The Trusted Scout: Your Military Consumer News & Alerts

The Trusted Scout header

June 2012, VOL II, Issue 16

In This Month's Issue

Loosen Home Refinancing Rules, Lawmakers Say

Scam Artists Target Military People With Phishy Email

Special Thanks to Our Sponsors

A girl holds a flag and flowers during the Memorial Day observance ceremony at the Amphitheatre at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington Va., May 28, 2012. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Joel Lemaistre.

SCAM ALERTS!

Scam Artists Target Military People With Phishy Email

New York - Con artists are targeting military members, retirees and civilian employees in New York with a new email information phishing scam, the Internal Revenue Service said. Read More

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Better Business Bureau Warns Look for the Red Flags During Your Summer Job Search

CHICAGO, IL - June 7, 2012 - Many students are off for summer break and find themselves searching for temporary work. The Better Business Bureau serving Chicago and Northern Illinois (BBB) is warning high school and university students looking for work this summer to avoid common job scams.

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Avista and BBB Alert Customers to National Utility Scam

Spokane, Wash. - June 6, 2012: Avista and the Better Business Bureau (BBB) serving Eastern Washington, North Idaho and Montana are warning customers to be alert to a scam that has impacted utility customers in several states across the country. According to reports, imposters are claiming that President Obama is providing credits or applying payments to utility bills in an attempt to obtain social security numbers and bank routing numbers.

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MILITARY CONSUMER

ISSUES & INITIATIVES

Hiring Veterans is Good Business, Study Reports
Most companies canvassed in a study published Monday say it's good business to hire veterans because of their leadership and teamwork skills, but some negative perceptions about veterans persist among business leaders.

Consumer Watch: Take Advantage of The Military's Valuable Personal Finance Training

When it comes to helping young troops maneuver the minefields of financial problems and scams, one of the best defenses is education. But these programs cost money, and in the Navy - the service that has been leading the way - the trained personal finance instructors who teach young sailors will see their contract end June 30.

Report: More Payday Lending Protections Needed

A 5-year-old law has succeeded in reducing some abusive lending practices for troops and their families, but the law needs to be broadened and enforcement needs to be strengthened, according to a report from a consumer advocate group.

Loosen Home Refinancing Rules, Lawmakers Say

Active-duty military homeowners would no longer have to live in a residence in order to refinance the mortgage at low interest rates, under a bipartisan amendment that could be attached to the 2013 defense authorization bill.

Audience members stand as the national anthem is played during the Memorial Day observance ceremony at the Amphitheatre at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington Va., May 28, 2012. DOD photo by Erin A. Kirk-Cuomo.

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.