbank Police say several local businesses have received the threat “via fax or email.”  In an advisory, Burbank PD explained the scam this way: “The threats have involved the request for a ransom to be paid via Western Union, usually in the amount […]
Tuesday, March 15, 2016

Consumer Alert: IRS warns of new tax scam

The IRS is sending out a warning about a new tax scam.  The Internal Revenue Service says, in a news release, it has received reports of “scammers calling under the guise of verifying tax return information over the phone.” The scammer try to get the taxpayer to give up personal information like social security and credit card numbers. The swindle […]
Friday, November 6, 2015

Utility scammers target Burbank, Glendale, and Pasadena

As the holidays near, utility scammers are ramping up their schemes to get money out of residents and business owners in Burbank, Glendale, and Pasadena. Recently during a two-week period, Burbank Water and Power reportedly received more than 40 calls from customers complaining about phony utility workers trying to squeeze them for money. Last Wednesday, November 4, just before noon, […]