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Scammers register numerous fake domains ahead of the holidayseason to trick shoppers.
There have been hundreds of suspicious domains registered in 2024 that target top brands and products, including iPhones, Prada clothing and Clinique beauty products, according to digital-risk firm BrandShield.
"Were seeing fraudsters across the globe continue to exploit the holiday season by targeting consumers, who are spending increasingly more on holiday gifts year after year,"said Yoav Keren, CEO and co-founder of BrandShield.
"With the rise of AI-enabled threats, bad actors have even more sophisticated means of tricking shoppers into buying fakes and counterfeits, and in many cases, theyll take their money and send nothing at all. Consumers must exercise caution to ensure they buy from legitimate sources," he added.
Registrations of fake websites in October targeting iPhone shoppers were the highest with 606 domains, followed by 239 registrations for Prada, 215 for Hermes, 191 for sneaker brand Hoka and 159 for beauty brand Clinique, BrandShield said.
BrandShield said there are some simple steps to avoid fake shopping websites:
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Fake websites frequently target iPhone shoppers
By Dieter Holger of ConsumerAffairs
December 21, 2024
Scammers register numerous fake domains ahead of the holidayseason to trick shoppers.
There have been hundreds of suspicious domains registered in 2024 that target top brands and products, including iPhones, Prada clothing and Clinique beauty products, according to digital-risk firm BrandShield.
"Were seeing fraudsters across the globe continue to exploit the holiday season by targeting consumers, who are spending increasingly more on holiday gifts year after year,"said Yoav Keren, CEO and co-founder of BrandShield.
"With the rise of AI-enabled threats, bad actors have even more sophisticated means of tricking shoppers into buying fakes and counterfeits, and in many cases, theyll take their money and send nothing at all. Consumers must exercise caution to ensure they buy from legitimate sources," he added.
Registrations of fake websites in October targeting iPhone shoppers were the highest with 606 domains, followed by 239 registrations for Prada, 215 for Hermes, 191 for sneaker brand Hoka and 159 for beauty brand Clinique, BrandShield said.
How to avoid fake shopping websites
BrandShield said there are some simple steps to avoid fake shopping websites:
- URL typos: If the website URL, or address,contains typos, such as targett.com or eBaay.com
- Spelling or grammarerrors: If the website has spelling or grammatical errors throughout. Legitimate retailers and merchants will invest in ensuring that the website is free of errors such as these.
- Messages from third parties: If you receive a text or a private message through social media, email, text or instant messaging, offering a deal for a product that seems too good to be true, avoid clicking the links. Try finding the special offer directly at the website of the company you would like to buy from.
- Negative reviews: If a website or company has many negative reviews, it may be a scam. Also, look for fake positive reviews trying to balance out real warnings from scam victims, and err on the side of caution when purchasing from unknown sellers.
- No URL padlock: If a website does not have a padlock image to the left of its URL. That being said, many phishing websites now have padlocks next to the left of their URLs, so this doesnt necessarily indicate that a website is safe.
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A study of over 2,400 people with atrial fibrillation (AFib), average age of 73, found that drinking more than five cups of caffeinated coffee daily was linked to better cognitive performance compared to drinking less than one cup.
The study showed that heavier coffee drinkers had cognitive ages estimated to be 6.7 years younger than those who drank little or no coffee. This suggests that coffee might help prevent cognitive decline in people with AFib, a condition that increases the risk of mental decline.
The research also found that coffee drinkers scored better on cognitive tests, such as processing speed, visuomotor coordination, and attention.
Additionally, higher coffee consumption was associated with lower levels of inflammation. The study supports the idea that coffee may benefit cognitive health for people with AFib, although it does not claim that coffee prevents long-term cognitive decline.
Researchers caution that the study, published in theJournal of the American Heart Association, cannot definitively prove cause and effect, as it was observational. Still, it highlights that drinking coffee may be beneficial for those with AFib without the need to discourage coffee consumption.
