Deceptive Practices

Ask Liz: Combating Collections

Ask Liz: Combating Collections

Liz Weston | June 04, 2011

Dear Liz: I just got a letter from a collection agency saying I owe a phone carrier $498 for an ISDN line I thought I had terminated two years...

Beward the Charity Scammers

Beward the Charity Scammers

Michelle Singletary | March 21, 2011

WASHINGTON -- The disaster that struck Japan on Friday afternoon, March 11, and the suffering of its many victims have stunned the world. Sadly,...

Don't Accept Bad Behavior From A Debt Collector

Don't Accept Bad Behavior From A Debt Collector

September 27, 2010

WASHINGTON – One business is going strong in this flagging economy: debt collection. And with a growing number of collectors chasing down...

Beware Bogus Business Scams

Beware Bogus Business Scams

September 27, 2010

The constant drumbeat of bad economic news may lead to another trend: an increase in small business start-ups.

Consumer Group Warns About 'Sweetheart Swindles'

Consumer Group Warns About 'Sweetheart Swindles'

September 27, 2010

WASHINGTON -- If you're looking online for a sweetheart, beware: You may find a new meaning for the expression "money can't buy love." The...

If You Smell A Securities Scam, Contact This Group

If You Smell A Securities Scam, Contact This Group

September 27, 2010

WASHINGTON -- A friend of mine, a woman with some good sense, told me about a couple who had been persuaded to buy dinars, the Iraqi currency,...

Ministers Living Large: Whose Business Is It?

Ministers Living Large: Whose Business Is It?

September 27, 2010

Is it OK for a minister to live large? A new probe by Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa, the ranking Republican on the Finance Committee, will certainly...

The World Is Full Of Schemes And Scams

The World Is Full Of Schemes And Scams

September 27, 2010

One would think that consumers have become hip to most frauds thanks to the constant warnings by various consumer groups and federal agencies.

Don't Waste Your Money On 'Credit Repair' Service

Don't Waste Your Money On 'Credit Repair' Service

September 27, 2010

WASHINGTON – Every day, consumers pay untold sums to companies that promise a quick credit fix. Most of the time, that money is wasted. I...

Young People Beware Free Gifts Now, Huge Fees Later

Young People Beware Free Gifts Now, Huge Fees Later

September 27, 2010

Ed Mierzwinski is trying to get the word out to college students that the free T-shirt or teddy bear or sub sandwich they accept in exchange...