Current Events in July 2023

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    Grocery prices going down? Eggs and meat, yes, but there are lots of aisles where prices are skyrocketing.

    One shopping expert shares her personal tips on how she saves money at the grocery store

    When a talking head on the nightly news tells us that inflation has cooled, we as consumers needn’t be so quick to rev up our shopping carts again – especially at the grocery store.

    Yes, prices for meat, produce, and eggs have fallen, but as ConsumerAffairs recently reported, consumers are still paying 4.7% more for groceries than they did a year ago.

    Now, spending $4.70 more on $100 worth of groceries may not force you into home gardening mode, but as the trends from Datasembly show, some of the food items that we put in our carts are extremely volatile, price-wise.

    A year ago, you could buy candy at a fairly reasonable price, but in the last 12 months, the price index for that category has jumped from 116 to 135. Last year, candy prices ranked 11th of all the grocery aisles that Datasembly tracks, but now it’s leapfrogged all others and rests comfortably at the top of the price pain points.

    Not to be left out, candy’s sweet tooth kin is also costing consumers more. The current price index for snacks/cookies/chips is charting at 134.10, 14 points higher than this time last year. Bakery goods and baking products have also moved up 118 to 131 index points. 

    Things won’t get any better anytime soon for wheat-based products, either. With Russia pulling out of the deal that permitted Ukraine to export grain around the world, we can expect darn near anything that has a smidgen of grain to go up in price as well.

    How can consumers navigate rising prices?

    Tracking every single price index blip could make you crazy, but Lisa Thompson, Savings Expert at Shopmium, an app giving consumers cashback offers for everyday purchases, tells ConsumerAffairs that when she heads to the grocery store, her arsenal of tools is minimal. 

    Try store brands.Private label store brands are on fire. So much so that convenience store pioneer 7-Eleven just jacked up its private label line, getting 150 new products ready for its shelves, including tortilla chips, oat milk smoothies, and sparkling water.

    Thompson said that Target is reporting increased sales for its Up & Up brand, too. “And there's a good reason why: private label brands run cheaper,” she said. “Private label brands used to have a rep for being inferior, but as consumers are priced out of brands they've been loyal to for years, they're willing to look elsewhere on the shelves.”

    Get all the cash back you can. “Paper coupons may be harder to come by, but there's lots of cashback to be had with apps like Shopmium, through certain credit cards -- look for ones that give you a higher cashback rate at grocery stores -- and even retailer loyalty programs,” Thompson suggests. 

    These money-saving apps are not only free, but Thompson says they’re also retailer-agnostic, meaning they can be redeemed almost anywhere. 

    One retailer that’s sensed there’s a huge upside to cashback rewards programs is Dollar General. Piggybacking on the success it’s seeing with shoppers looking for lower prices, the company just announced its new DG Cash Back Program, which allows customers to earn cash back in their DG Wallet on eligible purchases through the company’s partnership with the Ibotta Performance Network.

    Not only that, but customers can add offers available from the app’s “Deals” page to their profile, and earnings from the program can be redeemed for future in-store purchases.

    Price comparison between stores. Another of Thompson’s weapons is to watch for sales, BOGOs, following your favorite retailers on social media, and doing price comparisons between retailers to find the best prices on the products you buy regularly. 

    Got a favorite brand? Sign up for their emails. Flat out, it's the best way to get notified of new deals, new products, get hard-to-find coupons and other cost savers, Thompson told ConsumerAffairs, adding that if you sign up for emails from the various cash-back shopping apps, you should also receive a steady stream of new offers that could save you even more. 

    When a talking head on the nightly news tells us that inflation has cooled, we as consumers needn’t be so quick to rev up our shopping carts again – especi...

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      FTC and all 50 states join up to bring illegal robocallers to their knees

      Listen to some real robocalls so you know what to expect

      Do you like getting scammy robocalls? You’re not alone. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) doesn’t either.

      With the help of law enforcement authorities in all 50 states, their Operation Stop Scam Calls initiative has cracked down on illegal telemarketing calls involving more than 180 actions targeting operations responsible for billions of calls to U.S. consumers and selling more than 700 million telemarketing leads.

