Consumer Warning

The Better Business Bureau said gift cards are targets for thieves.

It's easy for somebody to pick a few of them up, go into the back of the store, either use a scanner or write down the number, and then they'll put them back on the display case so someone could buy them, " said Jerry Shipman of the Better Business Bureau.

Thieves will hold on to the number on the back of the gift card, and keep checking to see if the card has been bought and activated.
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Now a lot of stores are taking extra security measures when it comes to buying a gift card, like having to scratch off the card in order to get the number.

So the Better Business Bureau said to make sure the PIN on the back of the card hasn't been scratched off.

They also suggest asking the clerk to scan the gift card before your buy it, also buy from a merchant instead of auction sites on the Internet, and always, always keep your receipt.

USDA - Beef from Safeway may have had salmonella

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Agriculture Department said fresh ground beef products contaminated with multi-drug resistant Salmonella may have been ground and later sold at Safeway Inc stores in five states.

USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service said the products were sold at supermarket chain Safeway Inc in Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada and New Mexico between September 19 and November 5, 2007.

"This alert is being issued after an exhaustive and continuing investigation whereby FSIS could not identify specific establishments, lots and products that would be subject to a recall," the agency said.

Read full story [Reuters]

Magnetic jewelry an overlooked danger

Expert: Earrings marketed to kids 'fall through the cracks'
The federal government brands magnets in toys a deadly hazard to children because the tiny, powerful objects can fall out and cause serious, even fatal, internal injuries when swallowed.

Yet the Consumer Product Safety Commission has not taken steps to regulate even more powerful magnets when they are sold in loose form as backings on children's earrings, the Tribune has found.

The earrings consist of a small decorative part -- such as a cupcake, a faux diamond, a dolphin -- with a magnet inside. They are held in place by putting a loose magnet behind the earlobe.

Independent tests of more than a dozen magnetic earrings done for the Tribune showed that the earring magnets all were at least as powerful as magnets found inside toys that have caused the death of one child and scores of other injuries. Some of the magnetic earrings were more than five times more powerful.

But because the earrings are not considered toys, new regulations for magnets do not apply. If they did, the jewelry could not be legally sold, according to a CPSC spokesman, Scott Wolfson.

The Tribune found reports of more than two dozen instances in the U.S. and Europe in recent years where magnets from earrings have been swallowed, aspirated into the lungs or become stuck together on either side of a child's nose cartilage. Those youngsters had used the earrings to mimic nose, tongue and even navel piercings.

Most of these injuries did not result in hospitalizations. But, given the precedent of serious injuries caused by magnets in toys, some leading physicians are wondering why the CPSC is not taking action anyway.

"It's clear what the risks of magnets are," said Dr. Garry Gardner, a physician from suburban Darien who is chairman of the American Academy of Pediatrics' committee on injury, violence and poison prevention. "I don't care whether they call it a toy or not, these are still a risk. Any magnet that can be aspirated or swallowed is dangerous."

But the CPSC says it has not received enough reports of injuries linked to magnets in jewelry to warrant further action at this time. The agency's national injury database shows there were seven such incidents from 2002 to 2004 and none in the following two years. (Data for 2007 are unavailable.) One incident in 2003 required the child, a 2-year-old boy, to be hospitalized.

"The number of incidents compared to the number of products is very low," said Julie Vallese, spokeswoman for the CPSC. "The known risk has not risen to a substantial product hazard."

Read full story [Chicago Tribune]

Merck recalls 1.2 million doses of children's vaccines

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Merck & Co Inc on Wednesday voluntarily recalled about 1.2 million doses of its widely used children's vaccines after quality-control checks found production equipment may not have been properly sterilized.

The vaccines protect against Hib disease (Haemophilus influenzae type b), which used to be the leading cause of bacterial meningitis in children less than 5 years old, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Merck said it recalled 11 lots of PedvaxHIB vaccine and two lots of its Comvax vaccine due to lack of assurance of product sterility. Both of the recalled vaccines protect against Hib and other conditions. Comvax also prevents hepatitis B.

The vaccines were manufactured in West Point, Pennsylvania, and distributed starting in April 2007. All but one lot was distributed in the United States, the company said.

"The potential for contamination of any individual vaccine is low, and, if present, the level of contamination would be low," Merck said.

Sterility tests of the vaccine lots subjected to recall did not turn up any contamination, said Merck, which added that the recall does not affect any other vaccines it manufactures.

Children who have received the affected vaccine do not need to be revaccinated because efficacy was not compromised, said Dr. Anne Schuchat, director of the CDC's National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases.

She advised parents to look for signs of infection at the site of the inoculation in the days following the injection.

Read full story [reuters]

CPSC Warning on Using Portable Generators, Four Recalls Announced

CPSC Warns Winter Storm Victims: Use Portable Generators Outdoors Only
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is issuing a warning to consumers confronted with ice storms and severe winter weather. When there's a power outage, exercise caution when using portable generators.

Carbon monoxide (CO) is an invisible killer. You can't see or smell it.
A generator's exhaust contains poisonous CO which can kill you in a matter of minutes.

Last year, at least 65 people died from generator-related CO poisoning.
Many of the deaths occurred after winter storms knocked out power.

Follow these important generator safety tips:

Never use a portable generator inside a home, garage, shed or other partially enclosed space, even if doors and windows are open.

Place portable generators outside only, far away from the home. And keep the generator away from openings to the home, including doors, windows and vents.

Read the label on the generator and the owner's manual, and follow the instructions.

Install CO alarms with battery backup in the home outside each sleeping area.

Get to fresh air immediately if you start to feel sick, weak or dizzy.
CO poisoning from exposure to generator exhaust can quickly lead to incapacitation and death.

