Current Events in March 2024

For scammers, 2023 was a busy year. The FBI’s 2023 Internet Crime Report collected 880,418 complaints about scams and reported $12.5 billion in losses, the most over the last five years.

Since 2019, complaints were up 88% and financial losses were up 257%. Arizona had the most complaints per 100,000 population with 227.17.

Here are the 10 states with the most complaints per 100,000 people, based on the 2022 population count:

Investment fraud

In 2023, the FBI said investment fraud was once again the costliest type of crime tracked by the Internet Crime Report (IC3). Losses to investment scams rose from $3.31 billion in 2022 to $4.57 billion in 2023—a 38% increase. 

The second-costliest type of crime was business e-mail compromise (BEC), with 21,489 complaints amounting to $2.9 billion in reported losses. Tech support scams, meanwhile, were the third-costliest type of crime tracked by IC3. Different demographic groups tended to be impacted by different crimes.

Victims between the ages of 30 and 49 years were the most likely group to report losses from investment fraud, while the elderly accounted for well over half of losses to tech support scams.

The FBI said ransomware incidents, in which hackers take control of a computer or network, continued to be impactful and costly. 

“After a brief downturn in 2022, ransomware incidents were again on the rise with over 2,825 complaints,” the report’s authors wrote. “This represents an increase of 18% from 2022. Reported losses rose 74%, from $34.3 million to $59.6 million.”

In terms of numbers, phishing email scams were the most common last year. There were nearly 300,000 complaints last year, more than double the number from 2019.

American Honda Motor Co. is recalling 17,374 model year 2018-2020 GL1800 (Goldwing), CBR600RR and model year 2018-2019 CBR1000RR motorcycles.

The fuel pump impellers may have been improperly molded, which can cause them to deform and result in fuel pump failure.

Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.

What to do

Dealers will inspect and replace the fuel pump module -- as necessary -- free of charge.

Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed April 8, 2024.

Owners may contact Honda customer service at (866) 784-1870. Honda's numbers for this recall are KP8, KP9, KQ0, and KQ1.

How many different things do people take to improve their memory? Well, there are more than 1,000 such products on Amazon, alone.

For example, there are brain-boosting mushrooms, neuro health heroes, lion’s mane, DMAE and a chemical that comes from Chinese club moss, Huperzine A.

Now, a new study from the King’s Centre for Aging Resilience in a Changing Environment (CARICE) at King’s College of London suggests that your answer may actually be a “gut feeling.” That, quite possibly, messing with the bacteria in your gut and improving the “brain-gut axis” can help your memory as you age.

Cheap, easy, and quick

The deal is simple, the scientists say. As we age, we get weaker and more forgetful. Duh. But, they say that when they studied 72 identical twins over age 60, they found something simple waiting for them as an answer.

The group that had the real success? It was the one that did resistance exercises (sit ups, squats, push-ups, leg raises and planks) and took two cheap, over-the-counter plant fiber supplements (prebiotics) containing inulin and FOS [Fructooligosaccharides]. 

It was that combination that provided the magic: that a healthy gut microbiome is linked to better cognitive function. And not only in this study, but in others, as well. 

The fiber supplement led to significant changes in the participants' gut microbiome composition, particularly an increase in the numbers of healthy bacteria such as Bifidobacterium that’s found in your intestines and assists in digesting fiber, preventing infections, and producing important compounds such as healthy fatty acids and B vitamins. 

The impact from the exercises? Well, there wasn’t any discernible difference in muscle strength between the study groups, but the group receiving the fiber supplement did do better in tests assessing brain function, reaction time, and processing speed.

“These measures are important for daily living – for example reacting to traffic or stopping a simple trip-up turning into a fall,” the researchers said.

And fast-acting, too!

“We are excited to see these changes in just 12 weeks. This holds huge promise for enhancing brain health and memory in our aging population. Unlocking the secrets of the gut-brain axis could offer new approaches for living more healthily for longer,” first author Dr Mary Ni Lochlainn, from the Department of Twin Research, said.

Within the last decade, American businesses discovered that subscription revenue is among the best. Once the customer is signed up, there is little to no marketing cost to keep the money flowing.

From the consumer’s standpoint, subscription fees aren’t a budget buster since many are often $10 or less each month. But consumers who sign up for multiple subscriptions soon find that these fees quickly add up.

