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Beware Of Fake Verizon “Tech Support” Scammers Calling From Actual Verizon Tech Support Number

There have been variations on the “tech support” cold-call scam for years, with the scammers attempting to take advantage of some consumers’ naivete about electronics. But a new version of the scam appears to go a step further, by making it appear like the person is actually calling from a legitimate tech support number.

The folks at DroidLife.com write about receiving robocalls claiming to be from Verizon technical support, but which are really just attempts to get unwitting consumers to go to a scammy website and enter their personal information.

What makes this scam different than ones we’ve seen in the past is that the scammers are apparently spoofing their phone number so that when the call shows up on Caller ID, it is an actual 1-800 number used by Verizon’s tech support team.

Scammers have long used spoofed numbers to hide their actual phone numbers, but it’s a pretty brazen move to use Verizon’s own tech support number.

As we’ve reported before, spoofing in and of itself is not yet illegal in the U.S. It is illegal to use a spoofed number for the purpose of fraud, which seems to be the case here, but the government’s current stance is that it would rather go after people who abuse the practice than outlaw it entirely.

If you receive a call claiming to be from a company, don’t assume that the number on caller ID is actually the number that is calling you. If you smell a scam, hang up and call the actual company on a listed, public phone number. If Verizon is indeed trying to get in touch with you, someone there will be able to tell you.

Here is the audio of the scam message received by DroidLife:

by Chris Morran via Consumerist

How To Not Suck At Planning Your Wedding, Part 3: The Costly Little Extras

(afagen)

Wedding Week continues on How To Not Suck! We’ve already talked about the big-ticket items and other major expenses that couples tend to pay too much for. Today, we look at all those additional purchases that can send wedding costs skyrocketing.

So far we’ve covered everything from the venue to the dress to the limo and the cake. Hard part’s over, right? Not exactly.

The little things can add up quickly and bust your wedding budget. Here how to not suck at all those extras.

GIFTS FOR THE WEDDING PARTY

After you’ve convinced your closest friends to spend hundreds of dollars on dresses and matching shoes and tux rentals, all just to stand up for you at your wedding, it’s tradition to give these people a present. And let’s not forget the flower girls and ring-bearers.

Oy.

First, remember you can save lots of cash by having fewer people in your wedding party.

If you’re already invested in a big group, sit with your partner and create a budget, then take your time and shop around. Negotiate with retailers for bulk pricing on those earrings that match the bridesmaids’ dresses or the monogrammed flask that’s a common gift for the guys.

And remember, they’ve already said yes to you. With gifts, it’s the thought that counts… or at least that’s what people say.

A GIFT FOR YOUR SPOUSE-TO-BE

I never understood this one, but many couples give a gift — in addition to their promise to love and honor and cherish forever — to their spouse.

If money is tight, talk to your partner so you can decide if a gift is really worth the extra strain on your wedding budget.

EXTRA POSTAGE

As we warned you yesterday, choosing invitations with lots of extras means lots of additional postage costs. Maybe a buck-and-a-half doesn’t seem like much, but that’s $300 when you’re sending to 200 guests; money that could be better spent on, well… anything other than postage.

Look for invitations without the extra flair, and ones that fall within certain sizes, to lower your postage costs.

ALTERATIONS

After spending hundreds, or geez, thousands, on a wedding gown, you’re still going to need alterations to make the fit just right. Make sure your bridal salon includes alterations in the price, or look elsewhere for a tailor who can do the job for less.

UNDIES

Yes ladies and gents, certain garments needs special underclothes — and we’re not even talking about the sexy wedding night options. If your dress will need a special bra, corset or other unmentionables, make sure to budget for these rather than to get surprised at the last minute.

Don’t forget the garter and wedding-night lingerie. (And guys, I recommend the “trophy husband” boxer briefs my husband received from, ahem, an admirer last Christmas. Sorry for sharing, babe.)

ACCESSORIES

Rather than buy the bride’s veil, the groom’s cufflinks and other accessories from the provider who supplies the main clothing for your big day, look online for better prices for these extras. Also consider costs for shoes, jewelry and other items.

