scam

I received a message on my answering machine that almost sounded official. I say almost as there were several things wrong with it.

You might have seen the Mikel Knight tour bus and vans at the Orchards Shopping Center today, or you might see it driving around town today -- or even a year from now. He claims to be a country rap king (whatever that is). Either way, stay away from this guy like the plague. According to reports, he has been arrested on several charges in the past, including harassment, theft and assault. Read Mor

Memorial Day is coming this Monday and, while it is a time to honor those who serve and remember those who have died in war, it has also become another guise for scam artists to take from people who are serving or have served their nation -- especially elderly veterans.

Not too many things strike fear into your soul like making sure you do your taxes correctly. The last thing you want is an audit letter from the IRS. But your eagerness to be as accurate as possible and stay out of trouble with the IRS, you could be more susceptible to scams. That's why the IRS has released what they call the 'Dirty Dozen' list to warn you about probable scams.

If you have Facebook, you've probably seen one of your friends claiming to have earned a $100 gift card from Kohl's just for taking a survey. Don't believe it.

Many are receiving calls asking you to donate to an Amber Alert program. This may be a scam as Washington State Patrol doesn't rely on public donations for the Amber Alert system.

You may have received a business card stuck in your door frame or slid underneath your doormat from a Jesus DeLeon advertising his landscaping business. The Better Business Bureau received confirmation from the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries that he and his business aren't licensed for landscaping work in Washington state.

The Better Business Bureau and McAfee warn ... 'Tis the season for holiday scams. Here's their list of the 12 Scams of Christmas: