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IRS says phone scam 'a major threat' 02/04/2016 12:12pm • WASHINGTON — This tax season has seen a surge in aggressive scammers calling up taxpayers nationwide. The callers claim to be with the IRS, say that a tax bill must be paid immediately, and threaten to send police to the victim’s door within the hour. This week the IRS sent out a new warning Answers to 7 Burning Tax Questions 01/25/2016 07:00pm • It's tax time.With the tax due date approaching, it's not too early to start planning to file your taxes. If you're ready to get started, here are answers to some common tax-related questions:Should you file online?In general, it's easier to file taxes online than by hand. Most Americans already fil How to Protect Your Loved Ones (and Yourself) From Financial Elder Abuse 01/25/2016 07:00pm • When Glynnis Walker Anderson got a call from her elderly mother's neighbor who said she had taken her mom's keys and wallet "for safekeeping," alarm bells went off in her head. Anderson, a writer based outside Chicago, worried that the neighbor was planning to use her mother's credit cards, so she c Company finishes contracted yard work after WTOP report 11/30/2015 03:04pm • WASHINGTON — A group of homeowners who say they were swindled by a tree removal company say the stumps that sat in their yards for months were finally removed following WTOP's story about the unfinished job. Joseph Gelo of Stafford County, Virginia, says he and his neighbors were happy to see M Watch out for utility scammers this holiday season 11/26/2015 05:36am • WASHINGTON -- ‘Tis the season for turkey, cranberry sauce, stuffing and scammers. Dominion Virginia is reminding customers to be on guard against scammers who are trying to trick them into making payments over the phone. “These people are skilled cold-callers who are scamming victims out o Column: Holiday shopping scams to watch for 11/19/2015 05:07am • Q: What scams should I watch for this holiday shopping season? A:  The predictions for the 2015 holiday shopping season continue to suggest that we’ll see record spending when it comes to online shopping. This isn’t lost on cyber-criminals, as they gear up to take advantage of the additio How to Guard Against Common Scams That Target Seniors 10/26/2015 08:00pm • We've all heard the sad stories: A senior citizen was fleeced out of his home by an unscrupulous caregiver. A home repair worker turns out to be a thief who takes all the jewelry. A call announcing you've won a prize turns out to be a ploy to get you to empty your bank account. As fast as law enfor Loan Modifications: Good Idea or Bad? 10/14/2015 08:00pm • If you've ever been significantly behind on a loan, you've probably been asked by a customer service representative if you'd like to apply for a loan modification. You will then hear that a loan modification will lower your monthly premiums and stop the incessant phone calls demanding that you catch How to Protect Yourself Against Common Medicare Scams 10/14/2015 08:00pm • It's that time of year again when the nation's 54 million Medicare beneficiaries have the chance to swap Medicare Advantage and Part D prescription drug plans during Medicare's annual open enrollment period. In addition to the challenge of sifting through the dizzying array of plan options, expert Pepco warns about scam targeting customers 09/16/2015 01:40pm • WASHINGTON — Pepco says scammers are targeting its customers by visiting their house and telling them that they will shut off electric service unless they submit payment immediately. In the scam, criminals impersonating utility workers come to the victim’s house with false credentials. Simult 12 Tips to Outsmart Financial Spies 09/15/2015 08:00pm • People are scared of identity theft, and for good reason. If a bad guy gets his hands on your credit card information or Social Security number, he can set up accounts in your name, launder thousands of dollars and ruin your credit. It can take years -- and countless amounts of time and energy -- t Sophisticated scam targets Dominion Power customers 07/10/2015 06:50pm • WASHINGTON -- A local power company is warning its customers about calls that appear to be from its call center. It's part of a sophisticated scam targeting Dominion customers. They use the caller ID to throw consumers, "on your phone will be Dominion," says Chuck Penn of Dominion. If a cal How to Spot a Travel Scam 07/08/2015 08:00pm • When was the last time you booked a vacation with the help of a real person, whether it was a travel agent or a customer service representative? Assuming you have access to the Internet, it's safe to say it probably wasn't recently. Though booking sites and social media have made it easier than ever Ways to Qualify for a Total and Permanent Disability Student Loan Discharge 06/30/2015 08:00pm • Last week, the Student Loan Ranger covered three student loan discharge options you'll hopefully never have to use. That list was actually going to be four items long, but we decided to dedicate an entire post to total and permanent disability discharge, because this seems to be the one we get the m Ask 4 Questions to Avoid Being Duped By a Student Loan Service 05/19/2015 08:00pm • The Student Loan Ranger has discussed before the so-called "debt relief" companies that target student loan borrowers. Due to the volume of questions we've been receiving on this topic, however, we thought it might be worth revisiting. What most of these emails have in common is the subject line, w