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Schumer 'f--ked it up' on Build Back Better negotiations, senior Dem aide says

Manchin's 'no' stance on Build Back Better means the Dec. 15 child-tax-credit payment could be the last one families ever see.

West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin said on Sunday that he would not support the $1.75 trillion bill.

The FBI and Better Business Bureau (BBB) are issuing warnings about gift card scams this holiday season.

Before you make a donation online, you should be certain that money is going to the people you intended.

We’re talking thousands of dollars. Thieves are preying on your emotions.

From extra taxes on adjusted gross income to higher limits on SALT deductions, here's who would be affected by the proposed tax changes in the BBB plan.

The White House and members U.S. Congress have been dropping hints that they are nearing a deal on the Build […] The post Black America to receive billions from Biden’s BBB plan — here are the hard numbers appeared first on TheGrio.

Automatically paying bills means that, chances are, you might never actually open them -- which means you may not even know what you’re paying for.

The holiday shopping season is already underway and that means scammers are also making their moves.

Reports of identity theft in the U.S. doubled last year, and the problem isn’t going away anytime soon.

A Downriver man’s checking account was completely wiped out after a phone call with who he thought was a representative of his credit union.

It’s easier than ever to digitally send and receive money right from your smartphone -- the trouble is, scammers know this, too.

Ordering takeout is easier these days than ever before -- but, of course, with the convenience comes the potential for scams.

Many people want to offer financial help to those in Haiti and Afghanistan and scammers are taking advantage of that.

Many companies use QR codes to lead consumers to their apps, help them track packages or view menus.

The first child tax credit payments go out next week, and experts are already warning that along with the money comes the threat of scam artists trying to take it.

Michigan residents who are collecting unemployment need to watch out for a new scam.

If you’ve tried to get a quote recently to have work done to your home, chances are you have discovered that contractors are busy and in high demand.

The increased threat of identity theft is why experts are urging people to clean up their devices to protect their personal information.

According to the Better Business Bureau, tax scams are still a problem this year. If you haven’t filed your taxes yet this season, don’t put it off any longer! The IRS discovers cases of identity theft because personal information is stolen and a fake claim for a refund is filed. “The IRS is not going to contact you and give you those high pressure tactics,” Blankenship said. “There are unfortunately people out there that they’re banking on the fact that you’re not going to look into them any further, especially if they look professional,” Blankenship said.

The caller said all he had to do was buy $480 in eBay gift cards. Prepaid gift cards are being requested in several different types of scams, including government employee impersonation scams, secret shopper scams and puppy scams. The Better Business Bureau scam tracker showed that Americans lost nearly $3 million involving payments with prepaid gift cards in 2020. “Whenever you purchase a prepaid gift card, unfortunately it’s just like cash, you can’t get that money back,” Blankenship said. Click here for more information on prepaid gift card scams.

You may have seen a Facebook post that claimed a free Jayco RV would be given away to someone who shares and comments on the post -- or you’ve seen posts similar to it. RELATED: Better Business Bureau warns consumers of ‘going out of business’ online shopping scamMelanie Duguesnel, with the Better Business Bureau, said that by liking the page, you’re potentially giving your personal information away. The BBB is warning people that “Like Farming” scams are still going strong. The free RV scam is so popular that Jayco has a post pinned to the top of its Facebook page to let people know they aren’t running a giveaway. READ: More scam coverageTo prevent from falling for these scams, use your good judgement and don’t “Like” every post on your feed -- that’s what scammers are hoping you’ll do.

DETROIT – With so many people looking for work, scam artists are turning to posting fake job opportunities in hopes of taking advantage of people desperate for a job and money. The Better Business Bureau is urging residents to pay attention to job postings online. You can report a complaint to the Better Business Bureau here. Michigan’s attorney general outlined four specific types of COVID-19 vaccine scams circulating in the state and explained how they’re targeting residents. Gretchen Whitmer to warn Michiganders about scammers looking to capitalize on the COVID-19 vaccine excitement.

The delivery of COVID-19 vaccines in the state of Michigan is exciting and promising news for millions, but it’s also a call for scammers to try to capitalize on the moment. Scams involving the COVID-19 vaccine have the attention of Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel. The first Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine doses are rolling out to Michigan hospitals and clinics this week, and scammers know that. That’s now how distribution of the vaccine will work, medical officials said. Anyone who has questions about the vaccine or any suspicious contact about the distribution should contact a trusted medical professional.

The Better Business Bureau is sounding the alarm in hopes you won’t be fooled. Read: How Henry Ford Hospital played key role in Moderna vaccine studyCon artist are offering up ways to get a vaccine by telling people they can take part in clinical trials. Watch out for red flags -- if you haven’t inquired about a clinical trial and you get a message about one, delete it. Once a COVID-19 vaccine is approved, Henry Ford says it is prepared to receive and store the vaccine -- which requires storage at extremely low temperatures. Drug companies Pfizer and Moderna have both developed promising COVID-19 vaccines that are nearing approval in the U.S.

