Consumer Focus Monthly Newsletter

Act now to apply for rental and utility assistance

Issued October 14, 2021

• Act now to apply for rental and utility assistance

There’s something ‘phishy’ with that Amazon email

Issued September 8, 2021

• There’s something ‘phishy’ with that Amazon email

Study: Private student loans remain costly option

Issued August 5, 2021

• Analysis finds borrowers should consult multiple lenders

Avoid weather-related cleanup and repair scams

Issued July 15, 2021

• Iowans should be prepared when conditions are right for scammers following severe weather events

Stop Sharing: Opt-out of data tracking features

Issued June 17, 2021

• Stop Sharing: How to opt-out of some data tracking features on your smartphone or device

Dangerous twist to the 'grandparent scam' emerges

Issued May 24, 2021

• A dangerous twist to the 'grandparent scam' emerges

Be on the lookout for phony government grant scams

Issued May 10, 2021

• Be on the lookout for phony government grant scams

Be Aware: Fake Vaccination Cards Online

Issued April 19, 2021

• Miller warns Iowans to watch out for fake COVID vaccination cards

Be alert for COVID stimulus, vaccine scams

Issued December 31, 2020

• Be alert for COVID stimulus, vaccine scams

Fee fever: Watch for ‘COVID surcharges'

Issued December 7, 2020

• Fee fever: Watch for ‘COVID surcharges’ 

Beware of ‘ghosting’!

Issued October 27, 2020

• Beware of ‘ghosting’! Protect a loved one's identity

Beware of ‘COVID-free’ cleaning products, services

Issued August 31, 2020

• Beware of ‘COVID-free’ cleaning products and services

Get help with mortgage payments during COVID

Issued June 29, 2020

• Get help with mortgage payments during COVID pandemic

Long-term care residents' rights during COVID

Issued June 1, 2020

• Nursing home residents: Know your rights during COVID

Top 10 ways to secure your video meetings

Issued April 22, 2020

• Top 10 ways to secure your video meetings

COVID-19 relief can help student loan borrowers

Issued April 8, 2020

• How student loan borrowers can benefit from COVID-19 relief

How to avoid census scams

Issued March 9, 2020

• Don’t be a victim of census scams

Preventing elder abuse

Issued February 18, 2020

• Preventing elder abuse

Change Iowa’s mobile home laws, Miller urges

Issued January 21, 2020

• Change Iowa’s manufactured home laws, Miller urges

Beware of fake products, sites shopping online

Issued November 25, 2019

• How to avoid a counterfeit Christmas

Why you won’t win that car on Facebook

Issued November 4, 2019

• Why you won’t win that car on Facebook

New form of debt is a risky gamble for students

Issued September 25, 2019

• New form of debt is a risky gamble for college students

Survey: Private student loans vary widely in rates

Issued August 13, 2019

• Survey: Private student loans vary widely in rates, costs

When a home-repair contractor says this, say no

Issued June 5, 2019

• When a home-repair contractor says this, just say no

Top 10 tips to avoid scams

Issued May 6, 2019

• Our scam hunter offers his top 10 tips to protect yourself

Auto repairs

Issued April 2, 2019

• Steer clear of auto repair problems

Tricky ticket sales

Issued March 5, 2019

• Avoid ticket sales ‘horror’ during March Madness and other events

Home improvement bonds

Issued February 4, 2019

• How to fix home-improvement headaches

Healthy New Year Resolutions

Issued January 4, 2019

• Make smart resolutions: Improve your health and your pocketbook

Health insurance enrollment scams

Issued December 3, 2018

• ‘Double check’ before you sign up for health insurance

Give with your head and your heart

Issued November 8, 2018

• Give with your head and your heart

New college grads: Beware of 'loan rescue'

Issued October 1, 2018

• New college grads: Beware of 'loan rescue'

The Robocall Wars: How you can fight back

Issued September 4, 2018

• Robocall wars: How you can fight back

Private student loans deserve a look

Issued August 1, 2018

• Why private student loans deserve a (careful) look

July means it's time to freeze -- for free

Issued July 2, 2018

• July means it's time to freeze — for free

Avoid hotel booking scams

Issued June 5, 2018

• Watch out for hotel booking scams and travel websites

Watch out for imposters on Facebook

Issued May 8, 2018

• Is that the real Tom Miller? Watch out for imposters on Facebook

Avoid dangers when hiring a home-repair contractor

Issued April 9, 2018

• Avoid these dangers when hiring a home-repair contractor

Tax-Related Identity Theft and Fraud

Issued March 1, 2018

• Tax-Related Identity Theft and Fraud

Don’t Get Burned by “Pain Relief” Cream Sellers

Issued February 1, 2018

• Don’t Get Burned by “Pain Relief” Cream Sellers

Gift Cards & Gift Certificates

Issued January 1, 2018

• Gift Cards & Gift Certificates

Wise Giving

Issued December 1, 2017

• Wise Giving

Don’t Let Online Scammers Scrooge Your Holidays!

Issued November 1, 2017

• Don’t Let Online Scammers Scrooge Your Holidays!

The Secret Life of Pet Scams

Issued October 1, 2017

• The Secret Life of Pet Scams

Watch for Facebook Crooks!