PRE-WEDDING ATTIRE

If your families are hosting a rehearsal dinner or another function — bridal showers, engagement parties, you name it — before the big day, you’re doing to need something to wear. Remember to include this as a line item on your budget.

TIPPING

So you’ve already paid thousands for your venue, the service, the photographer, and so on. You still may need to tip — and it may be customary — for certain services. Make sure to add this to your budget, too. Here’s some conventional wisdom on the topic.

PARTY FAVORS

Giving favors to your wedding guests is traditional, and if you aren’t careful, it can add to your wedding budget big-time.

Consider raffling off your centerpiece (to the bride who has been married the longest or shortest or something like that) rather than creating a separate favor. Or DIY with some Hershey’s Kisses in decorative bags rather than paying for specially-printed wedding labels on candy; or lottery scratch-offs under each plate, as a giveaway.

“PHOTO MOMENTS” ACCESSORIES

When it comes to your cake, remember the cost of your cake topper is extra. So is a commemorative cake knife and serving spatula. And if you want special keepsake champagne flutes for your first toast as spouses, expect to fork out extra for that, too.

THE MARRIAGE LICENSE

Eek! Imagine spending all this money on a big wedding, and forgetting the one piece or paper you need to make it legal!

Costs vary depending on the state in which you’re getting hitched, so check this list to see what it will cost you and the time needed to qualify.

PASSPORT

If you’ve planned an overseas honeymoon, make sure to get your passport well before your departure date, or else you may face extra fees to expedite it. Here’s what you need to know about cost and timing.

WEDDING INSURANCE

We’re sure you don’t expect your soon-to-be-spouse to leave you waiting at the altar, and no one plans for their reception hall to shut down the day before the big day. Consider wedding insurance to cover those possibilities.

Learn more at WedSafe, ProtectMyWedding, WedSure or do a Google search for more options.

Wedding Week continues tomorrow with advice on planning your honeymoon.

Have a topic you’d like to see covered in How To Not Suck? Or maybe you’re an expert who would like to share your insight with Consumerist readers? Send us a note at notsuck@consumerist.com.

You can read Karin Price Mueller’s stories for The Star-Ledger at NJ.com, follow her on Facebook, and on Twitter @kpmueller.

DISCLAIMER: Any websites, services, retailers, or brands mentioned in the story above are only intended as some of many options available to consumers, and do not constitute an endorsement by Consumerist, Consumerist Media LLC (CML) or its staff. Per Consumerist’s No Commercial Use Policy, such information may not be used by others in advertising or to promote a company’s product or service. In addition, this policy precludes any commercial use of any of CML’s published information in any form, or of the names of Consumers Union®, Consumer Media, Consumer Reports®, The Consumerist, consumerist.com or any other of CU or CML’s publications or services without CU or CML’s express written permission.

by Karin Price Mueller via Consumerist

McDonald’s Hopes Cheaper Mighty Wings Will Sell Better This Time Around

They’re baaaaack…

Despite much fanfare and ballyhoo over McDonald’s attempt to woo wing lovers last fall with its Mighty Wings, the almost $1-per-wing price instead led to many customers shunning the fast food chain’s effort. The result of that tepid response was $10 million in frozen, unsold Mighty Wings, an outcome Mickey D’s is hoping to avoid this time around with lower prices.

Yes, the Mighty Wings will be back for another limited run, McDonald’s confirmed on Twitter:

We’re taking the ordinary & making it MIGHTY. See how #MightyWings can make your everyday delicious. http://t.co/0EFMImSW0i—

McDonald's (@McDonalds) February 25, 2014

The difference this time around is you’ll get five wings for $3, a price shift that CEO Don Thompson alluded to last October when he pledged that the Mighty Wings would rise again, reports BurgerBusiness.com.

“Mighty Wings resonated with consumers but performed at the lower end of our expectations,” he explained, saying that adjusting the price could fix that. “One dollar per wing was still not considered to be the most competitive in the current environment.”

It’s unclear if the recipe has changed as well — Thompson said some customers might not have taken to the spiciness of the wings, but this newest iteration also advertises its flavors as “spicy, bold, delicious.”

If they’re the same recipe, get those defrosters ready, McDonald’s franchisees. We imagine at least $10 million in unsold, frozen Mighty Wings is coming your way.

