NewsChannel 9 - The Real Deal

Fake IRS email phishing scam: The Real Deal

Tue, 14 May 2013 15:34:13 -0400

Syracuse (WSYR-TV) - An email being sent to inboxes around Central New York appears to be from the IRS, telling you to reply with several pieces of personal and financial information.

Don’t reply, and hit the delete key instead. The email is a scam.

There are several notices at irs.gov that say clearly, the IRS will not initiate contact with taxpayers by email to request personal or financial information

The same thing applies to any type of electronic communication like text messages or social media sites.

You should forward any message or website asking for your name, social security number, birth date, or bank account numbers to phishing@irs.gov.

If there's a something you want The Real Deal about, give us a call anytime at (315) 446-9900, or you can e-mail yourstories@9wsyr.com.

Camillus water bill increase: The Real Deal

Thu, 02 May 2013 23:27:41 -0400

Camillus (WSYR-TV) -- When voters in the Town of Camillus eliminated their local water department and handed over control to the Onondaga County Water Authority, they were hoping to save money.

"When I opened the bill, I was kind of surprised and shocked because it was so much more than I am used to paying," Camillus resident Ramon Grossi said.

The Grossi's final quarterly bill from the Camillus Consolidated Water District totaled $35. The first bill from OCWA rose to $81. Camillus Town Supervisor Mary Ann Coogan has fielded numerous calls about the sticker shock.

A series of complications during the transition contributed to widespread confusion. First, Coogan says the past two billing cycles did not cover the standard period of time.

"The (final) bill we sent out was unusually low (minus two weeks of usage) and the (first) bill that OCWA sent out had two extra weeks of use in it. So, neither bill reflected the true cost of the water," Coogan said.

Also, Councilor Dave Callahan told his constituents that a billing error resulted in some customers being overcharged $20. They'll be refunded.

Finally, under the old system, customers paid for water service through two separate bills. A water bill covered actual usage every three months. A yearly tax bill covered operational expenses for the town's water department, including employee wages and benefits.

For example, customers who used 10,000 gallons of water would be charged roughly $35 on their quarterly water bill. For a home assessed at $150,000, an extra $57 would appear on tax bills for the year...that breaks down to $14 each quarter. To compare, the combined cost for usage and taxes under the old system would be about $49 each quarter.

OCWA charges much more for 10,000 gallons of water, about $48. The cost spikes upward for higher usage. But, operational expenses are included. Residents won't see an additional charge on their yearly tax bills.

"In the long run it is going to save the town money, this lease with OCWA, because we no longer have that million dollar plus department to run," Coogan explained.

Families using more than 10,000 gallons of water will likely see a rise in fees, since OCWA charges more per gallon. The need for conservation was pitched as a justification. Grossi, a retiree, believes his quarterly bill will ultimately be slightly higher than he was paying with the Camillus Consolidated Water District. So, why the switch?

Coogan says the town's aging water system needs $4-million in infrastructure upgrades, a large financial commitment for a small town to shoulder. By transferring operation of the water service to OCWA, that cost will be shared by a wider customer base, not just those who live in Camillus. Voters approved the deal in a referendum vote.

As part of the transition, the town will sell off it's resources and surpluses accrued over the years. Residents were promised a refund of about $75. They'd expected to be paid more quickly. Callahan says an audit is taking longer than expected and the refund should be paid out this summer. He also expects the customers who were over-charged in the first bill to get their $20 refunds this summer.

As his garden soaks up the sun, Ramon Grossi has patience.

"I told the wife, let's wait and see what normal usage we get in the next bill. I'll accept this bill, but I want to see what it is normally going to be," Grossi said.

Until then, he's hoping for more rain.

Why is my quarterly water bill higher in Camillus? The Real Deal

Wed, 01 May 2013 15:39:26 -0400

Camillus (WSYR-TV) – Some residents in the town of Camillus have noticed that their quarterly water bill was quite a bit higher when they opened it and they want to know why.

At the beginning of the year, the Onondaga County Water Authority took over operation and maintenance of the town’s water district.

Mike Hooker at OCWA said that Camillus’ last bill accounted only for use through mid-December, so the service period for the latest bill is about two weeks longer than it would otherwise be.

In addition, OCWA says the town used to add some of the cost of operating the water system to its tax bill. The authority can’t do that, so its rates reflect the complete cost of operations.

Finally, OCWA is undertaking a $3.5-$4 million capital improvement project to rehabilitate Camillus’ pump stations and tanks over the next five years.

While the cost is shared across tens of thousands of customers countywide, it will add a little to the water bill each quarter.

If you have a question for the Your Stories team, call (315) 446-9900 or email YourStories@9wsyr.com.

Walmart VUDU email warnings: The Real Deal

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 15:48:10 -0400

Syracuse (WSYR-TV) – Walmart has recently emailed warnings to its VUDU customers telling them that their personal information has been compromised.

