Author: kpelton
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Voice of the consumer: Con artists targeting the elderly
The government is cracking down on scammers targeting the elderly. Over the past year alone, con artists stole more than $750 million from more than 2 million Americans, and charges were filed against more than 260 people worldwide, reports the U.S. Department of Justice. “Crimes against the elderly target some of the most vulnerable people…
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Voice of the consumer: Get free legal advice
If you are looking for legal advice this week, local attorneys will be available to answer your questions. It’s all part of Legal Resource Day, which is being put on by the Colorado Judicial Department. “We’ve realized, we the judicial branch, that more and more people, for whatever reason, be it financial or otherwise, are…
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Voice of consumer: Renters’ rights 101 workshop offered by city
One of the most common topics that we get calls about is renters’ rights, and this week the Colorado Springs Community Development Division is holding an informational workshop to help answer questions you might have. The city held the first of two “Renter Rights 101” workshops last week, and another one is being held Wednesday.…
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Voice of consumer: ‘Kidnapping’ call can be terrifying, but it’s a scam
It’s one of the most terrifying calls you can get: your child is in danger. Several of you have gotten a call just like that this past week, but it’s just a scam. Con artists claim they kidnapped your child or grandchild and they demand money right away. I talked to one woman who was…
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Voice of consumer: Check charities carefully before donating to hurricane relief
A lot of you might be looking for ways to help the victims of Hurricane Florence, but make sure to keep an eye out for scammers. Unfortunately, whenever we see tragedies or natural disasters, we also see crooks come out in full force to take advantage of the situation. You may not know that Call…
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Voice of consumer: You have Medicare questions, UnitedHealthcare has answers
The enrollment period for Medicare is just around the corner, and this week you can talk with local experts who can answer questions you may have about the process. This week marks National Medicare Education Week. It’s being put on by UnitedHealthcare, and the company is even holding a free seminar that is open to…
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No vacancy at apartment advertised online
If you’re looking online to rent or buy a home, watch for scams. One young woman reached out to our 11 Call for Action team because she lost nearly $1,000 to a hoax. You might have seen this story on KKTV 11 News. Sierra responded to an online ad for an apartment in Colorado Springs.…
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Voice of the consumer: New law makes it easier to protect credit score, prevent identity theft
Soon you will have more options to protect your credit score. A federal law goes into effect this month that will allow you to freeze your credit score for free, and you can get yearlong fraud alerts. Your credit isn’t the only thing you should monitor; you should also keep an eye on your child’s…
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Voice of consumer: Check vents on roof for hail damage
Many of you may be cleaning up from recent hailstorms by fixing your roof and windows, but there’s one item you need to check on to keep your family safe. Make sure to take a close look at the mechanical vents on your roof. This is a good thing for all homeowners to check on…
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Voice of the consumer: You can’t win a lottery you didn’t enter
Can you imagine winning the lottery? I can think of a few things I would spend the money on. Can you also imagine winning a lottery that you never entered? That doesn’t happen, but scammers want to make you think it does. I’m sure many of you have received a call from someone claiming you…