Consumer alert!

Counterfeit cashier’s checks drawn on Fort Sill National Bank of Fort Sill, Okla. are being used in a nationwide “mystery shopper” scam being run through the mail.

Recipients get a letter explaining that they’ve been chosen to be a mystery shopper to gauge customer service at various stores. The letter instructs them to take the enclosed check, use it to buy merchandise, then keep remaining funds as payment for their services.

The checks are bogus and those who pass them could get arrested.

More details are here.

There’s a new group that’s launched a campaign to try to stem marketing by credit card companies to college students.

The Truth About Credit Campaign Web site has all sorts of good information about the problems that credit card usage can cause and the site might benefit young and old alike.

About 125,000 Battat Magnabuild toy sets are being recalled because they have magnetic pieces that can be swallowed or inhaled, causing health problems in youngsters.

Details are here.

“Formula 1″ toy racing cars that come with a remote control and were sold at various dollar stores are being recalled because they have excessive lead in their paint.

The recall notice is here.

Both Heparin and saline-flush pre-filled syringes made by AM2 PAT and marketed under the Sierra Pre-Filled and B. Braun brands have been found to be contaminated with bacteria that can lead to infection or death.

Heparin is a commonly prescribed blood thinner to reduce the chances of clots in patients who recently have undergone medical procedures or soon will.

The Food and Drug Administration has issued a recall notice.

“At Home” taper and votive candles sold at Nordstrom stores are being recalled because they have and outside coating that can catch fire.

Details are here.

Inter-American Products, a division of The Kroger Co., today announced a voluntary recall on all codes of Deli Chef Tri-Bean Salad sold from store deli counters in some states, including Michigan, because the product has the potential to be contaminated with the bacteria that produces botulism food poisoning. Consumers should not consume the salad even if it does not look or smell spoiled.
The Tri-Bean Salad was sold at deli counters in stores in Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, New Mexico, Utah, Washington, West Virginia, and Wyoming.
The green beans in the Tri-Bean Salad were processed by the New Era Canning Company, which has announced a recall of the beans. Details of the New Era recall are here.
No illnesses have been reported. No other salad products are affected by this recall.
Customers are encouraged to dispose of the product and should contact the store where the product was purchased to receive a refund.
Consumers with questions or concerns may call Inter-American Products at 1-800-697-2448.

The Monroe area’s water emergency was lifted early today.

Residents in the various communities served by the Monroe water system can resume normal water usage.

The emergency was declared Monday morning when ice clogged the area’s water intake in Lake Erie.

The City of Monroe has declared a water emergency because its raw water intake line in Lake Erie has frozen shut due to frigid temperatures and sustained winds. Officials advise against any non-essential use of water, such as flushing toilets or doing laundry until further notice.

The emergency affects any community on the Monroe system, such as Raisinville, Monroe, Exeter Townships, Maybee, and the Dundee, Ida and Petersburg areas.

State Farm insurance has a whole section on its Web site discussing possible ways to avoid frozen water lines.

For the link, click here.

L’Oreal is recalling its Paris Dream Blonde Bleach and Lightening care kit because misprinted instructions on the carton can result in scalp irritation.

For the recall notice, click here.

Fears of botulism poisoning have prompted New Era Canning Co. of New Era, Mich. to expand its recall of some of its canned products.

The new recall includes ALL green been products as well as garbanzo beans. The products were distributed in large cans to restaurant and food service operators.

More details are here.

The current issue of Parade magazine has a neat article about some steps you might take if you find your health insurance claim rejected.

Persuading insurers to back up their policies often just takes a little legwork and a few phone calls, but isn’t necessarily impossible. Of course, the responsive often depends on which company insures you.

The Parade article is in the magazine inserted with the Monroe Sunday News or can be accessed online here.

The FBI has issued a nationwide warning about an increase in the type of telephone security scam that was being perpetrated in the Monroe area a few days ago.

The agency reemphasizes that you shouldn’t give out any information over the phone or respond to e-mailed warnings that your account will be closed down if you don’t call a phone number or enter personal financial information online.

Check out the warning here.

Check out the original post here.

The Food and Drug Administration has approved a new warning label for the Ortho contraceptive patch, noting that users might be more susceptible to blot clots.

Details are here.