      Count this as one more step to curb the onslaught of robocalls Americans receive, a spokesperson for Robokiller told ConsumerAffairs. 

      "[The FTC's] efforts thus far have shown the industry can shut down well-known robocalls and facilitators of these calls. It’s clear the government’s focused efforts against prominent scams and holding the responsible parties accountable are proving effective."

      How effective can this move be? Robokiller thinks hugely effective.

      "We’ve seen the government successfully crack down on the infamous car warranty robocalls, which went from being the number one robocall to now making up less than 2% of robocalls. Then the government's efforts to curb student loan robocalls made an impact and reduced the frequency of these harmful scams that target vulnerable populations," the company said.

      Tricking people into signing up was what did them in

      The FTC targeted companies it says has crossed the line in regards to getting consumers to sign up for marketing solicitations.

      The FTC complained that one company operated as a quasi-consent farm lead generator, seeking to collect, through a single click of a website button or checkbox, consumers’ general agreement to receive marketing offers, including robo- and other telemarketing calls, from dozens of third parties.

      Another company, the FTC claims, duped consumers into sharing their contact information in exchange for receiving local job listings.

      “The real purpose of the sites, however, was to collect and aggregate ‘leads’ consisting of consumers’ personal information and purported consent to receive telemarketing robocalls,” the FTC said.

      Once the company had that information in hand, it would supposedly then sell those leads to telemarketing clients, who in turn, rely on consumers’ supposed permission to justify robocalling consumers.

      The good news is that four of the five companies that the FTC charged have settled with the agency. Not only did each pay hefty fines but more importantly for the consumer, they may never hear from those companies again and if they do, the pitch will be far closer to the truth.

      For example, Vision Solar and Solar Xchange will be prohibited from misrepresenting that they are associated with any utility or government agency, making unsupported claims regarding the cost of installing solar panels, or taking part in “abusive” telemarketing practices.

      How consumers can help in the meantime

      What the FTC has done is impressive to say the least, but given the cockroach-like qualities of many of robocall-related companies and the growing scourge of robo texts, consumers can't lay down arms. Not just yet. 

      In the meantime, the FTC and Robokiller says there are things consumers should remember and can do to help out:

      • Know your rights. Unless the company has your written permission to call you that way, a robocall trying to sell you something is illegal. Read the article Robocalls for more.

      • Spot the scams that use illegal robocalls. Scams are often associated with illegal robocalls. They might try to convince you it's from the government, tech support, or your auto warranty company, but it's not. You're being scammed. Listen to some examples of robocall scams.

      • Hang up on phone scams. You may receive a call from a scammer claiming to have won a prize but you need to pay for it. Don’t. It’s a scam. In other cases, the scammer may threaten arrest if you don't pay up immediately. Also a scam. Hang up or delete the voicemail, and whatever you do, don’t press any number or call back. For more advice, read Phone Scams.

      • Report scams and illegal robocalls. In order to prevent scams and illegal robocalls, reporting is essential. Report scams at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and report illegal robocalls at DoNotCall.gov.

      • Don't press "1". It may seem like an innocuous thing because we're so used to do doing it, but Robokiller says the resist pressing "1" on any call that you receive. The reason is that the robo company may have built some hook into the call where pressing "1" signifies that the consumer is giving their permission to receive even more telemarketing. .

      Do you like getting scammy robocalls? You’re not alone. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) doesn’t either.With the help of law enforcement authorities...

      Ford cuts the F-150 Lightning price by nearly $10,000

      The price of the all-electric pickup now starts at less than $50,000

      Consumers who have waited to buy Ford’s all-electric F-150 pickup truck are being rewarded. The automaker has slashed the price of the base model by nearly $10,000.

      Ford says it is able to sell the truck for less because it has increased its plant capacity and continues to work on scaling production and costs. It says it has also lowered the costs of battery raw materials and is passing the savings on to its customers.