When he leased a new Tesla at a monthly cost of $511, Chris Kornelis started looking for things he could eliminate from his budget. Writing in the Wall Street Journal, Kornelis said he focused on eliminating subscriptions – including his cable TV service – until he had covered the monthly lease payment.

“Paying for cellphone service is like paying the water bill: something I did without protest and never really thought twice about,” Kornelis wrote. “But I’d started to get curious about the ads I’d been seeing for low-cost services like Boost Mobile and Cricket Wireless.”

He said he ditched AT&T, that was costing $128 a month for two lines, and picked up Mint Mobile at a cost of about $65. Before long, he had carved $511 from his budget.

 “If there is a downside to making this move, I have yet to notice it,” Kornelis wrote.

Unused streaming services

With inflation eating into consumers’ buying power over the last three years, cutting back on monthly subscription costs could provide some breathing room. Streaming services may be the first place to look.

A survey by Bango, an enterprise software provider, found that the typical consumer spends nearly $1,000 per year on streaming service subscriptions. That’s about $80 a month, which could buy a lot of groceries.

These costs will only go up in the future. Netflix and many other streaming services have raised subscription rates, justifying it by saying they need additional capital to invest in programming.

Meanwhile, there is a lot of free content available, supported by commercials. For example, the Roku Channel is a free streaming service provided by Roku, which offers a wide selection of content, including over 350 live TV channels and 80,000 movies and TV shows. 

Free content

Other free services include:

• Pluto TV: This service provides a mix of live and on-demand content, including movies, TV shows, and channels designed to replicate the experience of traditional live TV.

• Freevee: Owned by Amazon, Freevee offers a range of movies and TV shows without a subscription fee. It was previously known as IMDb TV and is available in the U.S., UK, and Germany.

• Crackle: Crackle is known for its selection of original content, classic shows, and a variety of movies. It is a free service that does not require users to purchase the content.

• Vudu: While Vudu is primarily known as a service for renting and buying digital movies and TV shows, it also offers a selection of free content P.

• Hoopla and Kanopy: These services are free for users with a library card from a participating library. They offer a wide range of movies and some TV shows.

Streaming services aren’t the only subscriptions that could be weighing down your budget. Consumers often sign up for credit monitoring and other services, and then forget about them.

There are several available apps that can find these forgotten subscriptions and make it easier to cancel them. Subscription Stopper and Manger is a free app whose maker claims it to be “the all-in-one app designed to effortlessly manage and cancel subscriptions.”

Chrysler is recalling 338,238 model year 2021-2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee Ls and model year 2022-2023 Jeep Grand Cherokees.

The upper control arm ball joint and steering knuckle may separate and cause the wheel to fall outward, resulting in a loss of vehicle control.

A loss of vehicle control increases the risk of a crash.

What to do

Dealers will replace the upper control arm pinch bolts, free of charge.

Notification letters are expected to be mailed to owners April 12, 2024.

Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at (800) 853-1403. Chrysler’s number for this recall is 10B.

The banks and the credit card companies can’t say they weren’t warned. Only six weeks after the CFPB made it known that it wasn’t happy with the late fees they were charging consumers, it has officially lowered the boom.

The agency is finalizing a rule that will reduce typical late fees from a $32 average to, in most cases, $8. If things go the way the CFPB postures the move, American families who’ve been subjected to these fees will save an average of $220 a year.

Crawling from the wreckage

The genesis of this issue goes back more than a decade ago when Congress voted to pass the CARD Act to clean up widespread abuses in the credit card industry – one of those abuses being excessive penalties like late fees.

In the law, Congress allowed credit card companies to charge “reasonable and proportional” fees to incentivize on-time payment and cover the costs associated with late payments. 

But the responsibility of regulating the law was squarely on the shoulders of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors and it failed miserably when it gave financial institutions some wiggle room on what was “reasonable and proportional” as long as they stayed below a certain threshold. It was that loophole that got us here and the one the CFPB decided to close.

One big loophole equals tens of thousands of complaints

The spillage was over the top, to say the least. In ConsumerAffairs' analysis of CFPB complaints, there have been 12,330 about credit card or prepaid card fees over the last three years. 

Consumers paid for that dearly, too -- on average, charges of $138 per year per card, and many consumers have multiple credit cards.

