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Consumer News & Alerts

January 9, 2006

GET PAID TO GO SHOPPING?
What will be next? Ads for jobs that pay us to eat candy or sample the world's best beers and wines? Currently sweeping the Internet are ads for "mystery shoppers" -- an ill-defined occupation that presumably involves checking up on how stores are carrying out their owners' instructions. Many of these ads promise not only glamor, excitement and high pay, they go so far as to claim that we'll get to keep all the loot we buy during those hectic days and night on the mystery shopping beat.

Sound too good to be true? Of course it does. But, just to be sure, our Mark Huffman looked into this latest work-from-home craze and found red flags galore, including a couple of watchdogs that need watching. Find out more in his report, "Taking the Mystery Out of Mystery Shopping". (Video version)

TIME TO STOCK UP
Lately there's been a tendency to play down the threat of an avian flu epidemic, which could be a big mistake. With the deaths of three children in Turkey, the disease has now infected humans in six countries, killing 74. There's no vaccine and medication is in short supply but, says the U.S. Health and Human Services Department, there are some steps every family can take. These rather simple measures could also pay off in the event of a natural disaster or terrorist attack, so it's worth reviewing them.

Insurers Rattled Speaking of disasters, it may seem that everything that could happen has happened over the last few years but that's not necessarily so. An earthquake in Illinois last week serves as a reminder that a huge fault underlies much of the Midwest. The last time the New Madrid fault moved, in the winter of 1811-12, it leveled virtually every home within 250 miles. Damage was reported as far away as Charleston, South Carolina, and Washington, D.C. Unlike California, which has modified its building codes, most Midwestern states have done next to nothing, setting the stage for a disaster of colossal proportions.

All this has spooked insurers, who are beginning to rethink whether they will continue to include insurance coverage in their Midwestern homeowners policies.

An Unnatural Disaster The first week of Medicare's new prescription drug benefit is being described as chaotic for pharmacies and an outright disaster for the elderly poor. Thousands of frail seniors aren't able to get essential prescriptions filled because of the chaos. Not surprisingly, the feds say things are going well, as far as they can tell. Uh-huh.

A HYBRID NATION
Hybrid used to be a kind of corn but it's now the hot rod of choice for a growing number of Americans. A study predicts that sales of gas-electric hybrids will grow 268 percent over the next six years as consumers seek better gas mileage and, in some cases, cleaner air.

Congested states struggling to meet air quality standards are throwing roses in the path of hybrid drivers, opening car pool lanes to them and offering reduced-rate parking. Now, Travelers has become the first major insurance company to offer discounts to hybrid owners. The company says it finds hybrid drivers have fewer accidents.

As our regular readers know, there are questions about whether the hybrids really achieve the mileage their manufactuers claim. Chris of New Hampshire, an experienced hybrid owner, assures us it can be done -- and offers a few driving tips for novices.

SUV Safety If any further data is needed to wean remaining SUV fanatics, a study finds that children riding in SUVs have similar injury risks to children who ride in passenger cars.

NHTSA Puts Business Before Safety It's hard to believe but true: NHTSA has granted an airbag exemption to a Romanian SUV company, allowing it to sell its top-heavy boxes without airbags in the U.S. Why? NHTSA said the company could go out of business otherwise. The U.S. arm of the company is headquartered in Florida, whose governor is known to be well-connected.

THE WALLS HAVE EARS
As everyone knows, cell phone conversations can be overheard by just about anyone with the right kind of scanner. But that's a pretty random process. More frightening is a thriving underground market in cell phone calling records, now being openly sold on the Internet. This alarming development came to light when the Chicago Police Department warned its officers their purloined calling records could betray the identity of informers and undercover officers.

Verizon Completes MCI Purchase In the latest giant consolidation, Verizon closed on its purchase of disgraced MCI. SBC earlier acquired its enfeebled estranged parent, AT&T.

SOCIAL INSECURITY
H&R Block cleverly mailed TaxCut promotions that display customers' Social Security numbers on the mailing label. Since the mailings were sent to former customers, many went to old addresses, thereby providing the new occupants with some pretty valuable information. The Justice Department, meanwhile, routinely publishes the Social Security numbers of individuals involved in certain legal actions on its Web site.

Coldplay Can't Play The band's new CD comes with copying restrictions so onerous some users aren't even able to play it. Meanwhile, Sony has reached a tentative settlement in one of the suits over spyware on its CDs. The settlement offers a big $7.50 to victims.

HALF A HEART
A study finds that half of all heart deaths occur on the way to the hospital, dramatizing the need for better treatment and prevention before emergency strikes, our Dr. Henry Fishman reports. Another study finds that doctors may be underprescribing statins, the drugs that reduce cholesterol. Fewer than half of high-risk patients are getting the life-saving drugs, researchers warned.

Meditation the Answer? OK, diet, exercise and drugs aren't always enough but a new study finds that transcendental meditation reduces the death rate among the elderly and prolongs life. Detrimental side effects? None that we know of, though it could cut into your TV time.

Smoking Tied To Birth Deformities Here's another reason not to smoke: pregnant women who use tobacco are more likely to have infants with abnormalities, a new study finds.

Hidden Cameras Reveal Neglect Nineteen nursing home employees in New York State have been arrested in a crackdown on patient abuse and neglect. Hidden cameras found that patients were often left to lie in their own urine and feces for hours while the staff socialized, watched movies, slept, and even left the building.

A New Herb for Colds An Indian herb, andrographis, may help reduce the length and severity of cold symptoms, researchers say.

SCAMS, OUTRAGES & REBATES Calling rebates "fool's gold," New York's Sen. Charles Schumer wants the Federal Trade Commission to do something. "The FTC needs to step in and regulate these practices immediately," Schumer said last week. This blatant form of legalized theft has been getting steadily worse for years as Congress and the Administration concentrate on giving the country away to corporate contributors. Perhaps Schumer's outburst is a sign the tide is turning?

In other scandalous developments ...

• Post-Wildfire Scams Scam artists may prey on homeowners, Texas warns.
• Hurricane Ivan Refunds Restoration firm allegedly overcharged homeowners.
• "Bank Trading" Scam Seniors scammed by "European bank trading program" will split $21 million in restitution.
• Anti-Spyware Scam Companies sold phony spyware removal software, feds charge.
• Gero Vita Fined $4.5 Million Promoter made false claims about supposed health potions, feds charge.
• New Credit Card Scam In this new wrinkle, the card thieves already have the card number. They then trick the cardholder into revealing the three-digit security number on their card.
• Living Trusts Washington State wrests agreement from financial company allegedly preying on seniors.
• Magazine Telemarketer Still Haunting Consumers Consolidated Media Services trying to collect money that consumers say is the result of phony billing.

TRAVEL DESTINATIONS
Suggestions from our Dan Schlossberg ...

• Chicago Makes Merry with Winter Music
• Warm Up for Valentine's Day in Sunny Arizona

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