      “Shortly after launching the F-150 Lightning, rapidly rising material costs, supply constraints and other factors drove up the cost of the EV truck for Ford and our customers,” said Marin Gjaja, chief customer officer, Ford Model e. “We’ve continued to work in the background to improve accessibility and affordability to help to lower prices for our customers and shorten the wait times for their new F-150 Lightning.”

      But the price cut comes at a time when new car sales have begun to stall. In particular, electric vehicles (EV) may be vulnerable. In the used car market, EV prices have “collapsed,” according to a recent study by iSeeCars.com.

      In June, used EV prices dropped 29.5% from a year earlier, after falling 28.9% in May. Prices were down 24% in April and nearly 17% in March.

      “A year ago, used EV prices were on the upswing, rising faster than the average used car,” said iSeeCars Executive Analyst Karl Brauer. “Electric vehicle prices are now falling at nearly 10 times the rate of the average used vehicle, reflecting a clear shift in EV supply and demand.”

      Competition is increasing

      But Ford may be reacting to competition as well as supply and demand. Tesla also recently announced some steep price cuts, a move attributed to a strategy to increase market share.

      With the $9,979 price adjustment, the F-150 Lightning Pro has a sticker price of $49,995. The top trim level Platnum Extended Range now costs $91,995 – around $6,000 less than before.

      With the lower price, Ford obviously expects to sell more of the electric trucks. It announced that its Rouge Electric Vehicle Center in Michigan is temporarily closed to complete final plant upgrades to triple the plant’s annual run rate to a targeted 150,000 F-150 Lightning trucks beginning this fall.

      Consumers who have waited to buy Ford’s all-electric F-150 pickup truck are being rewarded. The automaker has slashed the price of the base model by nearly...

      When it comes to the worst drivers in America, avoid the South, a new study suggests

      On the other hand, some of the safest drivers are in Wisconsin

      What, in your opinion, qualifies someone as a bad driver? For most, studies show that the biggest nuisances are negligent signalers (66.94%) and traffic jams (66.53%).

      But for some Americans, those problems are compounded because of where they live – towns where people drive like crazy, drive drunk, or simply have no business being behind the wheel.

      The ConsumerAffairs Research Team wanted to find out where those places are and went on a number-crunching quest to find the ultimate breeding ground for vehicular chaos – “The Worst Drivers in America.” If you’re a dyed-in-the-wool Southerner, get ready to pump the brakes.

      Too much blues, bar-b-que, or football can’t cause a fatality, can it?

      When it comes to the highest rate of fatal crashes caused by bad driving, the HQ for blues and bar-b-que – Memphis, Tenn. – is 5.6 times the national average.

      “You can’t go nowhere and make it home safely,” Nicole Boyce, a witness to one of the average 30 fatalities that happen in Memphis/Shelby Co. each month, had to say about local drivers.

      A fatality is bad enough as it is, but if you take into account the additional 49 per month “serious crashes” that Memphians also endure, it’s a wonder everyone doesn’t just stay home. 

      A few hundred miles south of Memphis is where ConsumerAffairs found the highest rate of drunk-driving fatalities: Baton Rouge, La., where those occur 2.2 times the national average.

      Couldn’t be Louisiana State University (LSU) football behind those deaths, could it? That may be a stretch, but Baton Rouge is home to LSU and a recent drunk driving map of the fatalities caused by alcohol-impaired driving in college towns had LSU at No. 3 with 6.42 fatalities per 100,000 people.

      The land of un-enchanted driving

      Memphis and Baton Rouge are bad enough, but our researchers found that Albuquerque N.M., probably deserves the overall crown. It has a high rate of total fatal crashes, fatal crashes caused by bad driving, pedestrian fatalities, and accidents that involve speeding.

      The speeding factor is pretty heavy by itself, with 34.6% of all fatal accidents linked to driving over the speed limit.

      Georgia is no peach when it comes to driving

      As a state, Georgians can’t get a break when it comes to driving incidents. Macon drivers alone could use some improvement.

      The rate of fatal crashes caused by bad drivers in Macon is about double the national average, and the rate of pedestrian fatalities is over four times the national average.

