Rossen roundup: Top consumer stories from the past week
Here are all of the Rossen Reports from this past week.
Perform this simple freezer test during power outages
Nearly every corner of the U.S. is getting hit with severe winter storms. From blizzards to floods to tornados, they can come with long power outages.
Watch the video for this story in the player above.
What should you do in a blackout? Let’s run through our checklist.
Report the outage
Sounds simple right? But most people don’t report an outage because they think their neighbors will. While many utility companies have systems in place that can identify power outages, it’s still a good idea to report an outage to your local electric company.
Read the full story here.
Do you qualify for free tax help?
The FTC issued a final order, saying Intuit used deceptive advertising techniques promoting TurboTax as a free service when it isn’t free for everyone.
In the aftermath of this, many of you are asking what services are free that you can use. Below are some options that might work for you.
IRS Free File: You can receive guidance while getting help filing your taxes if your annual gross income is $79,000 or less. Click here to read more.
Read the full story here.
These winter-warming appliances could put you in danger
Winter storms and deep freezes are hitting states across the United States. The Consumer Product Safety Commission is sending out a warning about the dangers of appliances used to keep the power on and the heat running.
Generators
Never operate a portable generator inside a home, garage, basement, crawlspace, shed or other enclosed spaces. Carbon monoxide can build up and cause lethal levels that can kill you. You may think opening doors or windows will give you enough ventilation, but carbon monoxide still can build up.
Read the full story here.
Your personal information is at risk if you do this
Hackers are getting savvier at trying to catch you. The latest scam is coming from one of our viewers who said this happened to him.
While his wife was on the computer, the screen suddenly read, "Windows Defender. Do not turn off your computer or back out of the screen! You’ve been hacked!"
The screen said to call a number. When he did, the scammer asked to take control of his computer, showed him some fake "issues," and asked for money to fix it. Luckily, our viewer said he didn't fall for the scam and hung up.
Read the full story here.