Last year, CPSC mandated a new danger label on generators manufactured after May 14, 2007. The label states that, "Using a generator indoors CAN KILL YOU IN MINUTES."

CPSC has additional rulemaking underway on generators. The Commission directed staff to investigate various strategies to reduce consumers'
exposure to CO and to enable and encourage them to use generators outdoors only. Those strategies include generator engines with substantially reduced CO emissions, interlocking or automatic shutoff devices, weatherization requirements, theft deterrence and noise reduction.

Read full story [myeyewitnessnews.com]

Dangers People Face When Shopping

Big bargains and big crowds usually make up the holiday shopping season. But lurking beneath it all are criminals hoping to scam you out of your money.

Almost as big as their logo, the headline on the TJ-Maxx website reads, “Important Customer Alert.”

It’s a reminder to customers of the information breach, where thousands of credit card numbers were stolen and left many customers were left with hefty credit card bills.

"The thieves are out there,” said Michaele Pena, director of the Consumer Credit Counseling division of Charleston’s Family Services organization. “They know that folks are out shopping, there are a lot of activities."

Whether online or at the mall, the dangers are always there and it all starts at the cash register, said Pena.

"People aren't paying attention when they check out at the register, leave the card behind, set it down for a moment," Pena said.

But she adds it’s just the first step to get what thieves want. Next, they'll use your credit card, which is why Pena said customers need keep track of what they buy.

“You must read your statement each month, double check to make sure if you see an item that's been charged, even if it's just for a few dollars, if you don't recognize who it is, challenge it," Pena said.

The dangers don't end when you leave the store, because thieves will often keep track of you, often targeting you for your wallet or shopping bags.

"They may be following you through the mall, watching how you're shopping and to see if you're an easy target to steal your purse or lift some type of item off you," she said.

Pena said thieves stake out malls and know which areas aren't monitored by security. If you don't feel safe, she said, you can always ask mall security to take you to your car.

If there's no security around, Pena says customers should park in well-lit areas or bring buddies so they’re not alone.
Read full story [live5news.com]

The secrets to using a gift card

Call it the perfect gift or call it impersonal, but millions of people will buy gift cards for their loved ones this Christmas season.

But what you may not know can cause you frustration. For example, every retailer has its own policy for gift cards.Some charge monthly fees, like J. Crew and Bank of America Visa. Some do not, like JCPenney, Macy's, and PacSun. 

Consumer Reports magazine unveils some unknown truths about gift cards and what you need to know to protect yourself. 

Retailers tell ABC15 that store clerks don't push the use of gift cards because the mere purchase of a card is already money in the bank.  Basically, since the gift card has already been paid for, the stores aren't as eager to make a sale using that card.

Also, clerks are told the average gift card user spends 20 percent more than the cost of the gift card.

"I hate expiration dates," said Holiday Shopper Carol Gammon.  "I read the fine print and I ask in the store before I buy."

Read full story [abc15.com]

Consumers warned about holiday ID theft

Attorney General lists advice to protect yourself

Attorney General Bill McCollum today advised Floridians to be careful when using credit and debit cards to pay for gifts during this holiday shopping season in order to avoid becoming victims of identity theft. He also cautioned consumers about a

"phishing" scam that has surfaced recently, threatening to expose consumers’ personal financial information.

McCollum noted that occurrences of identity theft often increase during the holiday season and encouraged residents and guests to be extra vigilant to protect themselves.

"Identity theft can be devastating any time it occurs, but it is especially destructive during the holiday season when it could threaten personal financial information, travel plans and other seasonal aspects of our consumers’ personal lives," said McCollum. "Please remember to take every precaution to protect yourselves, your families and your good names."

Consumers should be careful when reaching

into their wallet to pay for gift purchases to make sure no one is nearby watching to steal a credit card number.

Read full story [The News Herald]

Northeast Bank warns of 'phishing' scam

An e-mail posing as a warning to Northeast Bank customers encouraging them to divulge personal account information is a hoax.

The fraudulent e-mail, sent Thursday morning, warns consumers that personal account information was compromised by an electronic ruse called phishing and that their accounts are frozen. It then directs people to call an 877 number to reactivate their debit card accounts by providing confidential account information.

"We are not going to send an e-mail asking for PIN or account numbers," said Linda Verrill, spokeswoman for the bank. "No legitimate bank does that."

She said bank officials received a few phone calls alerting them to the scam, but the bank was unaware of any clients who actually revealed their personal information.

Northeast is a member of nophishing.org, a coalition of financial institutions that tries to shut down phishing practices and educate consumers. She said the coalition's Web site has detailed guidelines on how to spot phony e-mails and what to do if you fall for one.

In addition, Northeast Bank posts examples of phishing practices on its Web site, northeastbank.com. The Web site's Consumer Alert link posts eight examples, the most recent of which was Thursday's, carrying the subject line Consumer Alert: Increase in Fraudulent E-mails.

[Sun Journal]

Old Navy recalls boys' fleece jackets

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has recalled about 17,200 boys' jackets sold at Old Navy stores nationwide because of a drawstring at the waist that presents a potential entrapment hazard to children.

The performance fleece-lined jackets, sold from August through November 2007 for about $30, are hooded with a zip in the front and come in black or blue. The style number, which is printed on a label in the side seam of the jacket, is 507907.

The jackets have a waist drawstring with a toggle that could become caught in small spaces or doorways, the commission said. No injuries from the jackets have been reported.

Consumers should return the jackets to any Old Navy store for a full refund. Consumers who return the jackets before March 31, 2008, will also receive a $5 appreciation card. Consumers wishing to keep the jacket should remove the drawstring, the commission advised.