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James R Hood

Amazon Sues Sites Over Fake Product Reviews

Amazon Sues Sites Over Fake Product Reviews

Amazon has filed lawsuits against two websites that it accuses of orchestrating fake reviews in return for money and free products. The suit charges that AppSally and Rebatest are misleading shoppers by promoting fake reviews on Amazon, eBay, Walmart and Etsy. “Fake review brokers attempt to profit by deceiving unknowing

Feds Warn Against Lies About Public Service Loan Forgiveness

Feds Warn Against Lies About Public Service Loan Forgiveness

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is warning student loan servicers not to make deceptive statements about loan forgiveness for students who go on to work in public service jobs. “Illegal conduct by a student loan servicer can be ruinous for borrowers who miss out on the opportunity for debt

Loans Forgiven for Students at DeVry, Other For-Profit Schools

Loans Forgiven for Students at DeVry, Other For-Profit Schools

The U.S. Department of Education continues sifting through claims from former students at for-profit universities and is forgiving $415 million in loans owed by students at DeVry University and other schools. “The Department remains committed to giving borrowers discharges when the evidence shows their college violated the law and

Predatory Puppy Loans Make Consumer Groups Growl

Predatory Puppy Loans Make Consumer Groups Growl

Having a pet is expensive enough without paying exorbitant interest rates when you finance the purchase of your pup. (Of course, you should adopt not purchase but that’s another story). The problem with the puppy loans arises when consumers finance their new animal friend through the pet store. Many

For Your Valentine, Give the Gift of Sleep

For Your Valentine, Give the Gift of Sleep

Roses are red but eyes aren’t supposed to be. If your special someone isn’t getting enough sleep, it can put a damper on your Valentine’s Day and all the other mornings when one or both of you wake up grumpy. What’s the solution? Meditation, melatonin, exercise

'Extended Warranty' Promoters Bilked Consumers Out of $6 Million, Feds Charge

'Extended Warranty' Promoters Bilked Consumers Out of $6 Million, Feds Charge

Just about everyone with a phone is hounded constantly by people hawking “extended auto warranties” despite the efforts of the Federal Trade Commission and other federal, state and local regulators to put them out of business. In the latest such attempt, the FTC is charging that American Vehicle Protection Corp.

How Big Is Amazon? Almost Too Big to Measure

How Big Is Amazon? Almost Too Big to Measure

Jeff Bezos’ yacht is so big they may have to disassemble a bridge in Rotterdam to get it out to sea. Back on shore, Amazon’s third-party marketplace now gets 25 cents of every online shopping dollar. Were Amazon’s marketplace an independent platform, it would be the largest online