      “Interestingly, the data shows that fatal incidents involving speeding or alcohol are below and slightly above the national average, respectively,” ConsumerAffairs researcher Kathryn Parkman noted.

      Other cities in Georgia also rank in the top for worst drivers nationwide: Athens at 22nd, Atlanta at 29th, and Augusta at 30th.

      Which cities have the safest drivers?

      Turning bad crash data on its head also gave ConsumerAffairs researchers an insight into which states have the best drivers. Interestingly, Wisconsin – where bad roads force local residents to spend an average of $733 each per year due to excessive wear and tear on their vehicles – is home to the city with our lowest overall crash score. Take a bow, Green Bay!

      Contrary to what goes on in other southern cities, Cary, N.C., came in second in the safest category, but most of the better driving appears to be in Texas and California. Texas has three cities on this list: McKinney, Pearland, and College Station; and California has two – Glendale and Oxnard.

      Rounding out the top ten for the safest drivers are Henderson Nev., Lynn Mass., and Bellevue Wash.

      What, in your opinion, qualifies someone as a bad driver? For most, studies show that the biggest nuisances are negligent signalers (66.94%) and traffic ja...

      A roofing scam where the contractor tears holes in your roof? Just one of the scams of summer.

      Netflix and Hulu, music apps like Spotify, and online publications like Forbes or WSJ are all being impersonated

      New scams are becoming a midsummer's nightmare for consumers as cybercrooks continue to set all sorts of traps to lure unsuspecting consumers into forking over their hard-earned money and their private information, which is becoming increasingly harder to protect.

      In addition to our weekly Trend Micro scam report, ConsumerAffairs found several schemes that could catch consumers off guard.

      Subscription payment issue scams

      In one scam, bad actors pose as well-known companies and send texts to consumers informing them that their payment for a subscription service has been reviewed and didn't go through. As a result, the scam creates a sense of urgency for the consumer to contact the company in order to correct the situation. 

      Ally Armeson, executive program director of Cybercrime Support Network, told ConsumerAffairs that the text goes on to ask people to click on a seemingly innocent link to review the summary details of their payment.

      The link, however, is malicious and either installs malware on the device, steals personal and financial information or redirects the user to a fake website.  

      Armeson said that subscription payment issue scams work not only because they create a sense of urgency, but also because consumers are accustomed to managing their accounts and subscriptions online.

      “Remember, any unsolicited text, even if it seems to be from a legitimate organization, is potentially from a bad actor,” she warned. “So, it’s important to always slow down and verify information independently. Don’t share sensitive details until you are certain you are speaking to a legitimate organization or individual.”

      Fraudulent sex offender registration

      A recently reported variation of the sextortion scam is one that stoops far lower than any scam should be allowed to, but when it comes to fleecing the public, a scammer knows no bounds. The Howell County Sheriff’s Office in Arkansas says local residents have recently been hit with a fraudulent sex offender registration scam.

      KTLO reports that the sheriff's Facebook page warned that an unknown subject was using the fictitious name of "Deputy Brooks" to notify potential victims they have missed letters of notification. The individual allegedly attempted to gain $2,000 in order to clear a warrant being issued, possibly playing on the shame and embarrassment that a sex offense would bring to the target.

      Like many other scams involving local authorities, the Howell Co. Sheriff’s Office said that it does not accept money or payments over the phone, but only payments in the form of cash or a certified cashier’s check.

      New twist on roofing scams

      Only a month ago, roofing contractor scams started to unfold when bad weather tore across the country. Now, a nastier version is starting to show up – one where consumers not only lose money but part of their house, too.

      In Robbinsdale, Minn., police have reported multiple instances of a man claiming he’s affiliated with a fictitious roofing and remodeling company and that he could repair a roof defect, preying mostly on senior citizens.

      Once the victims agree to let him fix the roof problem and he gets his money, then he and his crew have the guts to actually deconstruct large areas of the roof and, then, leave.

