Consumer alerts

March 18, 2008 -- Jefferson City, Mo. — Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon says his office is getting consumer complaints about a familiar scam during tax time - con artists claiming to be from the Internal Revenue Service, asking for personal information.    » read more »

Ingested Magnets Pose Aspiration and Intestinal Hazards

March 17, 2008 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: Magtastik and Magnetix Jr. Pre-school Magnetic Toys

Units: About 1.1 million

Distributor: MEGA Brands America Inc., of Livingston, N.J    » read more »

March 12, 2008 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: X Force Commander Toy Airplanes and Super Famous Toy Cars and Motorcycles

Units: About 5,000

Importer: S.U. Wholesale Inc., of Vernon, Calif.

Hazard: The recalled toys contain excessive levels of lead, violating the federal lead paint standard.

Incidents/Injuries: None reported.    » read more »

March 4, 2008 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: LDR 1200 Series Gas Connectors

Units: About 50,000

Importer: LDR Industries Inc., of Chicago, Ill.

Manufacturer: Sai lin Ke, of Beijing, China

Hazard: The gas connectors can leak propane or natural gas, posing a fire and explosion hazard to consumers.    » read more »

Faulty Cruise Control Switches in Recalled Vehicles That Have Not Been Repaired; Owners of Recalled Vehicles are Urged to Bring Vehicles to Dealers Immediately to Disconnect Faulty Switches

February 28, 2008 -- The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration today urged owners of certain unrepaired Ford, Lincoln and Mercury SUVs, pickup trucks, vans, and certain passenger cars that contain a safety defect to bring their vehicles to dealer repair shops immediately to have the cruise control switch disconnected.    » read more »

February 29, 2008 -- HARRISBURG - Pennsylvania Attorney General Tom Corbett today urged consumers to be watchful for email messages or telephone calls from scam artists requesting personal information in order to "process" your tax refund. The email messages or callers often claim to be from the Internal Revenue Service, the U.S. Social Security Administration or other government agency.    » read more »

02/26/2008 -- (DENVER) – Colorado Attorney General John Suthers today issued a consumer advisory warning Colorado consumers and businesses about a new email scam being reported to his office.

Businesses and consumers have reported receiving unsolicited email messages claiming to be from the United States Department of Justice and concerning a supposed consumer complaint filed against the recipient. The email usually contains an attachment that is either a blank complaint form or some other document.    » read more »

February 13, 2008 -- Jefferson City, Mo. — Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon said his office has received approximately 50 calls just this afternoon from mid-Missourians who are receiving phone calls from people claiming to be with Central Bank but who, in reality, are trying to steal bank account and other financial information.    » read more »

February 12, 2008 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: "Embers" Tea Light Candles

Units: About 146,000

Retailer: Christmas Tree Shops Inc., of South Yarmouth, Mass.

Hazard: The tea light candles have a clear, plastic shell that can melt or ignite, posing a fire and burn hazard to consumers.    » read more »

February 12, 2008 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: Remote-Controlled Helicopter Toys

Units: About 30,000

Importer: Soft Air USA Inc., of Grapevine, Texas    » read more »

February 12, 2008 -- Texans should be aware of a scam that has emerged in connection with the proposed federal economic stimulus package. Under recently passed legislation, the IRS will mail tax rebate checks to eligible Texans over the next few months. President Bush has indicated he will sign the package into law on Wednesday.    » read more »

February 11, 2008 - The Vermont Attorney General’s Office warns of a fraudulent email that is circulating soliciting information for processing a tax refund. “Never send a bank account number, credit or debit card or PIN number, or other personally identifying information through the internet unless you initiated the contact and know whom you are dealing with,” warns Attorney General Bill Sorrell.    » read more »

February 8, 2008 -- LANSING – With Michigan investors preparing to open or contribute to their Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) before the Tax Day deadline on April 15th, Michigan Office of Financial and Insurance Services (OFIS) Acting Commissioner Ken Ross warned them that their retirement savings are in danger of being ruined by investment schemes falsely promoted as "IRA Approved" or endorsed by the IRS.    » read more »

February 7, 2008 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: Pendants and Candle Charms

Units: About 460,000

Importer: Benjamin International, of Middlebury, Conn.

Hazard: The recalled pendants and charms contain high levels of lead. Lead is toxic if ingested by young children and can cause adverse health effects.    » read more »

February 6, 2008 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: Sketchbooks with Colored Spirals

Units: About 80,000

Distributor: eeBoo Corp., of New York, N.Y.

Hazard: The paint on the sketchbooks’ colored spiral metal bindings contains excessive levels of lead violating the federal lead paint standard.

Incidents/Injuries: None reported.    » read more »