Issued September 1, 2017

• Watch for Facebook Crooks!

Look for Signs of Elder Abuse

Issued August 1, 2017

• Look for Signs of Elder Abuse

Work From Home: A Sweet Dream or Bad Scheme?

Issued July 1, 2017

• Work From Home: A Sweet Dream or Bad Scheme?

Avoid the SCAMptons: Online Booking Scams

Issued June 1, 2017

• Avoid the SCAMptons: Online Booking Scams

That IRS Call Might Now Be Legit!

Issued May 1, 2017

• That IRS Call Might Now Be Legit!

“Instant” Tax Refunds: Quick Cash for Whom?

Issued April 1, 2017

• “Instant” Tax Refunds: Quick Cash for Whom?

Data Breach Victim? It’s Personal (Info)!

Issued March 1, 2017

• Data Breach Victim? It’s Personal (Info)!

Sweetheart Scams

Issued February 1, 2017

• Sweetheart Scams

Timeshares: Take Time before You Sign

Issued January 2, 2017

• Timeshares: Take Time before You Sign

Online Buying: Clicking with Confidence

Issued December 1, 2016

• Online Buying: Clicking with Confidence

Satellite or Cable TV Complaint Getting Static?

Issued November 1, 2016

• Getting Static about Your Satellite or Cable TV Complaint?

Seeking Storm/Flood Damage Cleanup or Repairs?

Issued October 1, 2016

• Seeking Storm/Flood Damage Cleanup or Repairs?

Prescription Medication Costs: How to Save Safely

Issued September 1, 2016

• Prescription Medication Costs: How to Save Safely

New Car a Nonstarter? Look at the Lemon Law

Issued August 1, 2016

• New Car a Nonstarter? Look at the Lemon Law

Pay Debt with iTunes Card? Sounds Like a Sad Song!

Issued July 1, 2016

• Paying a Debt with an iTunes Card? Sounds Like a Sad Song!

Phone Seller Wants Quick Electronic Payment? No!

Issued June 1, 2016

• Phone Seller Wants Quick Electronic Payment? No!

Dietary Supplements

Issued May 1, 2016

• Dietary Supplements

These Chips are Good for You: New Card Chips

Issued April 1, 2016

• These Chips are Good for You

Credit Report and Identity Theft Monitoring

Issued March 1, 2016

• Credit Report and Identity Theft Monitoring

Health Club Memberships

Issued February 1, 2016

• Exercising Your Rights at Membership Health Clubs

Tax-Related Identity Theft and Refund Fraud

Issued January 1, 2016

• Tax-Related Identity Theft and Refund Fraud

Health Plan Enrollment & Scams

Issued December 1, 2015

• Health Plan Enrollment & Scams

Caller ID Spoofing

Issued November 1, 2015

• Caller ID Spoofing

Identity Theft

Issued October 1, 2015

• Identity Theft

Returns, Refunds & Right to Cancel

Issued September 1, 2015

• Returns, Refunds & Right to Cancel

Service Contracts and Extended Warranties

Issued August 1, 2015

• Service Contracts and Extended Warranties

Protecting Our Service Members and Veterans

Issued July 1, 2015

• Protecting Our Service Members and Veterans

Going, Going, Gone!

Issued June 1, 2015

• Going, Going, Gone! Online Auction, Sales and Rental Scams

Buying a Used Car? Vetting the Vehicle

Issued May 1, 2015

• Buying a Used Car? Vetting the Vehicle

Avoid the Home Wrecker: Home Improvement & Repair

Issued April 1, 2015

• Avoid the Home Wrecker: Home Improvement & Repair

Grandparent Scam

Issued March 2, 2015

• Grandparent Scam

Debt Collections & Debt Collection Scams

Issued February 2, 2015

• Debt Collections & Debt Collection Scams

Tax Time Scams & Tips

Issued January 2, 2015

• Tax Time Scams & Tips

First You Win, Then You Lose

Issued December 1, 2014

• First You Win, Then You Lose

Smarter Holiday Shopping

Issued November 1, 2014

• Smarter Holiday Shopping

Hold the Line on Annoying Robocalls

Issued October 1, 2014

• Hold the Line on Annoying Robocalls

How to Hinder Hackers? Protect Your Password!

Issued September 1, 2014

• How to Hinder Hackers? Protect Your Password!

Health Fraud: Protecting Your Wellness and Wallet

Issued August 1, 2014

• Health Fraud: Protecting Your Wellness and Your Wallet

Student Loan “Rescue” Companies Are No Lifeline!

Issued July 1, 2014

• Student Loan “Rescue” Companies Are No Lifeline!

The Drive to Destroy

Issued June 1, 2014

• The Drive to Destroy

Unauthorized Charges & “Free Trial” Offers

Issued May 1, 2014

• Unauthorized Charges & “Free Trial” Offers

Home Repairs & Home Improvements

Issued April 1, 2014

• Home Repairs & Home Improvements

Your Credit Report & Credit Score

Issued March 1, 2014

• Your Credit Report & Credit Score

Foreclosure Rescue Scams

Issued February 1, 2014

• Foreclosure Rescue Scams

Cell Phone Contracts

Issued January 1, 2014

• Cell Phone Contracts