Consumer Advocate 

Stores are already advertising seasonal décor and gift ideas, spurring the beginnings of holiday spirit among many of us. But before making all those purchases on your shopping list, be sure to read advertisements closely and review your consumer rights.

When the temperature begins to drop, some scams begin to heat up. Before cold weather arrives, many homeowners consider steps to prepare for winter, including getting their furnaces inspected, chimneys swept, and air ducts cleaned. Follow these tips to avoid wintertime home improvement scams:

Imagine discovering monthly charges on your credit card statement for a membership you don’t recall signing up for — and the frustration of trying to deal with those charges. That was the experience of many consumers who filed complaints with the Ohio Attorney General’s Office regarding charges to their credit cards or bank accounts for Affinion, Trilegiant and/or Webloyalty memberships.

Complaints filed with the Ohio Attorney General’s Office suggest that scammers continue to contact Ohio families with phony debt-collection ploys. Recently, people who have applied for or inquired into payday loans are among their targets. Using information possibly obtained from online payday loan applications, the scammers attempt to trick consumers into paying for loans they may never have taken out or have already paid off.