The status quo makes late fees an irresistible revenue stream. Just ask Mandora of Mt. Vernon N.Y., who claimed in a review of Credit One Bank on ConsumerAffairs that when their payment was due on the 28th, they did what seems fair -- they paid it on the 28th.

But Mandora says paying on time wasn't good enough for Credit One.

"They charged me a $30 late fee because they said I did not pay it before 5 o'clock p.m., I paid an early payment on July 3rd of 130.00. My payments are only 30.00. They said it didn't count for July because the billing cycle starts after the 5th of July and that I would still owe July 28th payments. How can they do this to people and get away with it?"

'What's in your wallet -- more fees?'

What credit card providers chalk up the most fee-related complaints at the CFPB? Topping the list is Capital One.

Next is Bread Financial Holdings, Inc. You might not recognize that name, but it provides card programs for retail brands such as Ulta, Victoria’s Secret, the NFL, AAA, Academy Sports, Ann Taylor, Arhuas, Big O Tires, Bealls, Burlington, BuyBuyBaby, DSW, Dell, Forever 21, J. Crew, IKEA, Eddie Bauer, Lexus, Lane Bryant, Land's End, Petco, Toyota, Wayfair, and Zales.

Coming in third is Synchrony Financial, another sort of anonymous lender, but like Bread, it has partner cards in place with lots of big brands: Ashley Furniture, MattressFirm, Dick's Sporting Goods, Walgreens, Rheem, HSN, Crate & Barrell, and others.

When will all of this officially be in the consumer’s favor?

The effective date of the final rule will be 60 days after publication of the rule in the Federal Register. However, the CFPB encourages consumers not to wait if they sense their bank or credit card company is overstepping their bounds, especially when it comes to fees.

If that’s you, your chances are good that you'll receive either a full explanation from the bank/credit card company, which happens 67% of the time, or monetary relief, which 27% of complaining consumers receive.

You can submit complaints about financial products or services by visiting the CFPB’s website or by calling (855) 411-CFPB (2372).

Airline travel can be stressful, and knowing how to navigate last-minute changes, delays, and disruptions to your itinerary can be even more stressful. 

As part of this year’s Consumer Protection Week, the U.S. PIRG Education Fund shared its best insights for consumers to utilize when they're flying. This includes everything from knowing your rights when flights are canceled or delayed, when bags go missing or when you’re suddenly bumped from a flight. 

“Airline travel has often been unreliable for years as the airlines struggled with post-pandemic staffing and logistics,” wrote Teresa Murray, consumer watchdog from the U.S. PIRG Education Fund. “Almost every airline has had at least one disastrous weekend with mass cancellations during the last couple of years. We could be past the worst, but it’s still best to plan for possible problems.” 

What are your rights as a traveler?

The U.S. PIRG Education Fund has created a Flyer’s Bill of Rights that details everything consumers need to know when flying, including information about canceled or delayed flights, rebooking, tarmac delays, getting bumped from flights, flight delays, delayed bags, lost or damaged bags, and filing complaints. 

Airlines are required to give travelers a full refund, including ticket prices, taxes, baggage fees, extra charges, and ancillary fees if the carrier cancels the flight. Many airlines will cover the cost of a transfer ticket to another airline if your original ticket has been canceled; however, this isn’t required by law. 

If your flight is significantly delayed or canceled because of staffing or equipment issues, or any other reason within the airline’s control, you have options. The U.S. PIRG Education Fund found that: 

• Six of the 10 major airlines will rebook you on another airline for no extra charge. 

• All 10 major airlines will provide a meal voucher. 

• Nine of the 10 major airlines will pay for hotels and ground transportation if you’re stuck somewhere overnight. However, you may have to ask them to do so. 

What about bags? 

Sometimes, you end up at your destination but your checked bag doesn’t. What is the protocol for travelers? 

• Most airlines will reimburse flyers for necessities, like a change of clothes or toiletries, if bags are delayed. 

• When bags are completely lost, travelers should receive reimbursement for any baggage fees as well as up to $3,800 for the items inside. 

As a consumer, you’re also entitled to file a complaint with either the airline or the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Any complaints filed with airlines must be acknowledged within 30 days, and responses must be sent in writing within 60 days. 

Tips before you book a flight

Before you book your next trip, there are many things you can do to help reduce your stress levels when you get to the airport. Some tips from the U.S. PIRG Education Fund include: 

• Be careful about booking through third-party ticket websites. While they may offer a discount, when it comes time for a refund or rebooking, it’s often more difficult through these sites, as opposed to navigating the specific airline’s website. 