Mighty Wings Return at 5 for $3 [BurgerBusiness.com]

by Mary Beth Quirk via Consumerist

Citing 13 Fatalities, GM Expands Ignition Switch Recall To 1.37 Million Vehicles

(frankieleon)

When General Motors announced its recall of hundreds of thousands of Chevy Cobalt and Pontiac G5 vehicles for concerns about the ignition switch, it said the defect was tied to as many as six fatalities. Now the car company says the recall is significantly larger than originally believed and that a total of 13 people may have died as a result of the defect.

On Tuesday, General Motors expanded the three-week-old recall to include the Saturn Ion, Chevrolet HHR, Pontiac Solstice and Saturn Sky, CNN Money reports.

Initially, General Motors recalled 778,000 compact cars after reports of five frontal impact crashes and six fatalities related to ignition switch failure in the 2005 to 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt and 2007 Pontiac G5s. Now, the company reports there have been 13 fatalities as a result of 31 frontal crashes associated with the problem.

The recall warns that vehicle’s ignition switch may fail by switching out of the run position if a key rink is carrying added weight, the vehicle goes off-road or experiences some other jarring event, GM reported to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The expanded recall comes less than a week after General Motors and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration were criticized for not acting quickly enough to resolve the issue, even though several fatalities were reported.

A Georgia attorney, who is suing the car company on behalf of a woman who died while driving a 2005 Cobalt, has petitioned NHTSA to fine GM for not addressing the issue as soon as it knew of the problem, CNN Money reports.

According to a deposition provided by the Georgia attorney, a GM engineer experienced the problem while test-driving one of the vehicles in 2004.

Automakers are required to report safety defects to NHTSA within five days of discovering them. Failure to do so carries a maximum fine of $35 million.

On Monday, General Motors filed a chronology of events confirming the company knew of a potential ignition problem as early as 2004.

According to the chronology, the company issued service bulletins in 2005 and 2006 telling dealers how to fix the problem with a key insert, and advising dealers to tell customers not to dangle too many items from key chains. Records provided by the company show only 474 vehicles received key inserts.

The chronology shows the company was told of at least one fatal crash in March 2007. By the end of that year, the company knew of 10 cases in which Cobalts were involved in front-end crashes and the airbags did not deploy.

A 2007 NHTSA investigator’s report [PDF] shows both the agency and GM were aware of the possibility of ignition failure.

At the time, a NHTSA investigator was tasked with looking into the cause of a crash that took the lives of two teenagers in a 2005 Chevy Cobalt. The investigator’s report included the possibility that the driver’s and passenger’s seat airbags did not deploy as a result of “power loss due to movement of the ignition switch prior to impact”.

When the investigator looked at the vehicle’s Event Data Recorder, which keeps track of the vehicle’s various systems while in operation, it was found that the ignition switch was not in the ‘on’ position at the actual time of the accident. The investigation reveled that inadvertent contact with the ignition switch or a keychain could result in engine shut-down and loss of power.

Following the release of the report last week, NHTSA officials said the special crash investigation did not determine a cause for the airbag non deployment or that the failure to deploy was a result of a vehicle design defect or noncompliance with federal motor vehicle regulations.

Still, consumer advocates say more could have been done about the issue.

“They knew by 2007 they had 10 incidents where the air bag didn’t deploy in this type of crash,” Clarence Ditlow, executive director of the consumer advocacy group Center for Auto Safety, tells CBS News. “This is a case where both GM and NHTSA should be held accountable for doing a recall no later than the spring of 2007,”

Officials with General Motors maintain the company handled the recall accordingly.

“The chronology shows that the process employed to examine this phenomenon was not as robust as it should have been,” General Motors president Alan Batey said in a company statement. “Today’s GM is committed to doing business differently and better. We will take an unflinching look at what happened and apply lessons learned here to improve going forward.”

GM expands recall, cites 13 deaths [CNN Money]

GM adds 842,000 vehicles to recall linked to fatal crashes [CBS News]

by Ashlee Kieler via Consumerist

Accused Peeping Tom Taking Upskirt Photos Of Shopper Gets Beaten Up By Victim’s Boyfriend

(frankieleon.)

