By Stuart Pfeifer, Los Angeles Times –
Here is a roundup of alleged cons, frauds and schemes to watch out for.
DISCOUNT TRAVEL
Summer travel season brings with it a variety of scams to watch out for, the Better Business Bureau said. Travelers should be wary of deals that sound too good to be true. They should also ask detailed questions about travel arrangements and get all details in writing before agreeing to buy, the BBB said. Travelers who have questions about travel companies can check with the BBB to see whether they have a history of complaints.
“There are many reliable travel agencies and bureaus that offer good deals on vacations,” said Steve J. Bernas, president of the bureau in Chicago. “Consumers need to research all companies before doing business with them to help ensure safe transactions.”
ONLINE CAR SALES
Car buyers should be careful when searching online listings for bargains, the BBB said in a recent alert. The FBI reported receiving nearly 14,000 complaints from 2008 to 2011 from consumers who said they were victimized in online car-buying scams.
One of the most common scams involves sellers who require payment up front but do not deliver cars as promised, the BBB said. Warning signs of potential scams include prices that seem too good to be true, sellers who won’t allow a buyer to view a car before the sale and sellers who ask the buyer to send payment by bank wire, the BBB said.
LASER TREATMENTS
A San Jose man who owned and operated a chain of laser-treatment centers for toenail fungus was convicted on 19 felony counts of practicing medicine without a license, the San Jose Mercury News reported. Cary Silberman was arrested after an investigation by the Medical Board of California, which found that he and his employees were performing laser procedures that can only be performed by licensed doctors. Silberman could face as many as 15 years in prison. The state medical board maintains a list of all licensed physicians on its website.