"Many myths are around, but our study found no reason to discourage or forbid a patient with AFib from drinking coffee. Instead, say, Enjoy, it may even be good for you! said Jrg H. Beer, M.D., senior author of the study and professor of medicine and hematology at the University of Zrich in Switzerland.
Atrial fibrillation is the most common heart rhythm disorder in adults, affecting more than 5 million people in the U.S., according to theAmerican Heart Association. AHA guidelines already advise thatabstaining from caffeine to prevent heart rhythm disturbances is of no benefit to people with AFib.
It is known that regular coffee consumption benefits cognitive performance among healthy people. The most frequent cardiac arrhythmia, atrial fibrillation, is known to independently increase the risk of dementia, said Massimo Barbagallo, M.D., lead author of the study and a resident in the neuro intensive care unit at the University Hospital Zrich.
Thus, the question is whether coffee might offset the increased risk of cognitive impairment in people with AFib.
According to the U.S. federal dietary guidelines, three to five 8-ounce cups of coffee per day can be part of a healthy diet, but that only refers to plain black coffee. The American Heart Association warns that popular coffee-based drinks such as lattes and macchiatos are often high in calories, added sugar and fat.
The Swiss Atrial Fibrillation Cohort Study (Swiss-AF) follows more than 2,400 people in Switzerland diagnosed with atrial fibrillation. Patients were enrolled between 2014 and 2017, completed several cognitive tests, and reported how many cups of caffeinated coffee they drank during the last 12 monthsregardless of added sweeteners, creams or flavors. Cup size was not standardized.
In this study, researchers analyzed those cognitive assessments and examined whether drinking coffee might avoid the cognitive decline that is a known hazard of AFib. Because Alzheimers disease and AFib are associated with systemic inflammation, researchers also analyzed markers of inflammation.
The study found:
There was a very clear and consistent dose-response association between drinking more coffee and doing better on several different sophisticated cognitive tests, Beer said. Inflammatory markers decreased with higher coffee consumption, an association that remained after considering variables such as age, sex, body mass index, smoking status, physical activity and a history of stroke.
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It may be helpful to people with atrial fibrillation, a study finds
By James R. Hood of ConsumerAffairs
December 20, 2024
A study of over 2,400 people with atrial fibrillation (AFib), average age of 73, found that drinking more than five cups of caffeinated coffee daily was linked to better cognitive performance compared to drinking less than one cup.
The study showed that heavier coffee drinkers had cognitive ages estimated to be 6.7 years younger than those who drank little or no coffee. This suggests that coffee might help prevent cognitive decline in people with AFib, a condition that increases the risk of mental decline.
The research also found that coffee drinkers scored better on cognitive tests, such as processing speed, visuomotor coordination, and attention.
Additionally, higher coffee consumption was associated with lower levels of inflammation. The study supports the idea that coffee may benefit cognitive health for people with AFib, although it does not claim that coffee prevents long-term cognitive decline.
Researchers caution that the study, published in theJournal of the American Heart Association, cannot definitively prove cause and effect, as it was observational. Still, it highlights that drinking coffee may be beneficial for those with AFib without the need to discourage coffee consumption.
"Many myths are around, but our study found no reason to discourage or forbid a patient with AFib from drinking coffee. Instead, say, Enjoy, it may even be good for you! said Jrg H. Beer, M.D., senior author of the study and professor of medicine and hematology at the University of Zrich in Switzerland.
About AFib
Atrial fibrillation is the most common heart rhythm disorder in adults, affecting more than 5 million people in the U.S., according to theAmerican Heart Association. AHA guidelines already advise thatabstaining from caffeine to prevent heart rhythm disturbances is of no benefit to people with AFib.
It is known that regular coffee consumption benefits cognitive performance among healthy people. The most frequent cardiac arrhythmia, atrial fibrillation, is known to independently increase the risk of dementia, said Massimo Barbagallo, M.D., lead author of the study and a resident in the neuro intensive care unit at the University Hospital Zrich.
Thus, the question is whether coffee might offset the increased risk of cognitive impairment in people with AFib.
