3 Increasingly Common Scams to Watch Out For

By Brian Keaney · May 9, 2018 2 min read

Consumer Scams

Spot the rising scams before they cost you

How are you most likely to get ripped off right now? Scammers evolve fast — here are three increasingly common schemes the Consumer Federation of America says you should watch out for next.

How are you most likely to get ripped off right now? The Consumer Federation of America—which analyzes complaints filed with dozens of state and local consumer protection agencies—just published its latest

The top category? Autos—everything from car sales to repair shops to towing disputes. You can probably guess a few other common offenders, too, like shoddy or incomplete construction work on home renos and false advertising by retailers. But scammers evolve quickly.

So, what should you watch out for next? The CFA and its partner, North American Consumer Protection Investigators, say complaints about these three are increasingly common.

1 Solar Energy Sales

Complaints of deceiving solar sales pitches are nothing new. But now that these installations have gone mainstream, even more bad actors have rushed into the space.

“Solar energy is good for the environment and for consumers’ pocketbooks, but there are starting to be complaints over misleading sales practices, confusing contracts and shoddy installation,” Susan Grant, director of consumer protection and privacy at CFA said in a press release. “Consumers should check out the company and make sure they understand the terms of the agreement before they sign on the dotted line.” (You can look up company ratings with the Better Business Bureau. Getting bids from competitors is a good idea, too.)

2 Used Car Leasing

Leasing used to be reserved for new cars, but dealers have started offering used or “certified pre-owned” cars to buyers under lease contracts, as well. The monthly payments can seem attractively inexpensive, but these contracts have two potential pitfalls: Interest rates can be high, and state lemon laws—which offer recourse to purchasers of products that repeatedly fall short of quality and performance standards—might not apply.

This year’s report includes the story of a Massachusetts buyer who learned her recently leased used car had a serious electrical issue. The dealer said it’d cost $4,000 to fix, and refused to let her out of the lease. “Unfortunately, none of the auto-related laws in the state—the New Car Lemon Law, the New Leased Car Lemon Law, the Used Vehicle Warranty Law or the Lemon Aid Law (which covers cars that fail inspection)—apply to the lease of a used car,” the report said.

3 Robocalls

Consumers are increasingly complaining about continuous robocall solicitations to their mobile (and sometimes, home) phones. The FCC recently convened a task force on the issue, which said it will implement new rules to ease the problem soon.

Though probably not soon enough. Fortunately, the calls are generally more annoying than dangerous, but plenty of scams—like the incredibly pervasive IRS tax collection scam—begin as robocalls. For now, hang up on them.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the three increasingly common scams to watch out for?

According to the Consumer Federation of America and the North American Consumer Protection Investigators, the three increasingly common scams are deceptive solar energy sales, used car leasing, and robocalls. While autos top the overall complaint list, these three categories are where complaints are rising fastest and where consumers should pay extra attention before signing anything or answering the phone.

How can I avoid solar energy sales scams?

Complaints over solar sales involve misleading sales practices, confusing contracts and shoddy installation. CFA's Susan Grant advises consumers to check out the company and make sure they understand the terms of the agreement before signing on the dotted line. You can look up company ratings with the Better Business Bureau, and getting bids from competitors is a good idea, too.

Why is used car leasing risky?

Dealers now offer used or "certified pre-owned" cars under lease contracts. The monthly payments can seem attractively inexpensive, but these contracts have two potential pitfalls: interest rates can be high, and state lemon laws—which offer recourse to buyers of products that repeatedly fall short of quality standards—might not apply to the lease of a used car.

Are robocalls dangerous?

The calls are generally more annoying than dangerous, but plenty of scams begin as robocalls—including the incredibly pervasive IRS tax collection scam. Consumers are increasingly complaining about continuous robocall solicitations to their mobile and sometimes home phones. The FCC convened a task force and said it will implement new rules to ease the problem. For now, the advice is to hang up on them.

Where does this scam information come from?

The information comes from the Consumer Federation of America, which analyzes complaints filed with dozens of state and local consumer protection agencies and publishes an annual top 10 list. The CFA, together with its partner the North American Consumer Protection Investigators, identified solar energy sales, used car leasing, and robocalls as scams with increasingly common complaints.

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How are you most likely to get ripped off right now?.

The top category?.

So, what should you watch out for next?.

Complaints of deceiving solar sales pitches are nothing new.

“Solar energy is good for the environment and for consumers’ pocketbooks.

Leasing used to be reserved for new cars, but dealers have started offering used or “certified pre-owned” cars to buyers under lease contracts, as well.

This year’s report includes the story of a Massachusetts buyer who learned her recently leased used car had a serious electrical issue.

Consumers are increasingly complaining about continuous robocall solicitations to their mobile (and sometimes, home) phones.

Though probably not soon enough.

Complaints over solar sales involve misleading sales practices, confusing contracts and shoddy installation.

Dealers now offer used or "certified pre-owned" cars under lease contracts.

The calls are generally more annoying than dangerous, but plenty of scams begin as robocalls—including the incredibly pervasive IRS tax collection scam.

The information comes from the Consumer Federation of America, which analyzes complaints filed with dozens of state and local consumer protection agencies and publishes an annual top 10 list.

Billshark negotiates your bills for you — no savings, no fee.

Billshark helps lower internet, wireless, cable, satellite radio, and other monthly bills.

Our experts handle providers for customers and share updates throughout the process.

Customers pay only when Billshark finds savings on eligible bills.

1 Solar Energy Sales.

Frequently Asked Questions.

What are the three increasingly common scams to watch out for?.

How can I avoid solar energy sales scams?.

Why is used car leasing risky?.

Are robocalls dangerous?.

Where does this scam information come from?.

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3 Increasingly Common Scams to Watch Out For

1 Solar Energy Sales

2 Used Car Leasing

3 Robocalls

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the three increasingly common scams to watch out for?

How can I avoid solar energy sales scams?

Why is used car leasing risky?

Are robocalls dangerous?

Where does this scam information come from?

Related Blog Posts

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Prepaid & Giant Check Scams: Red Flags to Watch For

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The Sprint/T-Mobile Merger: How It Impacts Your Bills

Wireless Carrier Collusion: How It Impacts Your Bills

Wells Fargo Fine: Get Your Refund After $1B Penalty

Supreme Court's Online Sales Tax Ruling Explained

Government Actions: The Future of Consumer Protection

Save on the Bills You Just Read About

3 Increasingly Common Scams to Watch Out For page context