Tech publications and bloggers say that hard drives were stolen that contained customers’ names, email, and mailing addresses, along with their phone numbers, birthdays, and the last four digits of some credit card numbers.

The information can be used by identity thieves to send spam emails asking for more personal information – or emails asking the person to click on other websites.

VUDU has expired all of its users’ passwords. Users must go to the website’s sign-in page to submit a new password.

Any customer who is using the same password on another site should change that password, too, according to the company.

If there’s something you want to know The Real Deal about, call (315) 446-9900 or email YourStories@9wsyr.com.

Scams target businesses too: The Real Deal

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 15:13:25 -0400

Syracuse (WSYR-TV) – Scams not only target consumers, but small businesses can fall victim, too.

The Better Business Bureau says you should be wary of opportunities to invest in other businesses. They say know the value of the product and its true costs.

Charity pitches from needy causes and neighborhood fundraising projects warrant added caution. Check out the charity website Give.org before donating to make sure the charity is legit.

Also, think twice before participating in coupon book promotions. Problems can occur if the promoters change the terms of the coupons to make them more attractive to buyers.

Finally, accepting surplus merchandise at a reduced price may mean accepting other obligations as well. You could be left with demands for added payments.

If there’s something you want The Real Deal about, give us a call anytime. The number is 446-9900 or email YourStories@9WSYR.com.

DeBeers class action lawsuit: The Real Deal

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 16:07:01 -0400

Syracuse (WSYR-TV) – People who are waiting for their checks as a result of the DeBeers class action lawsuit are accustomed to waiting – and now they will need to wait some more.

While retailers have received their checks, consumers are still waiting.

Anyone who has moved in the meantime can update their address by calling 1-800-760-5431.

Or they can send a letter to the claims administrator at PO Box 9432, Minneapolis, MN, 55440-9432.

If you want to know The Real Deal about something, call the Your Stories team any time at (315) 446-9900 or email YourStories@9wsyr.com.

Skechers Shape-ups class action lawsuit settlement: The Real Deal

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 15:54:16 -0400

Syracuse (WSYR-TV) – The Federal Trade Commission and shoemaker Skechers have reached a settlement in a class-action lawsuit over the company’s Shape-up toning shoes case in May 2012, but people who are anticipating refunds will have to wait a little longer.

The website SkechersSettlement.com says the deal still needs the court’s final approval.

They could receive approval any day or many months from now. And then, people expecting refunds will need to wait many more months while claims are reviewed.

The earliest a claimant could expect to see a check is by late summer – barring any appeals.

If you want to know The Real Deal about something, call the Your Stories team any time at (315) 446-9900 or email YourStories@9wsyr.com.

BBB warns of Bluetooth hacking scams: The Real Deal

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 16:32:28 -0400

Syracuse (WSYR-TV) -- Hackers are now targeting your Bluetooth to rack up your cell phone bill. It’s something called “blue bugging.”

Many of us keep our Bluetooth connection open, which leaves us vulnerable. But hackers are using specialized software to intercept your signal and gain access to your phone and all of your texts, contacts, photos and phone history.

There are ways to protect yourself from falling victim to “blue bugging.” The Better Business Bureau says to turn your Bluetooth off or make it non-discoverable when you’re not using it – especially if you’re going to a crowded public place like a mall, which is a prime spot for hackers to hang out and look for their next target.

Also, the BBB says don’t accept pairing requests from unknown parties. The hackers get into your phone and then use it to make expensive phone calls. Many times, the victims don’t know until they’re left with the costly bill.

Always keep an eye on your cell phone bill and make sure the charges belong to you. For more information on this scam and how to protect yourself, CLICK HERE.

Calls asking for credit card information: The Real Deal

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 14:51:28 -0400

Syracuse (WSYR-TV) – NewsChannel 9 has reported on Cardholder Services in the past, but the scam is still in circulation.

If you receive a call from Cardholder Services promising a lower interest rate and requesting information on your credit card, feel free to obtain as much information as you can, but you should call the Attorney General’s office after you hang up.

Anyone who has a good credit history can call their card provider or shop for another company.

You should never give away information on your credit card.

If there’s something you want to know The Real Deal about, call the Your Stories team at (315) 446-9900 or email YourStories@9wsyr.com.

Commission warning New Yorkers about Lottery scams: The Real Deal

Wed, 27 Mar 2013 16:47:54 -0400

Syracuse (WSYR-TV) - The New York State Gaming Commission says a new round of Lottery scams is making the rounds.

The commission is urging people to be aware of fake lottery prizes. The scammers send the would-be target a letter indicating that they have won the lottery.

When the person calls a representative on the phone, they ask for personal information and for a processing fee. Once the processing fee is paid, the scammers take the money and the victim never sees any of the promised prize.