According to the U.S. federal dietary guidelines, three to five 8-ounce cups of coffee per day can be part of a healthy diet, but that only refers to plain black coffee. The American Heart Association warns that popular coffee-based drinks such as lattes and macchiatos are often high in calories, added sugar and fat.
About the study
The Swiss Atrial Fibrillation Cohort Study (Swiss-AF) follows more than 2,400 people in Switzerland diagnosed with atrial fibrillation. Patients were enrolled between 2014 and 2017, completed several cognitive tests, and reported how many cups of caffeinated coffee they drank during the last 12 monthsregardless of added sweeteners, creams or flavors. Cup size was not standardized.
In this study, researchers analyzed those cognitive assessments and examined whether drinking coffee might avoid the cognitive decline that is a known hazard of AFib. Because Alzheimers disease and AFib are associated with systemic inflammation, researchers also analyzed markers of inflammation.
The study found:
- Overall, higher cognitive test scores were associated with higher coffee consumption.
- Specifically, scores for processing speed, visuomotor coordination and attention improved significantly by 11% among coffee consumers compared to non-consumers.
- Cognitive age was calculated to be 6.7 years younger among those who drank the most coffee compared to those who drank the least.
- Inflammatory markers were more than 20% lower in participants drinking five cups daily than in participants drinking less than one cup daily.
- Researchers did not find any interaction between age, sex and coffee consumption.
There was a very clear and consistent dose-response association between drinking more coffee and doing better on several different sophisticated cognitive tests, Beer said. Inflammatory markers decreased with higher coffee consumption, an association that remained after considering variables such as age, sex, body mass index, smoking status, physical activity and a history of stroke.
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The CFPB claims the banks negligence leaves users unprotected
By Mark Huffman 
of ConsumerAffairs
December 20, 2024
of ConsumerAffairsThe Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is suing the operator of Zelle and three of the United States' largest banksBank of America, JPMorgan Chase, and Wells Fargo. The suit charges they are failing to protect consumers from extensive fraud on the popular peer-to-peer payment network.
The lawsuit claims the alleged negligence of these financial institutions in implementing adequate consumer safeguards has resulted in over $870 million in consumer losses over Zelle's seven-year history.
Zelle called the action "meritless."
The CFPBs attacks on Zelle are legally and factually flawed, and the timing of this lawsuit appears to be driven by political factors unrelated to Zelle," said Zelle spokesperson Jane Khodos.
"Zelle leads the fight against scams and fraud and has industry-leading reimbursement policies that go above and beyond the law. The CFPBs misguided attacks will embolden criminals, cost consumers more in fees, stifle small businesses and make it harder for thousands of community banks and credit unions to compete," Khodos said.
Zelle, operated by Early Warning Services and co-owned by seven major banks, was introduced to compete with other payment apps like Venmo and CashApp.
However, the CFPB claims that in their haste to launch the service, the banks neglected to establish necessary fraud prevention measures. The bureau says this oversight has turned Zelle into a lucrative tool for fraudsters, leaving many victims without recourse.
CFPB Director Rohit Chopra said the banks putcompetition over consumer safety.
Lack of proper safeguards
"The nations largest banks felt threatened by competing payment apps, so they rushed to put out Zelle," Chopra said. "By their failing to put in place proper safeguards, Zelle became a gold mine for fraudsters, while often leaving victims to fend for themselves."
The lawsuit says hundreds of thousands of consumers have filed fraud complaints, only to be largely ignored or inadequately assisted by the banks. Some customers were even advised to contact the fraudsters directly to recover their lost funds.
The CFPB accuses the banks of failing to properly investigate these complaints or provide the legally required reimbursements for fraud and errors.
Some banks have said it is challenging to block Zelle fraud because of the way the app was designed. However, some critics have suggested banks could crack down on Zelle fraud if they shared information.
"An essential part of protecting Amerians"
In its reponse, Zelle said the CFPB "fails to acknowledge our consumer reimbursement policies that already go beyond legal and regulatory requirements." It said that despite a 27% increase in transaction volume,reports of scams and fraud decreased by nearly 50%, resulting in 99.95% of payments being sent without a report of scams and fraud.