      In any situation where repairs of this magnitude are being considered, consumers are urged to only agree when there’s a written contract, not a verbal one. It’s also smart to get a second opinion, contacting companies if the person provides a business card, and not paying for work until it is completed to the owner’s satisfaction.

      Fake 2FA verification scam

      Two-factor authentication (2FA) – where a numeric code is texted to your phone, which you then enter into the account’s login screen to gain access – used to be considered the gold standard of security processes, particularly when it comes to text message (SMS) codes.

      However, smarty pants scammers have figured out ways to exploit this security measure through misleading 2FA scam messages. These messages mimic a legitimate 2FA request and attempt to trick individuals into revealing their login credentials.

      Armeson told ConsumerAffairs that her team has seen these 2FA scams being worked by scammers impersonating streaming platforms like Netflix and Hulu, music apps like Spotify, and online publications like Forbes or Wall Street Journal. 

      “These fraudulent messages claim an urgent need for 2FA verification or account confirmation and may warn that failure to complete the 2FA process will result in account suspension or limited access,” she said. 

      What types of things should consumers watch out for?

      Armeson said that if you receive a link or a phone number, instructing you to enter or provide your 2FA code, username, password, or other sensitive details, don’t move another inch. “Remember, legitimate companies will never ask you to share your 2FA code,” she said.

      New scams are becoming a midsummer's nightmare for consumers as cybercrooks continue to set all sorts of traps to lure unsuspecting consumers into forking...

      Harvard scientists say they can reverse the aging process

      Their study used six chemical cocktails to restore skin cells

      A team of research scientists at Harvard has reported what it calls a “breakthrough” when it comes to extending youth.

      In a new study, the scientists report the latest Fountain of Youth is made up of six chemical cocktails they say reversed the aging process “by several years.” In their tests. The researchers say the chemicals stopped and reversed the aging process in the skin cells of both mice and humans.

      “Grateful to share our latest publication: We’ve previously shown age reversal is possible using gene therapy to turn on embryonic genes. Now we show it’s possible with chemical cocktails, a step towards affordable whole-body rejuvenation,” Dr. David Sinclair, co-author of the study, posted on Twitter.

      In the study, published in the Journal Aging, the authors say there are at least a dozen “hallmarks of aging” that are known to contribute to the deterioration and dysfunction of cells as they age. They note that previous research has established that the harmful effects of aging mostly take place at the cellular level.

      “We have previously shown in mice that cell injuries, such as DNA double-strand breaks and cell crushing, promote epigenetic information loss, which can lead to what appears to be an acceleration of aging and age-related disease,” they write.

      The researchers said they screened for millions of combinations of molecules that could reverse cellular aging and rejuvenate human cells. While most rejuvenation efforts take extended periods of time to work the researchers said all six cocktails provided positive results in four days.

      The positive effects of taurine

      It may be no coincidence that as the baby boom generation enters its golden years there is renewed emphasis on efforts to promote longevity. Researchers recently writing in the journal Science found that taurine, a supplement found in energy drinks as well as some other foods, may slow the aging process. Their study of animals who received taurine found it helped them live longer.

      After determining that the amount of this semi-essential amino acid decreases in humans and animals as they age, the researchers wanted to find out if boosting taurine would help.

      “Supplementation with taurine slowed key markers of aging such as increased DNA damage, telomerase deficiency, impaired mitochondrial function, and cellular senescence,” the study authors wrote. “Loss of taurine in humans was associated with aging-related diseases, and concentrations of taurine and its metabolites increased in response to exercise. Taurine supplementation improved life span in mice and health span in monkeys.”

      A team of research scientists at Harvard has reported what it calls a “breakthrough” when it comes to extending youth.In a new study, the scientists re...

      Environmental groups say EPA should investigate potential threats from old cables

      An investigation found the cables are leaking lead into the soil and water

      When you look up at wires between utility poles you might not see a danger. But if those lines are old and contain lead, they might pose a hazard.

