Consumer World Original

Mouse Print* -- Here We Downsize Again - Winter 2022 (Part 1)

To kick off National Consumer Protection Week, we reveal more than a dozen grocery products that have recently shrunk in size ("shrinkflation") as a sneaky way to pass on a price increase. Part one is this week, and part two is next Monday. That is our Mouse Print* story this week.

Top Scams Being Reported Near You

Continuing with National Consumer Protection Week-themed stories, you can use the BBB's Scam Tracker to see what types of scams are reported in your local area. You can even see affected zip codes, how much money is involved, a general statement of what the scam is about, etc. And the FTC's Consumer Sentinel Network annual report provides state-by-state consumer complaint statistics.

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What Is the Cheapest Day to Buy Gas?

The website GasBuddy which helps you find the best gas price in your neighborhood has a treasure trove of data. They analyzed prices across the country for all of 2021, and came up with the best and worst days to buy gas based on price.

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Consumer Alert

Paid in Error Scam Cost Her $900

A Massachusetts woman was selling a $30 item online, but the buyer claimed he mistakenly sent her $900 electronically for it via Venmo (PayPal's sister service). The buyer/crook asked her to return the money, and she did. Then the crook's original $900 payment to her bounced, and she was out the $900 she refunded.

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