In another scam, the victim receives a check in the mail. A letter indicates that the check represents a portion of their winnings, but a portion of it needs to be returned before the prize can be collected.

Once the money is in the mail, the check bounces and victim loses.

Anyone who believes they've been the victim of a similar scam should contact the New York Lottery’s Security Unit at (518) 388-3416 or the Attorney General’s office at 1-800-771-7755.

More information is also available at the Attorney General’s website.

‘WN Positions’ a scam? The Real Deal

Wed, 27 Mar 2013 15:21:00 -0400

Syracuse (WSYR-TV) -- A new scam starts with a robo-call from a company asking questions about a job survey you filled out, but you didn’t respond to any survey. Now, you want The Real Deal on “WN Positions” and whether the company is trying to scam you.

The Better Business Bureau seems to think so. They have rated WN Positions an “F.” They’ve also posted an alert that consumers have complained that this company is a work-at-home scam.

The Better Business Bureau says it couldn’t even locate the WN Positions to process the complaints it’s received.

Consumers with complaints are encouraged to contact the Ohio Attorney General’s Office at 1-800-282-0515, as well as the Federal Trade Commission.

If there’s something you want to know The Real Deal about, give us a call anytime. The number is 446-9900 or you can email YourStories@9WSYR.com.

Disposing of appliances in an environmentally-friendly way: The Real Deal

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 09:19:25 -0400

Syracuse (WSYR-TV) – NewsChannel 9 viewer Janet received a postcard from Sears telling her the Kenmore dehumidifier she purchased had been recalled.

She submitted some paperwork for a refund and coupon toward her next purchase.

Now she wants The Real Deal on how to dispose of the recalled item in an environmentally-friendly way.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission says sometimes companies will take the product back and dispose of it for you.

Janet says Sears isn't giving customers that option.

One alternative is to bring the unit the Onondaga County Resource Recovery Agency and pay a fee.

It’s $10 to get in and another $15 to dispose of the unit. OCRRA says it will waive the entrance fee if you bring only your dehumidifier for disposal.

Your last option is to call your garbage hauler to cart it away. The fee here will vary. Either way, it's likely you'll pay something to ditch the faulty unit.

If there's something you want The Real Deal about, give us a call anytime at 446-9900, or you can e-mail yourstories@9wsyr.com.

Are rapid refunds a ripoff? The Real Deal

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 17:25:00 -0400

Syracuse (WSYR-TV) - It's tax time, and if you're getting a refund, you may not want to wait for your money. We've told you before about refund anticipation loans, but those are harder to come by now. However, many tax shops still offer options to get your money back faster.

A rapid refund might sound like a great idea, but beware, because it could cost you.

Peggy Penders with the Better Business Bureau says, “Any time you get a refund from a third-party, you are going to pay some sort of fee.”

Those fees can add up, sometimes to hundreds of dollars, and they can be hidden.

Not all companies charge the same fees, so shop around. Most big tax service chains offer quick money options.

“They want to ask if they are any processing fees, they want to ask if there are any interest rates being charged to them for using this, and really kind of compare ‘what would my refund look like if I did not use this service versus what would my refund look like if I do use this service’ and make a decision,” Penders says.

The IRS says 90 percent of refunds are paid out within 21 days. Sometimes it takes longer. But in the long run, the Better Business Bureau says you'll keep more money in your pocket.

New this year, if you file your taxes online, you can start tracking your refund the next day on the IRS website. Click here to visit the page.

Debit card deactivated text scam: The Real Deal

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 15:24:50 -0400

Syracuse (WSYR-TV) -- If you pay with plastic, you may receive a text message telling you your debit card was deactivated, which has you concerned. The Real Deal on this scam of the week is that this is an attempt to steal your identity.

The text message says simply: Card services alert. Your debit card has been deactivated.

You’re then instructed to call a local telephone number. There is no mention of your bank name.

If you call the number, a recorded message welcomes you to the card activation center and asks you to enter your card number followed by the pound sign.

That’s a red flag. Your bank will not call you and ask for account information that could compromise your security. If you already entered you account number or any other personal information, you should call your bank right away.

If there’s something you want The Real Deal about, give us a call anytime. The number is 446-9900 or email YourStories@9WSYR.com.

Credit checks: The Real Deal

Wed, 13 Mar 2013 15:09:45 -0400

Syracuse (WSYR-TV) -- One of our viewers contacted us after her husband applied for a business loan and was denied because of her credit score. She wants The Real Deal on whether the lender broke any rules by making her part of the decision.

Diane says she never gave the bank permission to check her credit and she has nothing to do with her husband’s business.

According to Bruce McClary of ClearPoint Credit Counseling, Diane should request documentation from the lender, along with an explanation as to why they used her credit file in the decision to deny her husband a loan.

