Brentwood, NY
News
COVID-19: Long Island Business Fined For Selling Fake Masks COVID-19: Long Island Business Fined For Selling Fake Masks
Covid-19: Long Island Business Fined For Selling Fake Masks A Long Island business has been fined for selling masks they illegally claimed were N-95-certified at an inflated price, despite the fact they will not protect from novel coronavirus (COVID-19). Officials in Nassau County announced that a business has been fined $25,000 for selling masks out of a warehouse on Old Country Road. Nassau County Executive Laura Curran said, "if you are buying this or using this, if you are a healthcare worker or a grocery store worker and you are depending on this for your health and your safety, you need to know that it is a legit product." New York Gov. Andre…

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by Zak Failla
Massapequa, NY
Politics
COVID-19: Stop Selling Bogus 'Coronavirus-Killing' Devices, State AG Tells Scammers COVID-19: Stop Selling Bogus 'Coronavirus-Killing' Devices, State AG Tells Scammers
Covid-19: Stop Selling Bogus 'Coronavirus-Killing' Devices, State AG Tells Scammers The New York Attorney General is striking back against scammers who have been marketing and selling phony “novel coronavirus-killing” devices. Three companies have allegedly been misrepresenting to consumers that COVID-19 is a primarily airborne disease and that its air purifiers can effectively prevent people from contracting the virus by removing the virus particles from the air.  On Thursday, March 26, James announced that she ordered AllerAir Industries, Airpura Industries, and Sylvane, Inc., to cease and desist marketing their products as tools that can prevent the spread of the v…

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by Zak Failla
Massapequa, NY
News
COVID-19 Scams: Texts, Emails Promise Updates On Latest Cases COVID-19 Scams: Texts, Emails Promise Updates On Latest Cases
Covid-19 Scams: Texts, Emails Promise Updates On Latest Cases The global outbreak of the novel strain of coronavirus (COVID-19) has led to a rash of new scams from fear-mongering fraudsters, officials warned. Scams ranging from texts and emails from scammers posing as health officials and other professionals to others brewing up phony vaccines and cleaning cocktails have become more prevalent in the weeks since the COVID-19 outbreak, the United States Attorney General’s Office announced. According to the FTC, to help weed out scammers, the organization has issued a joint statement with the FDA to seven sellers of unapproved and misbranded products, cl…

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by Zak Failla
Hamilton Township, NJ
News
Authorities Pursue 600+ Price-Gouging Complaints In NJ: Got Any? Authorities Pursue 600+ Price-Gouging Complaints In NJ: Got Any?
Authorities Pursue 600+ Price-Gouging Complaints In NJ: Got Any? New Jersey authorities reported 619 coronavirus-related price gouging complaints from throughout the state as of Tuesday – all of which they said are being investigated. The state Division of Consumer Affairs already was sending 82 cease-and-desist and warning letters to businesses following complaints from customers, Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal said. The number of complaints more than doubled in just five days, when customers in New Jersey had filed 270, Grewal said. Retailers are accused of unfairly raising prices on surgical masks, hand sanitizers, disinfectant sprays and wipes, a…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Fairfield, CT
Police & Fire
Phone Scammers On Rise Again, CT State Police Say Phone Scammers On Rise Again, CT State Police Say
Phone Scammers On Rise Again, CT State Police Say Connecticut State Police are warning residents to beware of phone scams that appear to be on the rise. Dispatchers and troopers from around the state have been contacted by concerned citizens about unusual phone calls they have received, the department said.  The phone calls are from people claiming to be from the Connecticut State Police, among other agencies or organizations. In some cases, scammers ask callers to deposit a check they provide and then wire the money from that account.  In other calls, scammers insist that consumers make a decision and provi…

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by Kathy Reakes
Massapequa, NY
News
Recall Issued For Nearly 700,000 Toyota Vehicles Recall Issued For Nearly 700,000 Toyota Vehicles
Recall Issued For Nearly 700,000 Toyota Vehicles Hundreds of thousands of Toyota vehicles are being recalled due to fuel pumps that could potentially fail and cause engines to stall, increasing the risk of a crash. Toyota announced that it is recalling nearly 700,000 vehicles due to the faulty fuel pumps, impacting dozens of models. The recall covers certain 2018 and 2019 Lexus LS 500, LC 500, RC 350, RC 300, GS 350, IS 300, ES 350, LX 570, GX 460 and RX 350 models. It also includes some 2018 and 2019 models of Toyota 4Runner, Camry, Highlander, Land Cruiser, Sequoia, Sienna, Tacoma, Tundra Avalon, and Corolla models. According to T…