      An investigation by the Wall Street Journal reported that AT&T, Verizon and other telecom companies have left more than 2,000 toxic lead cables – on poles, under waterways and in the soil – around the country. The Journal reported that testing revealed dozens of places registering lead levels that exceed Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) safety guidelines. 

      The report got the attention of three environmental groups – the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), Clean Water Action and Below the Blue, which are now trying to get the EPA’s attention. Officials of the three groups signed a letter to the agency asking it to investigate.

      “EPA must prioritize the immediate removal of lead-sheathed cables accessible to children or strung overhead between telephone poles,” said Tom Neltner, senior director for safer chemicals at EDF. “These cables pose the greatest exposure risk to lead, and they can be easily fixed. For the underwater cables, EPA should assess the risk, prioritizing those in sources of water protected for drinking.”

      Some cables date to the 1880s

      The cables are very old, dating as far back as the 1880s and to as recently as the 1960s. They consist of lead pipes with copper wires inside and asphalt coating on the outside. 

      Many were abandoned in place when they failed or became unnecessary, but when deserted, the open ends of those bundles were exposed—leaving the lead open to soil and water, researchers say. Without EPA intervention, the groups said they expect that the risk posed by the cables will increase as they deteriorate further and release lead into the environment.

      The Journal investigation conducted tests of soil and water samples that varied from no detectable lead to the highest lead level of 38,000 parts per billion from a single sample of water from Lake Tahoe. 

      The risks are unclear

      What is the risk to Americans? The groups say the risk is unclear. That’s why they are calling on the EPA to determine the potential risk to public health that the cables may pose.

      "We have personally visited over 300 sites with lead-sheathed cables in communities across America,” said Seth Jones, co-founder of Below the Blue and president of Marine Taxonomic Services, Ltd. (MTS). “Research suggests that there are potentially thousands of other abandoned cables across the country. Given the number of cables identified across nine states, this is not a situation that can be addressed locally.”

      Lead is not healthy for anyone but is particularly harmful to children, with exposure to the metal potentially resulting in permanent neurological damage. In recent days the EPA made clear that “there is no safe level of lead” and “even low levels are detrimental to children’s health.”

      When you look up at wires between utility poles you might not see a danger. But if those lines are old and contain lead, they might pose a hazard.An in...

      McDonald’s finally closes the doors on its McCafe Bakery

      Does McD’s and Krispy Kreme’s venture have a future?

      Remember when the food industry’s crystal ball was seeing little but chicken, burgers, and coffee in McDonald’s future?

      The original fast food potentate has made another move in that direction, sending blueberry muffins, apple fritters, and cinnamon rolls – the three remaining McCafe Bakery items – to menu heaven.

      “We’re always listening to our fans and adjusting our menu based on what they crave,” McDonald’s said in a statement to the press. “We know goodbyes are never easy – but fans can still satisfy their sweet tooth with our iconic chocolate chip cookies, baked apple pie and frozen desserts at restaurants nationwide.”

      As you can imagine, sweet tooth consumers aren’t taking this news very well.

      “McDonald's has gone way too far on discontinuing the cinnamon roll. This is McDonald's worse decision in years,” ClimiStormWX tweeted their McSadness “McDonald's, keep the Cinnamon Roll on the menu, if you get rid of it, there will be chaos.”

      McKreme’y?

      What does this mean for those who swarmed Mcdonald's after the company started selling Krispy Kreme donuts a few months ago? No official word yet, but there’s speculation that Krispy Kreme may stay on the menu.

      RestaurantDive’s Aneurin Canham-Clyne thinks that the discontinued McCafé bakery items could be replaced with a broader offering of Krispy Kreme pastries – one that could be an all-day plus for McDonald’s menu, not to mention a bonus for Krispy Kreme.

      In a recent earnings call, the donut company’s global president and COO Josh Charlesworth said his chain has yet to see any adverse impact on existing sales at its doughnut shops. Krispy Kreme CEO Michael Tattersfield told analysts that “We really like the partnership with McDonald’s as it stands today.” 

      Remember when the food industry’s crystal ball was seeing little but chicken, burgers, and coffee in McDonald’s future?The original fast food potentate...