There are other things a boyfriend can do beyond hold a purse: After a woman’s boyfriend saw another guy allegedly taking photos with his cell phone up her skirt while she was shopping at a Georgia store, he took matters into his own hands. As in, he started a fight with the accused peeper and restrained him until cops arrived.

While we aren’t in favor of vigilante justice, of course, the police say the avenging boyfriend did the right thing after he witnessed a fellow shopper putting his cell phone underneath the dress of the woman, who was shopping with a young girl, reports 11 Alive News.

The boyfriend then hit the suspect in the head and kicked him twice, then held him until a police officer arrived.

“He went to the rescue of his girlfriend…and he did the right thing,” the sheriff said.

He added that the suspect had confessed to peeping in the store, and called him self an “idiot” for “doing something stupid.”

Other customers were also in favor of the smackdown.

“I probably would have beat him a little more before the police got there,” said a fellow shopper.

The suspect is facing one felony count of eavesdropping and illegal surveillance. The sheriff says that since both the suspect and the victim had a young child with them during the incident, there could be additional charges.

Coweta phone Peeping Tom beaten by victim’s boyfriend [11 Alive News]

by Mary Beth Quirk via Consumerist

Delta SkyMiles To Be Based On Price Of Ticket, Not Distance Of Flight

(guynamedjames)

In a move that may please some business travelers whose employers aren’t picky about pricey airfares, but will likely annoy frugal frequent travelers, Delta Air Lines announced today that it will be changing its SkyMiles frequent flier program so that the number reward miles earned will be based on the price of a ticket, and not the distance flown.

Most frequent flier programs rewarded customers for long-distance travel regardless of the cost of a ticket, meaning that if two SkyMiles members on the same flight from JFK to LAX earned the same number of miles even if one passenger’s ticket only cost a fraction of the other passenger’s.

But under the new Delta program, which won’t kick in until Jan. 1, 2015, SkyMiles members will receive rewards miles based on how much they paid for their tickets.

The lowest tier SkyMiles members will earn 5 miles per dollar spent, while Diamond Medallion members will 11 miles/dollar (and can earn up to 13 if they pay with the right Delta-branded credit card).

Here is the chart released this morning by the airline that shows the breakdown of miles/dollar:

Delta is making no attempt to hide that this policy change is intended to attract more high-end business travelers; the ones who call their offices and say things like “Just book me on the next flight to Santa Fe” without ever asking about the ticket price.

“The introduction of a new model for earning miles will increase rewards for those who spend more as well as differentiate the SkyMiles frequent flyer program for our premium travelers,” said Delta’s VP of SkyMiles, which we imagine is sort of like being the Master of Coin in King’s Landing.

While frequent business travelers and first/business-class travelers will likely benefit from this policy change, we imagine that the rest of us who actually care about what we pay for plane tickets will not be pleased when they see that being a cost-conscious consumer is now a penalty in the eyes of Delta.

by Chris Morran via Consumerist

Bank Of America’s Compliance With Federal Mortgage Program Being Investigated

(James Callan)

While it’s still settling multibillion-dollar tabs tied to the mortgage meltdown, Bank of America continues to face new legal and regulatory pressure. Yesterday, the bank revealed that it is being investigated by federal authorities to see whether it has complied with a program aimed to ease the mortgage-lending process.

In its latest filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission [PDF], BofA writes that, “[T]he Civil Division of the U.S. Attorney’s office for the Eastern District of New York is conducting an investigation concerning our compliance with the requirements of the Federal Housing Administration’s Direct Endorsement Program.”

Under the Direct Endorsement program, mortgage lenders can approve loans that are then insured by the FHA without review. However, if a mortgage defaults and regulators determine that the lender failed to comply with FHA underwriting standards, the government can come after the bank for any losses it experiences.

In 2012, Citi paid $158 million to settle claims related to violations of this program. That same year, the government sued Wells Fargo for allegedly lying about the quality of FHA-insured mortgages. In 2013, Wells attempted to have the case thrown out but could not convince the court to do so.