Lacking any proof of consent, Diane may have enough to file a dispute with the credit reporting agencies and have the inquiry on her credit file removed.

Depending on how the lender resolves the question of authorizing a credit check without Diane’s permission, she may want to consult a lawyer to answer any further legal questions she may have.

If there’s something you want The Real Deal about, give us a call anytime. The number is
446-9900, or email us at YourStories@9WSYR.com.

Bogus check scam: The Real Deal

Mon, 11 Mar 2013 14:54:15 -0400

Syracuse (WSYR-TV) - Scammers have launched a new effort using an old scam.

Bogus checks are arriving in the mail at many Central New York homes, some of them claiming to fund secret-shopper missions, others from major retailers.

The recipients are instructed to cash the check and return a portion of the money to the original sender.

The scammers are hoping that the financial institution on the other end will cash the check and only notice after the recipient has left that it’s a fake.

By the time the bank tells the customer, the money has been sent to the scammer and some of the leftover money has already been spent.

If there’s something you want to know The Real Deal about, call the Your Stories team at (315) 446-9900 or email YourStories@9wsyr.com.

Phishing scam claims to be from the IRS: The Real Deal

Mon, 04 Mar 2013 16:20:40 -0400

Syracuse (WSYR-TV) -- It’s tax time and an email claiming to be from the IRS may have hit your inbox. The Real Deal on this scam of the week is that the IRS will never initiate contact with taxpayers by email or social media to request personal information.

These are phishing scams and a dead giveaway is in the email address. The IRS website is IRS.gov, not .com, .net or .org.

Also, the IRS will never ask for detailed personal information like your PIN numbers, passwords or financial account numbers.

You can find out if the IRS has a legitimate need to contact you by calling 1-800-829-1040, or you can always forward a suspicious email to phishing at IRS.gov.

If there’s something you want The Real Deal about, give us a call anytime. The number is 446-9900 or you can email YourStories@9wsyr.com.

Not all forms available on Onondaga County’s website: The Real Deal

Wed, 27 Feb 2013 16:17:57 -0400

Syracuse (WSYR-TV) -- If you’re having a tough time accessing forms from the Onondaga County Clerk’s Office online, you’re not alone.

One of out viewers wants to know why in this day and age the county doesn’t make digital copies of all its forms available to the public on its website or at the very least, by email.

Ben Dublin with the Onondaga County Executive’s Office says his office has gone to great lengths to make as much information available on the county website as possible.

But the county clerk is separately elected and manages her own office. Dublin says the two branches of government are working together now to get the clerk’s forms online.

If a taxpayer encounters a problem accessing forms from any county department they can contact the County Executive’s Office via email at CountyExecutive@ongov.net or call 435-3516.

If there’s something you want The Real Deal about, give us a call anytime. The number is 446-9900, or you can email YourStories@9wsyr.com.

Callers claiming to be from Microsoft or other software company: The Real Deal

Mon, 25 Feb 2013 16:23:26 -0400

Syracuse (WSYR-TV) -- Online safety is important to us all, so it’s easy to fall prey to calls from people claiming to be from computer software companies. But The Real Deal on this scam of the week is that you should just hang up the phone.

The Better Business Bureau of New York says scammers are making calls, claiming to be with tech support for a well known software company, like Microsoft.

CLICK HERE to learn more about the scam from the BBB.

The caller tells you your computer is sending error messages and the company has detected a virus on your device. All you have to do is give the caller access to your machine.

Don’t do it. That can leave you vulnerable to malicious software or problems accessing your programs and files. If you think you have a problem with your computer, call your service provider directly.

If there’s something you want The Real Deal about, give us a call anytime. The number is 446-9900 or email YourStories@9wsyr.com.

National Grid delivery rates & estimated bills: The Real Deal

Wed, 20 Feb 2013 16:13:04 -0400

Syracuse (WSYR-TV) -- Many of our viewers have called with questions about their National Grid bill. You’re floored by how high the delivery rates are this winter, which are far greater than last winter.

National Grid says the way they calculate your delivery rate hasn’t changed. What you’re likely seeing is the effect of a colder winter.

Delivery rates are, in part, affected by usage. The more energy that is supplied to your home for heating will prompt a higher delivery fee.

It’s also possible that your bill is impacted by local government and school tax levies on National Grid customers. Those vary from one community to the next. The back of your bill has more information about how your delivery rate is calculated.

You also want to know why National Grid is sending you an “estimated bill.” National Grid says estimated bills are generated when a customer’s meter cannot be read.

This can happen if bad weather prevents access to the meter or the meter itself is malfunctioning.

If you receive consecutive monthly bills that provide only estimates, National Grid says it’s up to you to contact the company directly to fix the problem.

If there’s something you want The Real Deal about, give us a call anytime. The number is 446-9900 or email YourStories@9WSYR.com.