Zelle said itreimburses customers for all instances of fraud as required by the law under the Electronic Funds Transfer Act and Reg E.
"Zelle also goes above and beyond what is required by law and reimburses customers for certain types of scams where the customer authorized the transaction," the company said.
Photo Credit: Consumer Affairs News Department Images
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A group of 10 Illinois car dealerships are facing a $20 million fine, the largest ever levied against a car dealer by the Federal Trade Commission. The money will be used to make refunds to customers.
The dealer group, doing business as Leader Automotive Group and their parent company, AutoCanada, operate the following dealerships:
The fine followsa lawsuit by the FTCand state of Illinois.
In addition to paying $20 million, which will be used to refund harmed consumers, the proposed settlement also would require the companies to make clear disclosures of a cars offering pricethe actual price any consumer can pay to get the car, excluding only required government chargesand get consent from buyers for any charges.
Working closely with the Illinois Attorney General, we are holding these dealerships accountable for unlawfully extracting millions of dollars from consumers through a textbook bait-and-switch scheme, and bolstering their poor reputation with fake reviews, said Samuel Levine, Director of the FTCs Bureau of Consumer Protection.
This dealership network engaged in bait-and-switch tactics by luring consumers into their dealerships with lower prices only to either require consumers to purchase allegedly pre-installed add-on products or charge consumers for those products without their knowledge or permission, said Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul.
The agencies' complaint alleges the defendants have deceived consumers about the price and availability of vehicles, charged them for expensive add-ons without consent, tacked on unwanted junk fees to purchases, posted fake reviews, and failed to disclose that U.S. customers were buying cars imported from Canada, along with other unlawful conduct.
Leader has frequently advertised new and used cars online with low prices designed to entice consumers into their dealerships, but those prices are often false, according to the complaint.
When consumers arrive at a Leader dealership, salespeople often tell them the car has preinstalled add-ons like protective coatings (often under the name Xzilon) and theft protection (under the name LoJack) that cost thousands of dollars, and that these add-ons are required despite not being included in the advertised price of the car.
According to the complaint, the add-ons have been wildly profitable for Leader, with dealerships at one point reporting more than 99% profit on them. Leader salespeople have been paid a commission for these add-on products, in many cases making more from the sale of the add-ons than the commission they are paid for selling the car itself.
A survey of Leader customers showed that nearly 80% of them were charged for at least one add-on without authorization or because they were falsely told the add-on was required. The unwanted add-ons also included items tacked on in the financing process like guaranteed asset protection (GAP) coverage and service contracts.
The complaint charges that, even after learning that the FTC was investigating, Leader kept tacking on add-on charges, resulting in consumers paying thousands more than the advertised price. Leader allegedly required the Xzilon add-on for all new and used cars they sold starting in 2021.
According to the complaint, Leader has also regularly failed to actually install or apply the add-on products for which they charged consumers without their consent.
Leaders low-price advertising was designed to get [customers] through the door, according to a message from a company executivecited in the complaint. In many cases, however, Leader has advertised cars that have already been sold.
When consumers arrived at the dealership, they were directed to more expensive cars, often ones with junk fees and surprise market adjustments added to the price. The complaint cites another message Douvas sent to employees saying that once consumers get to the store, theyre not leaving without buying a car.
Leader has also regularly advertised cars as being certified pre-owned, and available at a specific price but then charged consumers hundreds or even thousands of dollars in additional certification fees.
In many cases, despite advertising the cars as being certified and charging consumers undisclosed fees for that certification, Leader has failed to actually do the certification work required by the manufacturer of the car, leaving consumers without the extended warranty that makes certified pre-owned cars attractive in the first place.
Even on non-certified used cars, Leader has charged exorbitant reconditioning fees, which one former sales manager described as fake fees, according to the complaint.