• Flying early in the morning reduces your chances of delays or other mishaps. 

• Limit how often you book connecting flights, as this can also reduce the likelihood of delays, cancellations, or other frustrations. 

• There are resources online to look at a flight’s statistics in terms of on-time arrivals and departures. This can help you know if you’re more likely to get stuck in a long delay. 

• Avoid a checked bag when possible. However, if you do need to check a bag, put a tracker in it so you know where your bag is at all times. It’s also recommended to take pictures of everything that’s inside your checked bag in the event the bag gets lost and you need to file a claim. 

Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) is recalling 31,848 of the following vehicles:

• Model year 2023-2024 C300s, AMG C43s, S580e’s, S580, Maybach S580s, Maybach S680s, AMG SL43s, AMGSL63s, GLC300s, EQE350s, EQE500s, EQS450s, EQS580s, AMG EQS’s; and
• Model year 2023 S500s, AMG SL55s, AMG EQEs, 2024 E350s, E450s, AMG C63e S’s, CLE300 Coupes, CLE450 Coupes, and GLC300 Coupes.

The 80-amp fuses may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can cause them to fail.

Failure of the 80-amp fuse can result in a sudden loss of drive power or a loss of critical safety functions such as the restraint systems or instrument cluster, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.

There could also be an increased risk of a fire.

What to do

Dealers will replace the main fuse boxes, free of charge.

Owners will be notified of the issue by letter beginning April 16, 2024.

Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at (800) 367-6372.

Facebook and Instagram, two social media platforms owned by Meta suffered outages this week. A company spokesman said the glitch was a “technical issue” and it was resolved within two hours.

It comes on the heels of another communication outage when AT&T Wireless lost service for several hours in late February. The two outages appear to be unrelated.

Outage detector Downdetector reported the outage and said it appeared to affect about 500,000 users. The outage affecting Instagram was about 10% of that total.

Some Facebook users reported getting messages saying they had been logged out of their accounts. Some users found they could not upload new posts, to either Facebook or Instagram.

The Downdetector chart below shows the outages spiked around 11:00 a.m. ET but quickly recovered by the afternoon.

Most of the reported problems had to do with the inability to log into accounts. About 17% of the reported problems concerned the app.

It took almost a year after ConsumerAffairs raised the caution flag about dynamic pricing at restaurants, but last week Wendy’s decided to try it out. However, the company quickly found out that consumers were having none of that idea and pulled its horns back in.

While the restaurant biz is the latest to go to a revenue-based-on-demand approach, there are lots of others that consumers don’t even think about that are goosing up the meter when there’s a lot of activity – airlines and rideshare companies for example.

There's little consumers can do to push back an airline or Uber's based-on-demand pricing, but there are ways you can get around the dynamic pricing bricks in the road that the three major retailers can throw at you.

Amazon

We don’t think of Amazon being part of the dynamic pricing crowd, but it is a pioneer in that business model, adjusting prices based on factors like demand, competition, and customer behavior. 

To get around it, you can try price tracking tools – such as browser extensions or websites like CamelCamelCamel or Keepa to track price history and set alerts for price drops on specific items.

You can also use Amazon Watchlist and add the products you want most to your Amazon Watchlist and monitor price fluctuations from there.

If you watch the occasional NBA game, you've probably seen Seth Curry wearing a “Rakuten” patch on his Warriors jersey. Well, Rakuten fits nicely in keeping tabs of Amazon prices. All you have to do is log on to the Rakuten website, see what the deals are, and if there’s any cash back available for what you’ve got your eye on at Amazon.

The last Amazon trick is Amazon Marketplace – a virtual marketplace operated by Amazon that allows third-party sellers to list and sell their new or used products alongside Amazon's own offerings.

The benefit to you is that it’s sort of a one-stop shop that provides you with a wide range of products from various sellers.

The potential for counterfeit or low-quality products can be higher than “normal” Amazon, and because these third-party sellers aren’t as marketing savvy as Amazon’s own employees, the product listings might not be as straightforward as you would get on Amazon’s own platform. 

Walmart

The company probably feels that if Amazon can get away with dynamic pricing, it can, too – especially online. 

