June 2003, updated March 2007
Telemarketing phone calls certainly annoy most consumers. But more important, many of these calls are designed to steal consumers' cash. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) reports that telemarketing scams cost Americans more than $40 billion each year. In their surveys, the National Fraud Information Center found that the average individual loss in 2005 was $2,892, up from $1,174 in 2001. A little information and some commonsense tips can help you protect yourself and your family against these rip-offs.
May 2003
Updated March 2008
Zero down! Zero interest! Zero payments for Six Months! It seems like everyone is jumping on the "zero" bandwagon these days! What can go wrong with a deal like that?
Economic hard times, a tense climate after September 11, and uncertain employment opportunities mean that most of us are fighting some degree of stress, frustration, anger, and even depression. If you've got kids, they're facing some of the same realities. But you are not entirely at the mercy of these emotions. The experts involved with the sites below all agree you're the boss when it comes to reacting to stress.