Scam artists have found many ways during the coronavirus pandemic to try and con people out of their money or personal information. The Better Business Bureau is warning consumers about a new text message claiming to offer $1,200 for participation in a local COVID study. “We have heard from consumers that there’s a text message going around that says if you participate in the study, you’ll earn $1,200,” said Melanie Duquesnel, president and CEO of eastern Michigan Better Business Bureau. The difficulty is that you cannot, through a text message, determine if they’re a reputable company.”Click here to view the Better Business Bureau Scam TrackerWhen it comes to phishing scams, beware any unsolicited communication. Never click on links or download anything from a text message or email.

You may have seen a Facebook post that claimed a free Jayco RV would be given away to someone who shares and comments on the post -- or you’ve seen posts similar to it. RELATED: Better Business Bureau warns consumers of ‘going out of business’ online shopping scamMelanie Duguesnel, with the Better Business Bureau, said that by liking the page, you’re potentially giving your personal information away. The BBB is warning people that “Like Farming” scams are still going strong. The free RV scam is so popular that Jayco has a post pinned to the top of its Facebook page to let people know they aren’t running a giveaway. READ: More scam coverageTo prevent from falling for these scams, use your good judgement and don’t “Like” every post on your feed -- that’s what scammers are hoping you’ll do.

DETROIT – Holiday shopping season is kicking into high gear and because of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, more people will be shopping online. Melanie Duquesnel is the president of the Better Business Bureau serving Eastern Michigan. “If a deal appears to be too good to be true, it probably is,” Duquesnel said. The scammers call and when you answer you get a recorded message claiming to be from Amazon stating there is a problem with your Amazon account. Scammers also send emails or texts, asking you to verify your personal information -- all so they can steal it.

DETROIT – The Better Business Bureau is issuing a warning about scam artists who are taking advantage of people by targeting their cellphones. Scammers are pretending to be from the government, a police agency, or even COVID-19 contact tracers. They’re trying to get your information to sell, or your money. “They’re trying to bait you into being fearful,” Duquesnel said. Walk away.”If you have given away any personal information, contact your bank or credit card company immediately.

DETROIT – Con artists are posing as Amazon employees, calling people, and claiming to need information about their account, according to the Better Business Bureau. The scammers have been spoofing the Better Business Bureau’s number while making this scam calls. READ: Better Business Bureau warns consumers of ‘going out of business’ online shopping scamHow does the scam work? Amazon will never ask you to disclose sensitive personal information or offer you a refund you don’t expect. Amazon will also never send you an unsolicited message that asks you to provide personal information.

DETROIT – The Better Business Bureau is warning consumers about an online shopping scam involving “going out of business” advertisements. Melanie Duquesnel, president of the Better Business Bureau serving Eastern Michigan, said the difficulty they’re finding is that clients are not getting the product but yet they’re getting charged for it. READ: Scammers use multiple methods to target victims -- Here’s what to watch out for“Just because an advertisement is on Facebook doesn’t mean that it’s a 100% trustworthy business,” Duquesnel said. With more people buying cars, RVs and boats online, the BBB says vehicle shipper and escrow scams are going up. How do you know that you’re going to get your money back?” Duquesnel said.

Seal coating scams typically take place this time of year, but now thieves are going door-to-door and targeting people who are home because of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Police and officials with the Better Business Bureau issued a warning about the scam in Metro Detroit. With more people staying at home during the pandemic, scammers are having more success going door-to-door, experts said. Melanie Duquesnel, of the BBB, is urging residents to be cautious if anyone shows up at the door and offers a great deal. You can watch the full Help Me Hank report in the video above.

The Better Business Bureau is getting a steady dose of complaints about hoverboards.com. Here’s what you need to know to avoid getting scammed. More: Help Me Hank

Help Me Hank is tracking a new election scam thats targeting voters in key swing states, including Michigan. Its a key state for both sides, but now a new election scam is targeting Michigan voters, including those in Metro Detroit. Melanie Duquesnel, of the Better Business Bureau, is tracking the robocall scam. Voters think theyre getting a recorded call from politicians asking for a donation. In reality, the calls have been edited using the candidates actual words and splicing them together to make people think theyre asking for credit card or personal information.

DETROIT – Many people are hurting financially and with the debate raging over the next possible stimulus -- it’s a good time for many people to look at their finances. READ: Money saving resources during coronavirus pandemicMany credit card companies are waiving late fees. Some debt consolation companies are offering assistance. The details hidden in the fine print could cost you big time in the future. READ: Financial expert helps you manage your money during the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisisWatch the video for the full report

Companies rushed to sell $69 billion in high-grade bonds this week, the second-highest weekly amount ever, according to BofA Securities. "I think this is going to be another year where issuance volumes are down," said Hans Mikkelsen, head of investment grade corporate strategy at BofA Securities. He said the rate on the ICE/Bank of America investment grade bond index is 2.87%, about the same it was at in early September. That represents the rate on corporate bonds at all investment grade rating levels that have an average 11 years before maturity. Mikkelsen expects this year's total issuance to trail last year's $1.205 trillion in investment grade debt.

DETROIT - Here's what is coming up on Local 4 News at 4:GM plantIt's the end of the line for the General Motors Warren Transmission plant. NYPD choke-holdThere's a new ruling in a controversial police case in New York City. BBB helping natureWe've been bringing you stories about people helping our birds, bees and butterflies. Delta sign languageDelta is expanding it's customer service for the hearing impaired. Copyright 2019 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit - All rights reserved.