skip to main content
skip to newscasts

Friday, March 29, 2024

Public News Service Logo
facebook instagram linkedin reddit youtube twitter
view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

The latest on the Key Bridge collapse, New York puts forth legislation to get clean energy projects on the grid and Wisconsin and other states join a federal summer food program to help feed kids across the country.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Republicans float conspiracy theories on the collapse of Baltimore's Key Bridge, South Carolina's congressional elections will use a map ruled unconstitutional, and the Senate schedules an impeachment trial for Homeland Secretary Mayorkas.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Historic wildfires could create housing and health issues for rural Texans, a Kentucky program helps prison parolees start a new life, and descendants of Nicodemus, Kansas celebrate the Black settlers who journeyed across the 1870s plains seeking self-governance.

Arkansas Attorney General: Don't Fall Prey to Holiday Scams

play audio
Play

Monday, December 17, 2018   

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – 'Tis the season for giving, and consumer experts say swindlers are out in full force ready to capitalize on the good hearts of Arkansans.

Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge explains distracted consumers can fall prey to scammers more easily, so it's best to try to stay vigilant.

Charity scams are a big problem this time of year. Rutledge says criminals are aware that legitimate charities are making their year-end push for donations.

"We want to make sure that you're giving to legitimate charities,” she warns. “So please check with the Secretary of State's Office to make sure those charities are registered before you give that money, before you click 'send' online, before you give your financial information out over the phone."

When purchasing from an online retailer, shoppers can look for a lock in the address bar, a sign that the website is secure.

Another common online pitfall to avoid, she adds, is using public WiFi where online activity can be viewed by hackers.

Whether shopping in person or online, Rutledge says a credit card offers more protection than a debit card.

"A debit card is just as if you are handing over cash and there is very little recourse and it's very difficult to get that money back if someone steals that card information from you and starts making purchases of their own unbeknownst to you," she points out.

Rutledge cautions folks to be wary of how much information they share online, and to avoid cleverly disguised tricks, such as Secret Santa exchanges on social media.

"People say, 'I'm going to send you this relatively inexpensive gift and if you'll share it with this many people you will get so many gifts as well,'” Rutledge relates. “This is a scam. Just be wary of it, if it sounds too good to be true that you're going to send one item and get 10 back – that's a scam. "

While people age 55 and over tend to not fall victim to scams as often as younger people, Rutledge notes when they do, they tend to lose more money.

Learn more about the latest scams at aarp.org/fraudwatchnetwork, or arkansasag.gov.


get more stories like this via email

more stories
The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments this week about the popular abortion pill Mifepristone and will weigh in on whether the U.S. Food and Drug Administration was correct in how it can be dosed and prescribed. (Ascannio/Adobe Stock)

Health and Wellness

play sound

Missouri residents are worried about future access to birth control. The latest survey from The Right Time, an initiative based in Missouri…


Social Issues

play sound

Wisconsin children from low-income families are now on track to get nutritious foods over the summer. Federal officials have approved the Badger …

Social Issues

play sound

Almost 2,900 people are unsheltered on any given night in the Beehive State. Gov. Spencer Cox is celebrating signing nine bills he says are geared …


The U.S. teaching workforce remains primarily white while the percentage of Black teachers has declined. However, the percentage of Asian and Latinx teachers is rising.(WavebreakMediaMicro/Adobestock)

Social Issues

play sound

Education advocates are calling on lawmakers to increase funding for programs to combat the teacher shortage. Around 37% of schools nationwide …

Environment

play sound

New York's Legislature is considering a bill to get clean-energy projects connected to the grid faster. It's called the RAPID Act, for "Renewable …

Social Issues

play sound

Earlier this month, a new Arizona Public Service rate hike went into effect and one senior advocacy group said those on a fixed income may struggle …

Social Issues

play sound

Michigan recently implemented a significant juvenile justice reform package following recommendations from a task force made up of prosecutors…

 

Phone: 303.448.9105 Toll Free: 888.891.9416 Fax: 208.247.1830 Your trusted member- and audience-supported news source since 1996 Copyright © 2021