Leader also has sold cars in its U.S. dealerships that were manufactured for the Canadian market without disclosing that to consumers, according to the complaint. Even when done legally, importing these cars into the U.S. typically voids their manufacturers original warranty. Leader still deceptively advertised many of these cars as being covered by those warranties.
In addition, the complaint alleges that employees were required by management to post fake positive reviews about their dealerships on Google and other review sites.
Managers have threatened to withhold bonuses and other compensation from employees who dont post fake reviews, and have paid employees bonuses for posting fake reviews, according to the complaint.
One email from a managerencouraging more reviews said: Those of you with a low review score and low volume of reviews its [sic] an easy fix. If you have 10 employees and they have 5 family members or friends you can have 50 reviews right away.
The complaint also alleges that dealerships have bullied and pressured consumers into posting five-star reviews, citing one instance in which a dealership refused to give a consumer the keys to a car she purchased until she posted a positive review.
Photo Credit: Consumer Affairs News Department Images
Add-on fees, fake reviews, Canadian cars, bait-and-switch tactics alleged
By Truman Lewis of ConsumerAffairs
December 20, 2024
of ConsumerAffairsA group of 10 Illinois car dealerships are facing a $20 million fine, the largest ever levied against a car dealer by the Federal Trade Commission. The money will be used to make refunds to customers.
The dealer group, doing business as Leader Automotive Group and their parent company, AutoCanada, operate the following dealerships:
- North City Honda;
- Crystal Lake Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram;
- Hyundai of Lincolnwood;
- Kia of Lincolnwood;
- Bloomington Normal Auto Mall (Mercedes-Benz of Bloomington, Lincoln of Normal, Volkswagen of Bloomington Normal, Volvo Cars Normal, Subaru of Bloomington Normal, and Audi Bloomington Normal);
- Autohaus Motors (Mercedes-Benz of Peoria, Porsche Peoria, Volkswagen of Peoria, and Audi Peoria);
- Chevrolet of Palatine;
- Hyundai of Palatine;
- Toyota of Lincoln Park; and
- Toyota of Lincolnwood.
The fine followsa lawsuit by the FTCand state of Illinois.
In addition to paying $20 million, which will be used to refund harmed consumers, the proposed settlement also would require the companies to make clear disclosures of a cars offering pricethe actual price any consumer can pay to get the car, excluding only required government chargesand get consent from buyers for any charges.
Working closely with the Illinois Attorney General, we are holding these dealerships accountable for unlawfully extracting millions of dollars from consumers through a textbook bait-and-switch scheme, and bolstering their poor reputation with fake reviews, said Samuel Levine, Director of the FTCs Bureau of Consumer Protection.
This dealership network engaged in bait-and-switch tactics by luring consumers into their dealerships with lower prices only to either require consumers to purchase allegedly pre-installed add-on products or charge consumers for those products without their knowledge or permission, said Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul.
Junk fees, fake reviews, Canadian cars
The agencies' complaint alleges the defendants have deceived consumers about the price and availability of vehicles, charged them for expensive add-ons without consent, tacked on unwanted junk fees to purchases, posted fake reviews, and failed to disclose that U.S. customers were buying cars imported from Canada, along with other unlawful conduct.
Leader has frequently advertised new and used cars online with low prices designed to entice consumers into their dealerships, but those prices are often false, according to the complaint.
When consumers arrive at a Leader dealership, salespeople often tell them the car has preinstalled add-ons like protective coatings (often under the name Xzilon) and theft protection (under the name LoJack) that cost thousands of dollars, and that these add-ons are required despite not being included in the advertised price of the car.
According to the complaint, the add-ons have been wildly profitable for Leader, with dealerships at one point reporting more than 99% profit on them. Leader salespeople have been paid a commission for these add-on products, in many cases making more from the sale of the add-ons than the commission they are paid for selling the car itself.
A survey of Leader customers showed that nearly 80% of them were charged for at least one add-on without authorization or because they were falsely told the add-on was required. The unwanted add-ons also included items tacked on in the financing process like guaranteed asset protection (GAP) coverage and service contracts.
