Consumer alert!

With the rash of pet deaths due to tainted pet food, pet scammers have a new group of people to prey upon.

Both the Better Business Bureau and the AARP are warning about the spread of the scam. It basically involves the scammer advertising a pet for sale in either newspaper classifieds or on the Internet. The pet is described in glowing terms and an irresistable photo usually accompanies the ad.

The prospective pet buyer who responds to the ad is instructed to wire money, then more money to cover unforseen shipping or insurance or customs costs. No matter how much money is sent, the pet never arrives.

See the most recent issue of the AARP Bulletin for a description of the ruse and a case study.

Some wooden puzzles for toddlers, including “Sounds on the Farm” and “Sounds on the Go” have little wooden knobs that the feds say could pose a choking hazard for the youngsters usiing them.

Here are details.

Ford is recalling about a half-million Ford Escapes because they can catch fire.

Here are details.

Consumer Reports has published the results of its poll of nearly a million consumers on the brands that are most reliable and most problem-prone.

Surprisingly, some of the priciest and best-known brands often have the highest rates of repair.

Here’s a summary of the consumer organization’s findings.

If you invested in a company called Dominion Investments or Eurobond Fidelity Ltd. or Imperial Investments, you may have been conned.

The Federal Trade Commission is going after the Canadian guy who marketed investments through companies using such names.

Here are the details.

Coca-Cola plans to deploy cashless vending machines. No more fumbling with change. Just flash your credit card and you get a bottle or a can.

The rest of the story is here.

Another spooky incident has surfaced about ID theft and scammers targeting bank ATMs just over the border in Sylvania Township.

Check out the article here.

American Bullie Bull Pizzle puppy and dog chews are being recalled because they could be contaminated with salmonella.

Read the Food and Drug Administration advisory here.

It might be worth repeating a couple of Easter-related reminders.

For one, Consumer Reports still is finding those Kinder Surprise chocolate eggs on many store shelves even though they’ve been banned in the U.S. because small toys encased in the edible eggs are said to pose a choking hazard. Here’s some background about the product.
Also, the Pennsylvania State Game Commission is again urging parents not to buy Easter “pets” for little ones, such as chicks, baby rabbits and other critters. Here’s the advisory.

Here’s why.

Ones sold recently have a Sears Craftsman label that can become partially detached and interfere with the blade guard.

If you don’t remove that label you can cut yourself, company and federal officials say. Here’s more.

Plush Easter baskets with a Disney Princesses theme sold at Wal-Mart have little beads that can pose a choking hazard to little throats.

Here’s more about the recall.

A new Zogby International survey finds that 91 percent of consumers say they’re concerned that retailers, credit card companies, banks and other firms could sell their personal information for marketing purposes. About 83 percent say they’re concerned that information provided to retailers could end up in the hands of others, either through theft or sale.

There might be a glimmer of hope on the horizon. A recent post here about the credit card security breach at the T.J. Maxx family of companies, brought this note from Jaclynne Vettorino, a SIRAS.com spokesperson:

“As you are aware, retail stores around the country are employing point-of-sale terminals that collect personal info on customers for their databases as a means to control and prevent fraudulent returns,” she wrote. “However, this practice penalizes many honest shoppers and also raises privacy concerns due to inaccurate and antiquated security systems.”

“SIRAS.com, an outgrowth of Nintendo America, developed a solution that allows retailers to track product through its lifecycle by creating an “electronic receipt” based on its UPC code and serial number at the point-of-sale, rather than capturing customers’ personal information. To put it plainly they track products NOT humans, so there’s no fear of identity theft if systems are hacked.

“By doing this, SIRAS is able to generate an accurate database of all pertinent information, including date and time of sale, retailer details (city, state, store number, etc.) and transaction number to streamline the return process for both retailers and customers. Also, through the use of SIRAS technology, retailers have drastically cut losses associated with fraudulent returns, which in the end, saves the consumer from inheriting additional costs.”

The list of retailers that are using some form of the SIRAS system includes Meijer, Wal-Mart, Sears, Kmart, Target, Circuit City, Best Buy and GameStop. Jackie tells us the degree of usage varies from retailer to retailer.

For more information visit www.siras.com.

Those Intex “Easy Set” soft-sided pools that have become popular in recent years have compatible ladders with steps that could break if they are assembled incorrectly.

The company is recalling the ladders after hearing about 172 reports of steps breaking and users suffering bruises and cuts.

Here’s more information on how to get a replacement ladder.

Two types of child toys are being recalled because parts of them could pose a choking hazard to youngsters.

Wooden toy activity carts sold at Target are being recalled because they have hubcaps that can detach and choke kids if they put them in their mouths.

Also small “Happy Baby” and “Lovely Baby” plastic dolls sold through dollar stores nationwide have various parts that could detach and choke toddlers.