April 2020 • Issue Ten, Volume Ten • www.consumer-action.org
Click here to view this email in a web browser.
What people are saying
"Consumer Action is up to date on the problems that occur [with predatory lending, scams, etc.]!"
-
Did you know?
Financial scams and abuses that target older people are happening more often, especially because of the growing coronavirus crisis. When you report elder fraud--even if it's attempted fraud and you didn't fall for it--you can help authorities stop criminals and prevent other people from becoming victims. If you or someone you know has been a target or victim of elder fraud, contact the National Elder Fraud Hotline (run by the U.S. Department of Justice) at 833-FRAUD-11 (833-372-8311). The hotline is open for calls every day from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. ET, and help is available in English, Spanish and a number of other languages. When you call, you'll be assigned a case manager to guide you through the reporting process and connect you with additional resources. Want to continue to keep up with the latest scams and frauds? Keep your eyes open for our SCAM GRAM newsletter, delivered monthly to your email inbox!
Out and About: Consumer Action equipped with "New Strategies"
Consumer Action's director of strategic partnerships attended a forum at Georgetown University designed to help non-profits ramp up their organization's revenue in order to increase their social impact. Read more...
Former CFPB director's revealing book recounts a legacy of leadership
Last month, former CFPB director Richard Cordray presented his new book, Watchdog: How Protecting Consumers Can Save Our Families, Our Economy, and Our Democracy, to an audience of interested consumer advocates (Consumer Action included) in Washington, D.C. Read more...
Hotline Chronicles: When are tax services REALLY free to file?
The devil's in the details when it comes to "free" income tax filing for low- and moderate-income filers. Make sure you understand the limitations and exclusions of the tax prep services you want to use before going to them to prepare your taxes, or you could end up unnecessarily paying for a product. Read more...
Coalition Efforts: Calling for an affordable coronavirus vaccine
Consumer Action often joins its allies in letters, comments and complaints calling for change, standing up for consumer rights, supporting or opposing proposed laws and objecting to corporate misbehavior, among other activities. We collect these in the Coalition Efforts section of our website. Each month in the INSIDER we highlight some recent activities. Read more...
CFPB Watch: Another big bank creates phony customer accounts!
In this regular feature, we detail recent actions taken by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). This month, we report on the CFPB's lawsuit against a major bank for opening fake accounts, and explain how the Bureau's attempts to make debt collectors disclose the details on "zombie" debt could actually hurt, rather than help, consumers. Read more...
Class Action Database: Atkins loses millions over bogus weight loss claims
Consumer Action maintains a database of class actions so that interested consumers can learn more, join a pending action or make a claim. Class action lawsuits are an important element of consumer protection and can force changes to anti-consumer business practices and make bad actors return ill-gotten gains to consumers. Read more.
About Consumer Action
Consumer Action has been a champion of underrepresented consumers nationwide since 1971. A non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, Consumer Action focuses on consumer education that empowers low- and moderate-income and limited-English-speaking consumers to financially prosper. It also advocates for consumers in the media and before lawmakers to advance consumer rights and promote industry-wide change.
By providing consumer education materials in multiple languages, a free national hotline, a comprehensive website (www.consumer-action.org) and annual surveys of financial and consumer services, Consumer Action helps consumers assert their rights in the marketplace and make financially savvy choices. Nearly 7,000 community and grassroots organizations benefit annually from its extensive outreach programs, training materials and support.
Consumer Action ©2020
You are currently subscribed to a mailing list of Consumer Action. If you wish to unsubscribe, please click here.
