Defenders Archives

DEFENDERS: Watch out for scammers during tax season

February 3, 2020 3:17 PM Deborah Kendrick

Starting Monday the Federal Trade Commission is launching Tax Identity Theft Awareness Week.

DEFENDERS: New law meant to reduce robocalls

February 2, 2020 8:00 AM Deborah Kendrick

Some new laws could significantly reduce the number of robocalls you get on your phone.

DEFENDERS: Warning about Census job scams

January 27, 2020 5:33 PM Deborah Kendrick

The U.S. Census Bureau is recruiting to fill thousands of temporary positions, but the Better Business Bureau says to beware of scams.

DEFENDERS: BBB warning Chiefs fans of fake merchandise on the internet

January 20, 2020 5:08 PM Deborah Kendrick

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) As the Kansas City Chiefs head to Miami for the Superbowl, the Better Business Bureau is warning fans about websites selling fake merchandise. The Better Business Bureau receives thousands of complaints from people who shop for goods online and receive counterfeits instead of what they ordered. It’s especially easy for scammers to

DEFENDERS: Donating to Australia wildfires safely

January 13, 2020 4:10 PM Deborah Kendrick

The devastating Australian bushfires spreading across the nation for months are showing no signs of slowing down.

DEFENDERS: Counterfeit Kansas City Chiefs playoff tickets circulating

January 9, 2020 11:52 AM Deborah Kendrick

Police are warning Kansas City Chiefs fans to be careful when buying playoff tickets for the game this Sunday.

DEFENDERS: Don’t abbreviate 2020 on documents

January 6, 2020 10:17 PM Deborah Kendrick

Consumer advocates are warning you not to abbreviate the new year on official documents because it can be easily changed.

DEFENDERS: BBB warns of potential scam involving FTC

December 30, 2019 8:27 PM Zara Barker

Con artists have claimed to be from the IRS, Medicare and even the Social Security Administration. Now the Federal Trade Commission is on the list. The Better Business Bureau issued a warning that potential scammers are sending people threatening letters and making calls that appear to be from the FTC. The BBB says anyone who

DEFENDERS: Kids using Amazon’s Alexa to order gifts

December 24, 2019 8:15 AM Deborah Kendrick

Amazon’s Alexa is obeying orders, this time from kids ordering their own Christmas gifts. According to a recent report, gifts are arriving at home thanks to kids ordering them though voice assistants, or other devices. One parent reportedly told The Wall Street Journal her daughter ordered $300 in items from her Alexa device. Parents that

DEFENDERS: Your TV might be spying on you

December 9, 2019 11:22 AM Deborah Kendrick

If you just bought a smart TV or are planning on buying one for the holidays, the FBI wants to warn you about potential hacking.

BBB warns of scams on Cyber Monday

December 2, 2019 10:23 AM Zara Barker

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Monday after Thanksgiving is one of the busiest online shopping days, with millions filling up their virtual carts. According to research from Finder, 86 percent of Americans planned to spend money on pre-Christmas sales such as Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Cyber Monday last year broke the online sales record with

DEFENDERS: How to avoid holiday gift card scams

November 25, 2019 5:04 PM Deborah Kendrick

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The holiday season is among us and gift cards are an easy, and wanted, gift for many. With that comes scammers ready to take advantage. One of the more popular ways scammers are getting to your gift card before you is by gaining access to the pin number. Here’s how it works:

DEFENDERS: Hackers targeting Disney Plus accounts

November 20, 2019 5:01 PM Deborah Kendrick

Hackers are already taking advantage of Disney’s popular new streaming service.

DEFENDERS: How to check your password security amid Disney Plus hacks

November 20, 2019 5:03 PM Deborah Kendrick

Hackers are already taking advantage of Disney’s popular new streaming service. When hackers reportedly gained access, they changed usernames and passwords. Due to that hack, users had trouble logging into the accounts. ABC 17 Defenders Investigator Deborah Kendrick shows you how to check and see if your password has been involved in a security breach.

DEFENDERS: Questionable honor society organizations targeting college student inboxes

November 14, 2019 6:10 PM Deborah Kendrick

Is it really an honor or are organizations just looking for ways to get your hard-earned money?

Defenders: SIM card swappers on the rise, experts say

November 5, 2019 10:32 PM Barry Mangold

“All of a sudden… I couldn’t get access to any of my email accounts.” Gregg Bennett, an entrepreneur from Seattle, said he was a victim of SIM card swapping earlier this year. Without warning, he lost access to several email, financial and other accounts. “(The hackers) got into my amazon account, my Evernote account, my

Capital One hack: How to keep your finances safe

October 29, 2019 3:00 AM Deborah Kendrick

More than 100 million individuals who hold a Capitol One credit card or applied for one could have their personal information in the hands of scammers. Industry experts say there are immediate steps you can take to protect your personal information so hackers can’t get access. 1. Freeze your credit: Experts say this is an essential step

DEFENDERS: How to stop Facebook from listening to your phone conversations

October 29, 2019 2:37 AM Deborah Kendrick

Facebook has confirmed that it has been listening to your audio Messenger chats. The social media giant says it has since stopped a program in which third-party contractors would listen to and transcribe your conversations. University of Missouri cyber expert Prasad Calyam said the practice is common in the tech industry. Companies claim it helps improve their

DEFENDERS: FDA warning consumers not to drink ‘miracle solution’

October 29, 2019 2:34 AM Deborah Kendrick

The Food and Drug Administration is warning against a drink that’s being promoted online as a cure for everything from autism to HIV to cancer. The FDA says the drink called “Miracle Mineral Solution” (MMS) is not safe and people should stop buying the product, warning them not to consume it. Websites advertise the product as

DEFENDERS: How to safely donate to mass shooting victims

October 29, 2019 2:31 AM Deborah Kendrick

As the cities of Dayton, Ohio, and El Paso, Texas, mourn the attacks in their communities over the weekend, there are ways Missourians can help and donate. The Dayton Foundation has established an Oregon District Tragedy Fund for the victims’ families. The American Red Cross is accepting donations online. Public Good launched a fundraiser benefiting Dayton