To play Walmart’s game, compare prices between Walmart's physical stores and their online platform. Prices might differ, especially because of in-store promotions.

Apps like Brickseek or PriceBlink let you track price history and compare prices across different retailers, including Walmart's online and in-store prices.

Speaking of apps, you can also utilize Walmart’s own App because its "Scan & Go '' feature allows you to scan product barcodes and check prices before heading to checkout, potentially revealing price discrepancies.

If you shop at Walmart for groceries, you might want to give the company a chance to prove its value with its grocery pickup and delivery program. Why? Because prices might occasionally differ from in-store pricing.

Comparatively, Walmart is far more “old school” than Target or Amazon and it still has weekly ads. 

In ConsumerAffairs' research, we found one of the simpler ways to keep tabs on those ads is by letting someone else do all the work, like the “Lady Savings” website.

Target

Target may be a little tougher to stay on top of when it comes to dynamic pricing, but there are some strategies that can help you find the best deals.

Here, again, you can employ browser extensions or websites like CamelCamelCamel or Keepa to track price history on specific products you might be interested in. The advantage of those two is that they’ll help you identify price trends and potential future sales.

But you may also consider signing up for Target Circle. It’s the store’s free loyalty program and one that allows you access to exclusive discounts, personalized offers, and the ability to earn rewards points redeemable for future purchases.

Insider tip: The secret weapon for Target Circle is the app. There, you'll find ongoing promotions, targeted discounts, and Circle Offers that can provide additional savings on specific items.

And don’t forget about price-matching

If you don’t use price-matching in your search for the best price, you should consider doing so. 

Many major U.S. companies offer price-matching policies, allowing you to get the difference refunded if you find a lower advertised price elsewhere. Here are some popular examples:

• Best Buy

• Fry's Electronics

• Lowe's

• Toys R Us

• Target

• Walmart

• Staples

• Office Depot           

These are just a few examples, but it's important to note that specific policies can vary. It's always best to check the individual store's website or ask an employee for details on their price-matching policy before making a purchase.

Here are some additional things to keep in mind:

• Matched competitor: Most stores will only match prices from authorized retailers, not individual sellers on marketplaces.

• Timeframe: The timeframe for requesting a price match can vary, typically ranging from 14 to 30 days after purchase.

• Conditions: Some stores may have restrictions on the type of product, minimum price difference, or online-only offers they will match.

By understanding price-matching policies, you can potentially save money on your next purchase!

The two largest pharmacy chains in the U.S. – Walgreens and CVS – have indicated they have received FDA certification to dispense mifepristone, one of the two drugs used in a medication abortion, in states where it is legal. 

The chains are playing the odds that, despite an ever-changing landscape of abortion laws and legal battles over reproductive rights, there’s enough going for the approval’s possibility that they want to be ready if and when it happens.

So, while CVS and Walgreens may have the certification, they won't be able to sell it everywhere, only in these states to begin:

Walgreens: New York, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, California, and Illinois. 

CVS: Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

Walmart and Target, the other two largest pharmacy chains, have yet to announce similar measures. 

How mifepristone works and its risks

Mifepristone was first approved more than two decades ago, and when used in combination with misoprostol, can end a pregnancy up to the first 10 weeks of gestation. It works by blocking progesterone, the hormone necessary for pregnancy to continue. 

The safety and efficacy of mifepristone are well-documented, and it is also prescribed to women who experience early pregnancy miscarriages to expel any fetal remains and residual pregnancy tissue from the womb.

The risks associated with mifepristone are considered to be low, as well. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists maintains that mifepristone is safe and effective. However – like many other medications – the drug does have side effects such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

The drug comes with the White House’s vote of approval

“Many women in America will soon have the choice to pick up their prescription at a local pharmacy. This is an important step to ensure women have access to the health care they need,” Vice-President Kamala Harris said.

“Our Administration will not waver in our dedication to preserving access to essential medication and defending the FDA’s independent, evidence-based approval and regulation of safe and effective drugs.”

Easter is just a few weeks away, and as consumers continue to battle inflation and rising prices, Walmart is rolling back prices for the upcoming holiday meal. 

The retailer is removing inflation from its 2024 Easter meal offerings and meal items will be priced lower than they were in 2023. 

