Love Stinks! Friday, February 8, 2008
Posted by savvyconsumer in fraud, sweetheart swindles.add a comment
by NCL staff
A little while back, we blogged about a relatively new scam we’ve been tracking at NCL’s Fraud Center: the Sweetheart Swindle. We’ve been crunching numbers lately to look at the top scams of 2007, and we found something that’s really surprised us: despite the fact that NCL’s Fraud Center has only been tracking this type of scam since July 2007, it gained enough momentum in the second half of the year to move to the top 10 scam list. According to complaints logged at www.fraud.org, the average victim lost more than $3,038 last year to Sweetheart Swindles. However, the full extent of the fraud is unknown, given many victims’ reluctance to admit to being scammed.
Yikes!
Here’s one such sad story:
In April 2007, “Donna” cautiously ventured into the world of online dating. Within a week, she was contacted by a man with whom she began to chat. They chatted multiple times a day for seven months. He said he was a wealthy business man, who lived in a nearby city and was temporarily in Africa on business. In October, he said his contract in Africa would soon be up and that he wanted to meet, but he needed $250 to hold him over until a check cleared. Donna offended her new sweetie when she expressed her hesitancy to give money to a stranger. So she sent him the money, and later another $1,500, never to hear from him again.
Stay tuned for more stories of love – and money – lost through Sweetheart Swindles.
Tell ‘Em What You Really Think about America’s Health Care Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Posted by savvyconsumer in Ria Eapen, health.2 comments
By Ria Eapen
When it comes to health care, what matters most to you? And what changes would you make to our country’s health care system?
AFL-CIO, the largest organization of working people in America, and Working America, the 2 million-member community affiliate of the AFL-CIO, are interested in what Americans think about these issues and have sponsored the 2008 Health Care for America Survey to hear what you have to say.
Survey findings will be given to the presidential candidates, every U.S. Senator and Representative, every candidate for Congress, and state and local officials in every state in our country. This survey gives you the chance to have your voice heard by leaders and candidates at every level. And everyone who completes the survey will have an opportunity to view the results. Neat!
