Are you hoping to buy your first home this year? If so, check out the special event that we have coming up during National Consumer Protection Week on Tuesday, March 8, 2011 – you won’t want to miss it!

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A common way consumers can be tricked into a sweepstakes scam is when the person who initiates the contact identifies with a well known organization or government entity. Luckily the person who called BBB yesterday wasn't fooled by a phone call from the "Federal Gaming Commission."

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Today, the last of several changes to the FTC's Telemarketing Sales Rule go into effect. These regulations will protect consumers from for-profit companies that sell debt relief services over the phone. Whether the company calls you, or you respond to advertising from a for-profit credit counseling, debt settlement or debt negotiation service, the company CANNOT collect an advance fee for their service until:

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On April 28, 2010, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced it has begun mailing out more than 34,000 checks to consumers who were identified as victims of scams using the wire transfer company MoneyGram International, Inc.

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The BBB Center and its main program BBB Military Line have been included in the 2010 Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) Charity List!

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Yesterday, we released information from the Consumer Sentinel Network regarding Texas having the 3rd highest rate of identity theft in the nation per capita last year. However, identity theft was only a sub-category of overall fraud in the report. So how did Texas do in fraud complaints? Much better actually...Only the 30th highest rate of fraud complaints in the nation. As far as the cities in Central, Coastal and Southwest Texas go, out of 384 metropolitan areas nationwide, they were ranked as follows:

Austin - 91st
Corpus Christi - 338th
Killeen/Temple/Ft. Hood - 98th
Laredo - 382nd
San Antonio - 219th
Victoria - 359th
Waco - 361st

As you can see, most of the cities in your BBB's service area rate relatively well in fraud claims. However, the average Texan reported losing approximately $2,200 so the circumstances are still not very good for fraud victims. Remember to keep your personal information safe and be careful online. And keep your calendar open for BBB's Shred Day on April 10th so you can dispose of your sensitive documents properly and have them recycled.