Add-on charges
The complaint charges that, even after learning that the FTC was investigating, Leader kept tacking on add-on charges, resulting in consumers paying thousands more than the advertised price. Leader allegedly required the Xzilon add-on for all new and used cars they sold starting in 2021.
According to the complaint, Leader has also regularly failed to actually install or apply the add-on products for which they charged consumers without their consent.
Leaders low-price advertising was designed to get [customers] through the door, according to a message from a company executivecited in the complaint. In many cases, however, Leader has advertised cars that have already been sold.
When consumers arrived at the dealership, they were directed to more expensive cars, often ones with junk fees and surprise market adjustments added to the price. The complaint cites another message Douvas sent to employees saying that once consumers get to the store, theyre not leaving without buying a car.
Leader has also regularly advertised cars as being certified pre-owned, and available at a specific price but then charged consumers hundreds or even thousands of dollars in additional certification fees.
In many cases, despite advertising the cars as being certified and charging consumers undisclosed fees for that certification, Leader has failed to actually do the certification work required by the manufacturer of the car, leaving consumers without the extended warranty that makes certified pre-owned cars attractive in the first place.
Even on non-certified used cars, Leader has charged exorbitant reconditioning fees, which one former sales manager described as fake fees, according to the complaint.
Canadian cars, bogus reviews
Leader also has sold cars in its U.S. dealerships that were manufactured for the Canadian market without disclosing that to consumers, according to the complaint. Even when done legally, importing these cars into the U.S. typically voids their manufacturers original warranty. Leader still deceptively advertised many of these cars as being covered by those warranties.
In addition, the complaint alleges that employees were required by management to post fake positive reviews about their dealerships on Google and other review sites.
Managers have threatened to withhold bonuses and other compensation from employees who dont post fake reviews, and have paid employees bonuses for posting fake reviews, according to the complaint.
One email from a managerencouraging more reviews said: Those of you with a low review score and low volume of reviews its [sic] an easy fix. If you have 10 employees and they have 5 family members or friends you can have 50 reviews right away.
The complaint also alleges that dealerships have bullied and pressured consumers into posting five-star reviews, citing one instance in which a dealership refused to give a consumer the keys to a car she purchased until she posted a positive review.
Photo Credit: Consumer Affairs News Department Images
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Holiday travel plans may go awry if the federal government shuts down at midnight Friday, although most airline operations will continue more or less normally for at least a few days.
Congress has until midnight Friday to agree on a funding plan after a bipartisan plan was abandoned when President-elect Trump and billionaire Elon Musk publicly opposed it. Negotiations are continuing but the outcome is increasingly in doubt. You can keep up to date with the latest developments here.
"Essential" services willcontinuebut if the shutdown drags on, the effects could spread and cause major economic dislocation, not to mention inconvenience for millions of consumers.
Federal employees and contractors will feel the effects immediately. Whether they are furloughed or required to continue working, most won't get paid until the shutdown ends and normal governmental operations resume. If that means two days of lost pay, it's one thing. But if the shutdown drags on, it can be a real hardship for millions of government workers and their families.
Members of the military could see delays in their paychecks and government contractors -- many employed in crucial intelligence, public safety and health roles -- might not be paid at all, depending on the terms of an eventualsettlement.
Federal employees are often described as "bureaucrats" but many are really little more than clerks, functionaries who do a specific task over and over. These people are not very well paid and many live from paycheck to paycheck. Past shutdowns have been hard on them and have sent many to breadlines and soup kitchens.
National parks, museums and other public federal installations will close and many routine safety and health actions -- like food inspection -- will stop.
Social Security and Medicare benefits continue as usual, as does the Postal Service.
The U.S. Office of Personnel Management has published a shutdown guide for federal workers.
Here are the dates and lengths of previous significant federal government shutdowns in the United States:
While there have been several smaller shutdowns, these are some of the most significant in recent history. A government shutdown occurs when Congress and the President fail to agree on a budget or stopgap funding measure before the start of the fiscal year or an existing funding measure expires, resulting in a partial closure of government operations.
