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Web of Trust – WOT – Investigating Claims of Fraud, Scam, Extortion, RICO Racket – Evaluation and Review

Consumer Defense Resource Group Introduction. Web of Trust (WOT) is an Internet safety and website rating plugin that works with most popular browsers like Firefox. In principle, the service works based on collected user reviews as well as reports from third party agencies and organizations. The Firefox download at CNET has a 5 solid star… Continue reading Web of Trust – WOT – Investigating Claims of Fraud, Scam, Extortion, RICO Racket – Evaluation and Review

Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Takes Action Against Fake News Websites as False Advertising

Activism > Consumer Defense Resource Group Update. Seven months after we first reported about the use of fake news websites as advertising (21 September 2010), the Federal Trade Commission began taking action against those using this deceptive practice. Our original report is below. Here are stories about the FTC actions: 19 April 2011 – FTC Seeks… Continue reading Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Takes Action Against Fake News Websites as False Advertising

Online Complaint Form for Reporting Unsolicited Spam Text Messages to the FCC for Government Action

Federal law prohibits unsolicited text messages like the one shown here. If you receive an unsolicited spam text SMS message, fill out the online complaint form on the FCC website. Please note that the form is for multiple tips of complaints, so if a question doesn’t apply, just ignore it. If you prefer, you can… Continue reading Online Complaint Form for Reporting Unsolicited Spam Text Messages to the FCC for Government Action

Patented Life Forms: Monsanto Patent for a Pig Video Documentary (View Online)

Below is a documentary video (in five parts) about Monsanto making a request to patent pigs with a certain genetic makeup they claim is created by a proprietary breeding method only they own the rights to. If any of the pigs with a genetic marker from Monsanto were to breed with other pigs, then their marker… Continue reading Patented Life Forms: Monsanto Patent for a Pig Video Documentary (View Online)

Amazon Working Conditions – OSHA Investigates Heat in Pennsylvania Fulfillment Center – Consumer Report and Action Response

Activism > Consumer Defense Summary. In June 2011 Amazon was sited for having poor working conditions (excessive heat) in one of their east coast order fulfillment centers. Amazon has since remedied the situation (as explained below) and OSHA has closed their investigation of the matter. Further research revealed that safety at Amazon fulfillment centers is better… Continue reading Amazon Working Conditions – OSHA Investigates Heat in Pennsylvania Fulfillment Center – Consumer Report and Action Response

Website Browsing Tracked for Aggregate Consumer Analysis and Advertising

Finance | Consumer Defense Summary. Facebook, Google, and a host of other websites and advertisers track your browsing habits using cookies and other methods. Usually this is to provide advertising that’s relevant for your likes and dislikes. It’s almost creepy. You visit an online store, and soon begin to see ads for that store showing up… Continue reading Website Browsing Tracked for Aggregate Consumer Analysis and Advertising

Apple and Ethics

Introduction. Among the hundreds of companies producing and selling consumer electronics, Apple is frequently criticized for partnering with factories in China that are engaged in unethical and inhumane labor practices. [More…] * * * 21 April 2022 The article previously posted here has been upgraded to a page on this site. Click here to view the article now.… Continue reading Apple and Ethics

Qwest MSN Technical Support Problems

Technology Summary. Residential internet customers of Qwest typically use MSN as their email service provider. Qwest has the domain q.com for their clients. So, if you’re a Qwest customer, your email address will end in @q.com as the extension. However, the web interface for accessing your email will be the same as MSN or Hotmail.… Continue reading Qwest MSN Technical Support Problems

Automation of Customer Service Gone Bad

Finance | Consumer Issues Summary. Automation is increasingly replacing human contact in business. Here’s a verified first-hand account of an automated customer service system gone bad. Wednesday, 10 March 2010 I noticed a $50 charge on my credit card statement with no indication of who had charged the fee other than the words Membership Fee.… Continue reading Automation of Customer Service Gone Bad