The Trusted Scout: Your Military Consumer News & Alerts

The Trusted Scout header

September 2011, VOL II, Issue 7

IN THIS MONTH'S EDITION

~NOTEWORTHY~

ISSUES & INITIATIVES

SCAM ALERTS!

~NOTEWORTHY~

U.S. Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Eddie Berryhill directs a V-22 Osprey on its final approach aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp in the Atlantic Ocean, Sept. 9, 2011. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communications Specialist 1st Class Justin K. Thomas (DoD)

Gems Aren't All They Are Cut Out to Be

Your Better Business Bureau has learned that military personnel from Colorado Springs stationed in Afghanistan are being duped into purchasing fake gemstones, with the promise of being able to sell them for a profit when they return stateside.

Janice Zerbe, owner of Zerbe's Jewelers in Colorado Springs, has seen several of these fake stones when members of the military have come to her store recently to sell the "gems." Unfortunately, the majority of the stones are fake, and even those that are authentic are not cut correctly, or are downright unattractive.

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5 College Credit Card Gimmicks

If you're heading off to college, you're probably looking at credit cards for college students. Despite popular belief, credit cards are not evil incarnate. In fact, building up a credit history while you're still in college can serve you well when you fill out a rental application, take out an auto loan, or get car insurance. But issuers know that you're probably inexperienced in choosing a credit card, so be on the lookout for gimmicks, tricks and slick marketing.

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New 'Reverse Boot Camp' to Prepare Departing Troops for Civilian Life

Beneficiaries of the TRICARE military health plan can obtain 90 days of home-delivered medication with no copayment and can get free vaccinations at participating pharmacies without seeing a doctor.

These measures can make life a bit simpler for beneficiaries of the military health plan, Navy Rear Adm. (Dr.) Christine Hunter, TRICARE Management Activity's deputy director, said in an Aug. 26 interview.

"We're trying to encourage people to use TRICARE's home delivery for a 90-day supply of generic medication, because by Oct. 1, there will be no copay," she said.

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ISSUES & INITIATIVES

NY Attorney General Settles Soldiers' $3.5M Debt

New York state's attorney general says an agreement with a finance company will clear $3.5 million in debt for nearly a thousand soldiers who bought electronics at highly inflated prices and credit terms.

LinkedIn Makes Applying for Jobs Easier

You can now apply to a job with a simple click. LinkedIn has made it easier to apply for a job by launching its new "Apply With LinkedIn" button. The company's goal is to make the job application process as simple as a click.

Holly Petraeus Fights Against Troop Scams

Army Staff Sgt. David Madeux, 26, thought he was getting a good deal on a laptop that he needed to stay in touch with family while deployed to Iraq. He didn't have any cash, but the business he was working with offered him financing.

At Military Job Fairs, It's About Them, Not You

If you've been to an armed forces career fair you've seen them: aspiring applicants, resumes in hand, walking through the hall in their military uniforms.

Members of The Old Guard have guarded the Tomb every second, of every day regardless of weather or holidays since April 6, 1948. This photo was taken on August 27, 2011 during Hurricane Irene at Arlington National Cemetery.

SCAM ALERTS!

FBI Scam Alert: Online Car Sales

The FBI issued a national scam alert Monday, warning consumers to beware of online fraudsters trying to sell them used vehicles or enrollment in a vehicle protection program.

Beware of New E-mail Scam Requesting BBB Rating Verification

Your Better Business Bureau (BBB) is cautioning businesses and consumers about an e-mail that is purporting to come from BBB. The e-mail appears to come from a phony BBB address (BBBupdate@post.com) in the Atlanta, Georgia metro area and falsely requests verification and validation of BBB Ratings.

BBB warning public about lottery scam

You're a winner! That's the headline catching the attention of a lot of valley residents. But beware there's a lot more hiding between the lines.

BBB Advises Homeowners to be on the Lookout for Fly-By-Night "Storm Chasers"

Your home and wallet may take a serious beating when a big storm like Hurricane Irene hits and Better Business Bureau is warning consumers to be wary of fly-by-night "storm chasers," as well as fraudulent charities promising to provide relief.

BigDiscounts.com MoneyPak Scam

The Better Business Bureau is hearing from consumers who are losing money shopping for home furniture online at a website called www.BigDiscounts.com. They say that after paying for the furniture with Green Dot MoneyPak gift cards, the merchandise they ordered was never delivered, and the scammers have since dropped out of contact.

Department of Finance Warns of Mortgage Modification Scam Targeting Spanish Speaking Idahoans

Gavin Gee, director of the Idaho Department of Finance, today warned that a company calling itself Freedom Companies Marketing, Inc., Freedom Companies, Inc., Freedom Companies Lending, and Freedom Financial Mortgage (Freedom) has been targeting Spanish speaking Idaho homeowners with false promises of a government-guaranteed mortgage loan modification for a large upfront fee.

Don't Give in to Harassing Calls from Phony Collection Agencies

Debt collection complaints to BBB have been on the rise in 2011. Increasingly, scammers are attempting to collect bogus debts from unsuspecting consumers, and legitimate businesses are bending rules with their collection tactics. What can you do when a scam collector won't STOP harassing you, even in the workplace?

As a partner in the Joining Forces Initiative and DOD Financial Readiness Campaign, BBB Military Line^® brings BBB consumer education and services to military personnel (including Reservists and National Guard), retirees, DoD civilians, and their families.