Consumer News & Alerts

February 4, 2008

By Martin H. Bosworth
ConsumerAffairs.com

PEOPLE TO PEOPLE 'STUDENT AMBASSADOR' DIES NEGLECTED AND ALONE
The 'student ambassador' trip to Japan was going to be the highlight of 16-year-old Tyler Hill's life. Sponsored by People To People, the student association supposedly founded by President Dwight D. Eisenhower, the trip was going to give Tyler, a diabetic who suffered extreme migraine headaches, a chance to live out one of his fondest dreams. Eleven days later, he was unconscious and near death in a Red Cross medical center, and his anguished family wanted answers -- and justice. In a special investigative report, our Lisa Wade McCormick untangles the web of dubious marketing tactics, ignored safety procedures, and misrepresentations outlined in a lawsuit filed by Hill's parents.

This week's scams and outrages...

• NFL Sacks Local Cinema from Showing Super Bowl League calls time out on 'free admission' play.

• Regulators Warn of Securities Scams Stock market slide creates opportunity for con artists.

• Air Purifiers Under Scrutiny Again Ozone-emitting devices may be a health hazard.

• Susquehanna Bank Cautions Against Suspicious Emails Bank is latest to be hit by phishing scams.

• Missouri Hits Debt Solutions for $152,000 Company agrees to honor state's Do Not Call law.

• New Jersey Seizes Wedding Photographer's Assets Celebration Studios went out of business without delivering photos.

• Super Bowl Ticket Scams Flourish Scalping, online scams, bogus packages plague fans.

• Scam Artists Jump on Tax Rebate Plan Need Social Security number to issue check, callers tell victims.

FORD PLANS SECOND RECALL FOR FIRE HAZARD
Ford has recalled almost 11 million vehicles since 1999 for a faulty cruise control system that can cause cars and trucks to burst into flames even when parked and turned off. Now the auto maker is recalling 225,000 vehicles for the second time after discovering that the fix it developed for the cruise control system doesn't work properly. Our Joe Benton reports that even as Ford dithers and delays on replacing the faulty parts, more cars are turning into firetraps without warnings.

More automotive headlines...

• 1 Million Evenflo Infant Car Seats Recalled Seats pose 'serious risk' of death or injury.

• Gas Prices to Jump for Summer Exxon reports record profit.

• Safety Groups Urge More Speed Trap Cameras Studies find the cameras reduce speeding.

• Feds Revise Child Safety Seat Ratings New guideliness measure ease of use, installation procedures.

• Winter Weather Warning for Prius Drivers Traction control shuts down engine on slippery surface.

CONGRESS TO MATTEL: STOP SELLING TOXIC TOYS
50 members of Congress have written a letter to Mattel admonishing it for the continuing cases of toys showing up on shelves with excessive amounts of lead paint, and urging the toy maker to act more swiftly in recalling faulty toys and enacting stronger safety standards. Lisa Wade McCormick reports that the letter to Mattel CEO David Eckert reminds him that he publicly promised to do more, and that recent examples of toys and products with excessive lead content continue to demonstrate a need for more concrete action.

More smart shopping news...

• Blissfully Ignorant Shoppers Happier with Choices Researchers find see-no-evil effect once sale is made.

• Retailers Dig Deeper into Discounts to Drive Sales Tuesday Morning cuts prices to lure shoppers.

This week's recalls...

• Campbell Hausfeld, Husky Air Compressors

• Kids II Crib Toys

• Chargers for L.L. Bean Air Beds

• Elegant Baby Sterling Silver Teethers

• Apollo Jeans Girls' Hooded Jackets

• Mitsubishi Endeavor

• Dollar Tree Glue Guns

BUILD YOUR OWN HDTV SYSTEM FOR LESS
If you're fretting over buying a fancy new high-definition television and breaking the bank to make sure you get the best quality system, don't worry -- Joseph Enoch was able to build a monster 125-inch projection screen for less than you'd pay for an average 40-inch set. Joe walks us through the process of avoiding overpriced products, installing the projector, and watching his friends get transfixed by a screen big enough to take up an entire wall of his apartment.

More technology news...

• Judge Extends Microsoft Anti-Trust Oversight Judge rules as CEO Ballmer pursues Yahoo! takeover.

• Bush Declares Broadband 'Connection Accomplished' New report touts accomplishments for Internet connections in US.

• Dell Closes Sales Kiosks Kiosks didn't fit into new retail strategy.

• Data Thieves Hit Georgetown University Students, Faculty Stolen hard drive contains data on 38,000 individuals.

• New Job Site Uses Video Interaction Latest wrinkle in online job sites.

HOUSE-SWAPPING: "I'LL BUY YOURS IF YOU BUY MINE"
Looking to trade up on your house, but can't make the sale in a slow market? There's a booming new business in online house-swapping, where owners essentially switch titles when they find properties they like. D.O. Volente reports that while trading homes may give desperate owners a new option as the housing sector tanks, careless swappers may end up stuck with properties and costs they never anticipated.

More housing news...

• Foreclosures Up 75 Percent In 2007 2.2 million filings reported; Nevada, Florida, California top list.

ORAL SEX CAN CAUSE CANCER IN MEN
A new study has found that increasing rates of oral cancers in men may be traced back to the human papillomavirus (HPV) that causes cervical cancer in women. Decreases in smoking and increases in oral sex have contributed to an equal amount of cases of mouth and upper throat cancers as those caused by alcohol and tobacco. Merck, makers of the only available vaccine against HPV, has said it plans to start offering the shot to males as well.

The week's health news...

• FDA Issues Warning About Epilepsy Drugs Risk of suicidal thoughts found in numerous antiepileptic drugs.

• Blood Pressure: What You Don't Know Can Kill You Millions aren't aware of link to heart attack and stroke.

• Scientists Create 'No Tears' Onion No more tears in the kitchen.

• Study Finds Drug Name Mix-Ups Common Top 10 drugs all make the mix-up list.

• Study: Large-Breasted Women More Diabetes-Prone Researchers advise against preventive surgery.

• Diuretics May Be Best Blood Pressure Treatment Study: More expensive alternatives don't provide better results.

• Couch Potatoes May Age Faster Elliptical trainer may be the fountain of youth.

• How Smart is Your Dog? New site claims it can test your pet's intelligence.

• More Bad News about Cough Medicine CDC finds 7,000 children treated in ERs for side effects.

• Pet Turtles: Cute But Often Contaminated Small turtles may carry deadly Salmonella, Says FDA.

• Modified Atkins Diet May Prevent Seizures Study finds dietary changes as effective as drugs in some patients.

NEW YORK TOPS ANIMAL CRUELTY LIST
Advocacy group Stop Animal Exploitation Now (SAEN) has released a list of states where researchers routinely expose animals to painful and degrading treatment in the course of experimentation. New York, Iowa, and Maryland top the list, and SAEN says the statistics are masking an even bigger trend of deceptive reporting on how badly animals are suffering in the course of scientific study.

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