BofA had previously reached a $1 billion deal with the feds to settle similar claims that Countrywide, which the bank acquired when the housing market collapsed, misled the FHA about the quality of some mortgages. That deal only covers loans made before May 2009.

[via Reuters]

by Chris Morran via Consumerist

Family Suing Petco Says Son Died After Catching A Bacterial Infection From Pet Rat

(WashuOtaku)

A family in San Diego has filed a lawsuit against Petco, claiming that the pet store is to blame for selling an infected rat that passed a bacterial infection on to their 10-year-old son that killed him. The family is seeking an unspecified amount for the suffering they’ve endured as a result of his loss.

According to the Associated Press, the boy passed away hours after he was rushed to the hospital with severe stomach pains. The San Diego County Medical Examiner’s Office ruled the cause of death was streptobacillus moniliformis infection, which is also known as rat-bite fever.

Subsequent tests from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that the pet rat was infected, says the family attorney.

“We are deeply saddened by the… family’s tragic loss,” Petco said in a statement. “The health and safety of people and pets is always a top priority, and we take the family’s concerns very seriously.”

It added that the company is “in the process of investigating these claims and will respond appropriately when we have more information.”

The boy was so fond of his female rate, apparently, that his grandmother bought a male so the two could be a couple.

“He was a bright, energetic, friendly, happy kid who actually had a prior rat, who was a female, and he had this idea in his young head of having his female rat get married,” the family’s attorney said.

He adds that the family isn’t speaking to the media about their ordeal, but just want to make sure other parents are aware of this tragedy.

“It’s a means to ensure this doesn’t happen again,” the attorney said of the suit. “Apparently there was some breakdown in procedures. They want tighter controls.”

San Diego family suing Petco after boy dies of bacterial infection from pet rat [Associated Press]

by Mary Beth Quirk via Consumerist

One Month After Being Hijacked, Twitter Finally Restores @N Account To Rightful User

Several weeks ago, the Internet was abuzz with the story of how hackers had taken advantage of idiocy at Paypal and GoDaddy to hijack developer Naoki Hiroshima’s personal website and hold it hostage until he handed over the keys to his coveted @N Twitter handle. Now comes the good news that Twitter has finally put that account back under the control of the person it originally belonged to.

For those coming late to the game, here’s the backstory. Hiroshima was an early adopter of Twitter and was thus able to score the @N handle way back in 2007. Since then, he’d received numerous cash offers from legitimate and sketchy sources, and hackers had tried unsuccessfully to attack his various accounts tied to that Twitter handle so they could take control of it.

Then in early 2014, he first learns that someone tried, but failed, to access his PayPal account. But in that attempt, the hacker was able to glean information about Hiroshima that was then used to change ownership of his personal site. The hackers then held the site hostage until Hiroshima gave up control of the @N Twitter account.

While both GoDaddy and PayPal later admitted that maybe they had screwed up, Twitter was dragging its feet on the matter. It booted whoever had taken over the @N handle from Hiroshima, but then the account was immediately snapped up by some other sketchy non-human that was not the person who had created it nearly seven years earlier.

And then on Tuesday evening, a happy Tweet finally came from the @N account:

Order has been restored.—

Naoki Hiroshima (@N) February 25, 2014

Followed by:

This is a happy ending not only for me but also for sane employees and loyal users of Twitter's. Congrats to those, too.—

Naoki Hiroshima (@N) February 26, 2014

No idea what took so long for Twitter to restore this account, but we’re glad it’s back where it belongs.

[via ArsTechnica]

by Chris Morran via Consumerist

Grocery Shrink Ray Ladles Out 2.5 Ounces Of Del Monte Pasta Sauce

delmonte Del Monte recently redesigned its cans of pasta sauce. “New look, same great taste!” brags the label. Yes, the new label is bright and cheery, emphasizing fresh tomatoes. Very nice. Reader Joey spotted an older can on the shelf, though: one with two and a half ounces more of saucy goodness.

The can looks the same size. Let’s zoom in on those labels…

sizechange

Gasp!

Okay, we aren’t that shocked. Shaving off a few ounces to prevent a price change is common: we just like to keep track of when it happens.

by Laura Northrup via Consumerist