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by Zak Failla
Massapequa, NY
News
Scam Alert: Don't Fall For This Amazon Hoax Scam Alert: Don't Fall For This Amazon Hoax
Scam Alert: Don't Fall For This Amazon Hoax With the holiday seasons fast approaching, officials are warning of a “new phone scam that has been making the rounds targeting Amazon users. According to police, area residents have reported receiving an automated phone call from a fraudster claiming to be from Amazon in need of discussing a recent order. Officials said that the largest are instructed to press “1” to cancel the order or “2” to speak with a representative. No matter what button is pressed, the message states that the order is canceled and in order to fix it, the target must call an 800 number to speak with someone directly.…

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by Zak Failla
Fairfield, CT
News
Scam Alert: Eversource Issues Warning To Customers Scam Alert: Eversource Issues Warning To Customers
Scam Alert: Eversource Issues Warning To Customers Eversource Energy is warning its customers of the increased number of scams involving utility services that often come with the holiday season. Scammers have been posing as Eversource employees to obtain money, demand personal information for identity theft or use deceptive tactics to persuade customers to switch energy suppliers, Eversource officials say. “We always want to protect our customers from scams, and that’s why it’s critical we continue to raise awareness and educate the public about all the different tactics these scammers use,” said Eversource Senior Vice President a…

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by Valerie Musson
Shelton, CT
News
Warnings Issued For Text, TV 'Smishing' Scams Warnings Issued For Text, TV 'Smishing' Scams
Warnings Issued For Text, TV 'Smishing' Scams Officials are warning of new “smishing” scams that have been making the rounds. The Federal Trade Commission issued an alert cautioning consumers of new scams that have been using text messages, not the traditional emails. One such scam involves the fraudster offering to provide major savings on television services. The scams involve the victims sending back personal information, or infecting devices with malware. According to the Better Business Bureau, this new scheme is called “smishing” which stands for SMS fishing, as opposed to “phishing,” which involves email. “We’re kind of condit…

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by Zak Failla
Massapequa, NY
News
Don't Fall For It: Costco Confirms Coupon On Facebook Is Scam Don't Fall For It: Costco Confirms Coupon On Facebook Is Scam
Don't Fall For It: Costco Confirms Coupon On Facebook Is Scam It’s a trap! A free $75 Costco coupon that has been making the rounds on social media turned out to be too good to be true, the wholesale giant announced. “Despite several posts out there, Costco is NOT giving away $75 coupons. While we love our fans and our members, this offer is a SCAM, and in no way affiliated with Costco,” the company said. “Thanks to our fans for letting us know about this recurring hoax!” The phony coupon first cropped up on Facebook earlier this year, causing some users to unwittingly click on a link unaffiliated with Costco to collect their coupon. To gain access,…

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by Zak Failla
Poughkeepsie, NY
Politics
State Attorney General Declares Price Gouging Emergency In Dutchess State Attorney General Declares Price Gouging Emergency In Dutchess
State Attorney General Declares Price Gouging Emergency In Dutchess Dutchess County is among 12 counties in New York to be warned of price gouging following the Halloween storm that caused expansive flooding in the region. New York Attorney General Letitia James issued a consumer alert, warning homeowners and businesses to be on high-alert for potential price gouging after the Thursday, Oct. 31, storm that brought heavy rains and whipping winds to upstate New York. On Friday, Nov. 1, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo declared a state of emergency in 12 counties that saw widespread power outages and road closures, including Dutchess. Other counties included in Jam…

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by Zak Failla
Shelton, CT
News
Nestlé Recalls Cookie Dough Products Nestlé Recalls Cookie Dough Products
Nestlé Recalls Cookie Dough Products Nestlé has announced a recall of ready-to-bake Toll House cookie dough products that may contain “food-grade rubber pieces.” The recalled products include refrigerated Nestlé Toll House Cookie Dough bars, tubs and tube-shaped “chubs,” which were shipped nationwide. The recall is limited only to the ready-to-bake refrigerated products, with batch codes that begin with 9189 through batch codes that begin with 9295:  Simply Delicious Nestlé Toll House Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough (18oz); Simply Delicious Nestlé Toll House Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough (18oz); Simply Delicious…

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by Zak Failla