It’s been widely reported recently that the University of Iowa is the top party school in the nation. This story is actually a misrepresentation for the reasons explained below. Here are some of the media reports on this story: “University of Iowa claims top party school title,” USA Today, 5 August 2013 “University of Iowa… Continue reading University of Iowa Mistakenly Named #1 Party School – With Jimmy Kimmel Video
Tag: consumer advisory
Microsoft Creates Misleading Ad Comparing Dell Tablet to iPad
In the video below (source), Microsoft compares their tablet platform to the Apple iPad. Some of the essential details about the two devices are left out. The most misleading part of the video is the representation that an iPad is unable to read from an SD media card to import photos. In fact, there is an… Continue reading Microsoft Creates Misleading Ad Comparing Dell Tablet to iPad
Hewlett-Packard System Recovery Computer Restore Media Disks Limited to One Copy Only
In the past, companies would provide system recovery disks (on CD or DVD format) so people could restore a computer in the event of a system failure such as a corrupted operating system, virus infection, or hard drive crash. Depending on the company, you might have received a copy of Windows along with other disks… Continue reading Hewlett-Packard System Recovery Computer Restore Media Disks Limited to One Copy Only
The Correlation Between Nutrition Label Readability and Nutritiousness of Food Products
We’re all familiar with the tricks that some food manufacturers play in attempting to deceive consumers. For example, with products that are high in calories, the nutrition label will list “calories per serving” with unrealistically small portion sizes being considered a serving. Only recently have we begun to see labels stating, “calories per bottle” or… Continue reading The Correlation Between Nutrition Label Readability and Nutritiousness of Food Products
Hacked Email Account Resulting in Fake Appeal From a Friend Asking for Money
This is a fairly common scam, but some may still not be familiar with it so its worth mentioning. You may receive a desperate email from a friend, someone you know, who claims they’ve been mugged or are in some other similar situation and need money from you. Below is an example. You should use… Continue reading Hacked Email Account Resulting in Fake Appeal From a Friend Asking for Money
Major Computer Security Breach Results in Executive Order by President of the United States
Security Breach. On 8 February 2013 the following report was released: Bit9, a company that provides software and network security services to the U.S. government and at least 30 Fortune 100 firms, has suffered a security breach. Some Bit9 customers discovered malware inside of their own Bit9-protected networks, malware that was digitally signed by Bit9′s… Continue reading Major Computer Security Breach Results in Executive Order by President of the United States
Facebook Hacked – Vulnerability Posts Fake Like of Video Link Stating “This girl killed herself, after her dad posted THIS to her wall”
Have you recently seen a post on Facebook similar to the one above? It’s a fake post to the Home Facebook newsfeed page. It seems that someone managed to hack into Facebook today. This doesn’t seem to be simply an unauthorized use of a single user account. Instead, the hackers seem to have accessed the… Continue reading Facebook Hacked – Vulnerability Posts Fake Like of Video Link Stating “This girl killed herself, after her dad posted THIS to her wall”
Warning: Vicks VapoInhaler for Nasal Congestion Relief May Cause Congestion and Other Harmful Side Effects
Consumer Defense About The Vicks VapoInhaler product is a popular remedy used for nasal congestion. In recent years it’s become difficult to find the original product, with no explanation from Vicks as to why they changed the product packaging. Based on the information below, it seems that a problem may have been identified with the… Continue reading Warning: Vicks VapoInhaler for Nasal Congestion Relief May Cause Congestion and Other Harmful Side Effects
Beware: Fake Facebook Activity Email
Beware of any emails seeming to be from Facebook similar to the one below. Even if an email seems legitimate, the best thing to do is go directly to the Facebook page without clicking on any links.
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Advice on Buying and Selling Timeshare Properties and Vacation Plans
(Source: FTC) Buying and Selling Timeshares and Vacation Plans The thought of owning a vacation home may sound appealing, but the year-round responsibility — and expense — that come with it may not. Purchasing a timeshare or vacation plan may be an alternative. If you consider a timeshare or vacation plan, the Federal Trade Commission… Continue reading Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Advice on Buying and Selling Timeshare Properties and Vacation Plans
FBI Consumer Fraud Warning: Florida Timeshare Scam
(Source: FBI, 17 February 2012) Last October, after a joint FBI-Ft. Lauderdale Police Department investigation, 13 individuals from a Florida timeshare resale company were charged in federal court in Miami in a massive telemarketing scheme to defraud timeshare owners who were trying to sell. The Federal Trade Commission then filed a complaint against the… Continue reading FBI Consumer Fraud Warning: Florida Timeshare Scam
Weather.com iPhone App Allows Advertising with Fake Facebook Interface for Phishing Scheme
As shown above, the iPhone app from Weather.com permits misleading advertising designed to look like Facebook. When you click the globe icon it takes you to a landing page that mimics the Facebook font and color-scheme, to establish trust with the user who completes a survey. This is equivalent to false advertising and phishing.