“Saving customers money is central to Walmart’s mission, and that’s never more in focus than during important holiday celebrations,” said John Laney, executive vice president of food at Walmart. “We’re proud to offer an Easter meal priced even lower than last year, so our customers can celebrate without sacrificing the essentials this holiday season and deliver on our promise of helping them save money and live better.” 

Save on your Easter meal

Walmart has curated a full Easter meal for consumers that can run less than $8 per person. It includes everything from side dishes, to appetizers, and desserts. 

The full shopping list features:  

• Sam’s Choice Bone-in Spiral Cut Ham 8-14.6 lbs: $26.56

• Dole Pineapple Slices 20 oz can: $1.97

• White Dinner Rolls, 12 count: $1.38

• Caesar Salad Kit Family Size: $4.48

• Betty Crocker Scalloped Potatoes: $2.68

• Sweet Potatoes: $1.14 each

• Sweet Corn on the Cob: $3.48

• Green Beans: $0.98 

• 18-Count Large Brown Eggs: $3.92

• Paprika: $1.12

• Mayonnaise: $3.34

• Yellow Mustard: $0.98

• Marie Callender’s Dutch Apple Pie Frozen Dessert: $6.97

• Vanilla Dessert Shells: $1.84

• Frozen Whole Strawberries: $2.24

• Frozen Whipped Cream: $1.07

To feed up to 10 people, the total price of the meal comes in at under $73. Consumers can add the entire grocery list to their Walmart shopping cart for easy meal planning. 

Save on Easter baskets too

On top of savings on your Easter meal, Walmart is also offering savings on Easter baskets for kids of all ages. Similar to the curated meal, the retailer has put together a list of Easter basket items for shoppers that come in at under $20. The deal includes everything from candy, to decorations, and even paper grass. 

Additionally, Walmart has a selection of pre-made Easter baskets that range in price from $15-$25. Or, consumers can build their own Easter baskets, with a number of deals on Easter candy, toys, accessories – and even additions for pets. 

Consumers can shop the special Easter deals on meals and baskets through Easter Sunday – March 31. 

April 15 is not that far away and millions of taxpayers are thinking about it. So, if they get an email about the IRS’s new tax saving program, many people will likely take a closer look.

That would be a mistake since clicking on the link in the email will take potential victims to a gambling website. But that’s not the worst of the tax-related scams currently landing in inboxes.

The ConsumerAffairs-Trend Micro Threat Alert has also uncovered a scheme in which victims are told that their 2023 tax payment was unsuccessful and asked to check tax receipts in an attachment.

Of course, clicking that attachment downloads malware. The Trend Micro research team found 142 logs between Feb 14-20.

Jon Clay, vice president of Threat Intelligence at Trend Micro, says we can expect to see more tax scams as April 15 gets closer.

“Consumers need to be cautious of any unsolicited messages (text or email) that have tax information within the message and ask the user to click a link or open an attachment,” Clay told ConsumerAffairs. “Installing a security app on their device in most cases will block these messages, but consumers still need to be cautious and suspicious of these messages as scammers again use a regular event in their scams.”

There are also dangerous phishing scams that are also showing up with increased frequency.

USAA Phishing

Scammers impersonated The United Services Automobile Association (USAA) to inform victims that their email address has been updated. Scammers ask victims to verify their email addresses on a fake log-in site, potentially leading to victims' personal information being leaked. The Trend Micro research team detected 1,247 logs on Feb 19.

Apple Phishing

Bad actors pretended to be Apple to warn email receivers about unusual log-in activity, asking them to check in on another fake log-in portal. The Trend Micro research team found 562 logs on Feb 19. 

T-Mobile Phishing

Scammers invited victims to participate in a short survey to get an exclusive T-Mobile reward. The Trend Micro research team saw 6,900 logs on Feb 18.

Responding to any unsolicited email or text is risky. The promise of a valuable gift, just for filling out a survey, is always a scam. 

If you think a message might be real, look up the company’s website and contact the customer service department directly, asking if the message is legitimate.

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing is recalling 280,663 model year 2022-2024 Tundras, Tundra Hybrids, Lexus LX600s and model year 2023-2024 Sequoia Hybrids.

Unexpected vehicle movement may occur when the vehicle is in neutral and the brakes are not applied, posing the risk of a crash.

What to do

Dealers will update the transmission control ECU software free of charge.

Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed April 7, 2024.

Owners may contact Toyota customer service at (800) 331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 24TA02 and 24LA02.