scams

An estimated two-thirds of baby boomer households will receive an inheritance at some point, with a median amount of $64,000, according to an AARP study. I recently received an email from a reader who has fallen deeply into debt in anticipation of her legacy -- and is now worried that her bailout may not be at hand.

The estimated tab for Hurricane Irene's fury is already in the billions of dollars. If you're among those who have property damage, proceed with caution -- you don't want to get hit again, this time by home repair companies that jack up their prices, do a poor job, or walk away before the work is finished.

In a shaky economy, senior citizens have become a prime target for scammers. Here are some of the common scams -- and warning signs -- to watch out for, along with some tips on how to protect your elderly loved ones.

DailyFinance readers tell us they're frustrated and angry about phone cramming, or the practice of cheating customers by adding illegitimate charges to their phone bills. If you've been a victim of phone cramming, we want to hear about it.

There's nothing cheap about achieving the look and the skills required to compete in a beauty pageant, and the rewards of success vary wildly. But the risks go beyond whether or not you win: A disturbing number of pageants are shoddy cons that exist only to fatten the pockets of their promoters.

If you're planning a big home improvement project this summer – or if you live in a region of the country recently hit by flooding or tornadoes – you need to know how to improve or rebuild your home without getting scammed by a contractor. Unfortunately, the official launch of...

In a tough economy, it's a sad but true fact that scams and financial fraud of all kinds seem to flourish like weeds. According to the Better Business Bureau, complaints to the agency rose 10% in 2010, with consumers filing 1.1 million complaints against North American businesses. Among the top...

If you're unemployed and looking for a job, an email asking you to tutor a smart, 12-year-old English boy for $60 an hour may seem like a great deal. But not all offers are as sweet as they sound. Consumers should be careful they don't fall prey to email scammers who are simply phishing for...

With identity theft on the rise, more consumers are actively seeking ways to protect themselves. New companies have sprung up to address their fears, but how well do they really work?

Typical words from a phishing scam: "You are among the lucky winners. Send your name, address, phone number, occupation, sex, age, and nationality to this email." So what's unusual about this one? It tries to fool its victims by associating itself with one of the world's most recognized brands,...