Since everyone is online more during the pandemic, there’s an increased urgency about fixing computers if there’s a problem. Scammers, as always, are lurking around just looking for a new opportunity to strike. They’re offering even more phony tech support services. Read more →

Since I wrote an article recently on the top consumer and personal finance stories of 2021, I was interested in a list offered by U.S. PIRG on the progress made in health, climate, and consumer issues in 2021. U.S. PIRG, a public interest research group, and its state partners worked on or supported many of these issues. Read more →

The Sweet Truth Act, passed by the New York City Council recently, requires warnings on prepackaged food and drinks that contain more than a day’s worth of added sugars – 50 grams – at chain restaurants. The law is the first of its kind in the nation. Read more →

You have until midnight today to score Black Friday bargains and some stores have sales that run for more days. A lot of the deals are online, so you don’t have to go to the store. Lots of people were out when I went to the mall where the Black Friday item I was looking for wasn’t available. Read more →

Holiday spending during November and December will grow between 8.5 percent and 10.5 percent over 2020 to between $843.4 billion and $859 billion, according to a survey conducted for the National Retail Federation. The NRF expects that online and other non-store sales will increase between 11 and 15 percent. Read more →

Many of things you may buy for the holidays, such as toys, laptops, and phones, have chips in them. Since there’s a global chip shortage, prices are going up, and items with chips will probably be harder to find. Scammers are taking advantage of these shortages and are trying to sell items in short supply. Read more →

myCharge is recalling about 67,000 powerbanks. The powerbank’s lithium-ion battery can overheat and ignite, posing fire and burn hazards. myCharge has received 30 reports of the powerbanks overheating, resulting in seven injuries and/or property damage to household flooring, walls, and furniture.  Read more →

Black Friday sales are already starting, so what you need to do is start watching the ads and continue to compare prices. While 2021 might be a more “normal” year than 2020, Black Friday 2021 will be more like last year than previous years. Read more →

Looking for a Memorial Day bargain? Start looking now. The sales start well before the last Monday of May, which is May 31 this year. Last year, shopping was scaled back due to the pandemic. This year, check with local stores if you’re planning to shop in person. Read more →

For three years, people have reported losing more money on romance scams than on any other fraud type identified in Sentinel, a fraud database. In 2020, reported losses to romance scams reached a record $304 million, up about 50 percent from 2019. Read more →