I don't think my parents ever wanted me around when I was a kid. They used to tell me: "Never take candy from strangers, unless they offer you a ride." Okay, maybe I'm exaggerating (just a little), but this attitude towards strangers, especially those armed with cashier's checks or money orders is the newest reality-slapping consumers awake around the nation!

If you sell something to a perfect stranger, whether it be a car advertised in the paper or something on e-Bay, do not take a personal check or even a cashier's check! Strangers pay by cash, wire transfers...or it's no deal!!! Why? Because there's a new twist on an old scam, and those wacky scamps from Nigeria, the center of the fraud universe and international scams-by-e-mail capital of the world are the culprits once again.

You really need to read the entire New York Times story right here.

By the way...this scam isn't limited to cashier's checks and automobiles: There have also been reports of bogus money orders and attempts to defraud people selling boats, furniture, horses, dogs and even cats.

Ben's Bottom Line? Do not wire money or hand over any merchandise until you deposit the check and your bank confirms that it's paid...even if it takes weeks to clear, especially if you're dealing with anyone from a Banana Republic country like those slimy low-lifes of Lagos.

Check out this new website, created by a couple featured in the New York Times article referenced above...and if you wanna read more about the Nigerian-based games these rogues like to play, spend some time on the Federal Trade Commission's website, the Secret Service's site...or check out all of the Nigerian alert websites and get a nice overview of these con-men (and women). 

You're not gonna believe what you might be sitting next to you the next time you fly the friendly skies: With all of the heightened security (and borderline paranoia) at 30,000 feet, you might be surprised to hear how new rules could turn your next flight into an episode of Wild Kingdom. (And you thought that sitting next to a screaming baby was bad!) Break out the catnip and read more.....

Caveat Valiumi emptor: [Latin for "you'd better make sure you know what you're actually getting the next time you pick a prescription at the drug store"...or it could kill you: You know who's thrilled about the skyrocketing cost of prescription drugs? The bad guys of course...they've gotten into the business of creating fake, mis-labeled and bootlegged drugs to U.S. pharmacies.

Now that the Treasury Department's making it harder to counterfeit our currency, enterprising criminals have turned to forging labels: Forget about the illegal drug trade...the sheer number of new (and expensive) drugs hitting the market combined with the abundance of drug re-sellers/middlemen make the legal drug industry a counterfeiters paradise!

But here's what's really scaring health professionals: Grandma going through kidney dialysis with counterfeit drugs. Or AIDS or cancer patients being treated with "drugs" that are nothing more than high-dollar placebos. As counterfeiting and product tampering cases rise, drug manufacturers are facing potentially crippling lawsuits. Plaintiffs are holding drug manufacturers accountable for the authenticity of their products and safeguards to prevent tampering. Take two aspirin and read all about it.....

Here's a list of most common counterfeited drugs...as well as an industry "White Paper" on the topic that's worth a read.

 

 

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There was some verrrrrrrrry bad news for consumers last week; think of it as the IRS's version of anthrax: The IRS is really pushing for approval to use private debt collectors to collect almost $76 billion in taxes from more than 6 million delinquent taxpayers, claiming that up to $30 billion is going unpaid because they don't have anyone available to ask for it.

Of course they're trying to head off detractors with promises that the private collectors would be tightly monitored: And they're also assuring us with promises that delinquent taxpayers would be informed of their rights...in addition to guarantees that Charles Manson's really just a mis-understood guy, Enron's Kenneth Lay will be overseeing collection agent integrity, and Michael Jackson's only had 2 surgeries. (You betcha.)

This is such total b.s. The feds can't even control debt-collectors today with laws that have been around for over a quarter century: Why does anyone think IRS officials could control bottom-feeding cockroaches armed with an IRS mandate when they can't even control the 110,000+ tele-terrorist debt collectors that routinely bend-or-break the 25-year old Fair Debt Collection Practices Act???

Stay tuned: I'm hoping that cooler heads prevail and contain this cancer before it has a chance to take hold, spread and make taxpayers even more miserable than usual. (And read the entire story here.)

TAXING NOTE TO SELF (since we're back on the world of real-or-perceived IRS-related financial threats): Don't try to go cheap and work out your IRS-related heartburn on your own or you'll get a rude (and expensive) awakening, I'm afraid.  Use every resource available to you and try to work out a deal worked out on your terms: Check out your options, and why hiring an Enrolled Agent may make the most sense.

(Yawwwwn!)  Interest rates are still at 40-year lows...so what are you doing about it, Brainiac?  You've gotta cash in while you can lock in the lowest levels in decades.  Yes, it's time buy a (new) house or re-finance your current mortgage...But get educated about the process first.  (And the price is right!)   Everything you need to know, and the price is right [free!] can be found on-line; get your own copy of Ben's 2003 Home Buyer's Guide by clicking here.

Speaking of bottom-feeding cockroaches (I mean debt collectors): They feast on consumers that are already (emotionally and financially) beaten down and facing dire financial circumstances. Many in their "business" routinely lie, cheat, coerce and deceive unwitting debtors in their quest to make a buck...many use tried-and-true tactics such as threatening to add blatantly incorrect lines of negative information on the credit reports of consumers that won't suck up to them.

Of course it's completely illegal! But these tele-terrorists love to throw around the little power their wield in the tele-fifedoms. That's the bad news. But there's good news for the little guys.

Los Angeles-based attorney Bob Brennan helps abused consumers fight back against these unethical and illegal tactics: and when Bob takes on a case and tees 'em up, he know he's got an excellent chance to not only get his clients relief, but maybe even get a nice little cash reward for their (and his) troubles.

Illegal "pulling" of credit reports...filing false and derogatory information in debtor's credit files...deceptive trade practices, Lemon Law violations...Bob's your buddy/Bob's your pal and a great resource to level the playing field...by way of the courtroom. Check out his website or give him a call: (888) 453-6665 or (818) 249-5291.

 

 

Coming soon on DVD? A new technology that'll render your rental worthless within 48-hours: Disney's preparing to roll out a new type of DVD (called an EV-D) technology that might put a major hole in the bottom line of companies like Blockbuster. Skip the concession stand and read all about it...

Why do I hope Disney's DVD innovation works? Because it could spell the end of the late fees that Blockbuster-and-friends love to jam down the throats of consumers: In fact if the public accepts Disney's new technology, it's very bad news for movie-rental giant Blockbuster, which generated almost $800 million in "Extended Viewing Fee" income in 2001 alone! Read one of Ben's columns on the topic here.

Father's Day is now 26 days away: Quit wasting your dough on late fees to Blockbuster and spend it on something cool for dear ol' Dad  Ugly ties and other inane [and thoughtless] gifts aren't gonna cut it anymore...and of course I've got the perfect gift: It's the biggest, most lucious and amazing towel on the planet, from our pals over at www.fattowels.com

Trouble collecting rebate dollar$? Tired of getting run around in circles?  Ben's got a couple of sections devoted to helping you win the battles that drive us crazy.  Here's your "How To Get Your Rebate" section that'll increase your chances for success; and they always popular "Six Step To Successful Complaining" tips that'll level the playing field in your favor (for a change).