Photo Credit: Consumer Affairs News Department Images
It could be an annoyance for some, a disaster for others
By James R. Hood of ConsumerAffairs
December 20, 2024
Holiday travel plans may go awry if the federal government shuts down at midnight Friday, although most airline operations will continue more or less normally for at least a few days.
Congress has until midnight Friday to agree on a funding plan after a bipartisan plan was abandoned when President-elect Trump and billionaire Elon Musk publicly opposed it. Negotiations are continuing but the outcome is increasingly in doubt. You can keep up to date with the latest developments here.
"Essential" services willcontinuebut if the shutdown drags on, the effects could spread and cause major economic dislocation, not to mention inconvenience for millions of consumers.
Federal employees and contractors will feel the effects immediately. Whether they are furloughed or required to continue working, most won't get paid until the shutdown ends and normal governmental operations resume. If that means two days of lost pay, it's one thing. But if the shutdown drags on, it can be a real hardship for millions of government workers and their families.
Members of the military could see delays in their paychecks and government contractors -- many employed in crucial intelligence, public safety and health roles -- might not be paid at all, depending on the terms of an eventualsettlement.
Federal employees are often described as "bureaucrats" but many are really little more than clerks, functionaries who do a specific task over and over. These people are not very well paid and many live from paycheck to paycheck. Past shutdowns have been hard on them and have sent many to breadlines and soup kitchens.
National parks, museums and other public federal installations will close and many routine safety and health actions -- like food inspection -- will stop.
Social Security and Medicare benefits continue as usual, as does the Postal Service.
The U.S. Office of Personnel Management has published a shutdown guide for federal workers.
A sordid history
Here are the dates and lengths of previous significant federal government shutdowns in the United States:
1. 2018-2019 Shutdown (Longest Shutdown in U.S. History)
- Dates: December 22, 2018 January 25, 2019
- Length: 35 days
- Reason: Disagreement over funding for President Trump's proposed border wall.
2. 2013 Shutdown
- Dates: October 1 October 17, 2013
- Length: 16 days
- Reason: Disagreement over the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) funding.
3. 1995-1996 Shutdown (Second Longest)
- Dates: November 14, 1995 November 19, 1995 (first shutdown) and December 15, 1995 January 6, 1996 (second shutdown)
- Length: 21 days in total (combined two parts)
- Reason: Disputes over budget cuts and fiscal policy between President Bill Clinton and the Republican-controlled Congress.
4. 1981 Shutdown
- Dates: September 30, 1981 October 12, 1981
- Length: 2 days
- Reason: Disputes over spending cuts proposed by President Ronald Reagan.
5. 1990 Shutdown
- Dates: October 5, 1990 October 9, 1990
- Length: 3 days
- Reason: Budget disagreements between President George H.W. Bush and Congress.
6. 1978 Shutdown
- Dates: September 30, 1978 October 13, 1978
- Length: 18 days
- Reason: Disagreement over funding and budget negotiations during the Carter administration.
7. 1977 Shutdowns
- Dates: September 30, 1977 October 13, 1977, and November 30, 1977 December 9, 1977
- Length: 12 days (combined total of both shutdowns)
- Reason: Budget disputes between President Jimmy Carter and Congress over spending.
While there have been several smaller shutdowns, these are some of the most significant in recent history. A government shutdown occurs when Congress and the President fail to agree on a budget or stopgap funding measure before the start of the fiscal year or an existing funding measure expires, resulting in a partial closure of government operations.
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The company says the problem can be solved with a software update
By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs
December 20, 2024
of ConsumerAffairsTesla is recalling 694,304 2024 Cybertruck, 2017-2025 Model 3, and 2020-2025 Model Y vehicles. The tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) warning light may not remain illuminated between drive cycles, failing to warn the driver of low tire pressure.
Because of that, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 138, "Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems."
What to do
Tesla released an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed by February 15, 2025. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-24-00-018.
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.
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