TrustDALE Blog

Insights on Companies and Trust

Rubber Ruse: When Your Trusted Shop Betrays Your Trust
Automotive Scam Prevention
Jessica Long

Jessica Long

Rubber Ruse: When Your Trusted Shop Betrays Your Trust

After paying $850 for new tires, one woman discovered her old ones were never replaced. Learn how to protect yourself from service scams hiding in plain sight.

Before You Open the Door: Is EZ Knock Legit or a Legal Trap?
Safety & Security Scam Prevention
Jessica Long

Jessica Long

Before You Open the Door: Is EZ Knock Legit or a Legal Trap?

EZ Knock connects lawyers with process servers, but is it a scam? Here’s what consumers should know before using the platform, plus tips to avoid getting burned.

Fix It or Fake It: When Cutting Corners Leaves Buyers in the Lurch
Scam Prevention Home Services
Jessica Long

Jessica Long

Fix It or Fake It: When Cutting Corners Leaves Buyers in the Lurch

A Georgia homeowner fights to get her creaky floor fixed after her builder breaks promises. Here’s how the TrustDALE team helped her hold them accountable and what buyers should know.

False Discounts and Final Sales: The Deceptive Dance of Liquidation Pricing
Finance & Tips Scam Prevention
Jessica Long

Jessica Long

False Discounts and Final Sales: The Deceptive Dance of Liquidation Pricing

Store closing sales may not be the bargains they appear. Learn how liquidators inflate prices and what Georgia consumers can do if they suspect deceptive pricing.

Plastic Protection: What Your Bank Won’t Tell You About Fraud
Finance & Tips Scam Prevention
Jessica Long

Jessica Long

Plastic Protection: What Your Bank Won’t Tell You About Fraud

Think your debit card is just as safe as your credit card? Think again. Here's what every consumer needs to know about card fraud, liability limits, and how to protect your money.

Too Cute to Be True: Outsmarting Pet Scammers Before You Pay
Scam Prevention
Jessica Long

Jessica Long

Too Cute to Be True: Outsmarting Pet Scammers Before You Pay

Before you send money to a puppy breeder online, learn how to spot red flags, protect your wallet, and maybe even find your next furry friend without the scam risk.

Tropical Trap: The Dark Side of Duty-Free Glamour
Finance & Tips Scam Prevention
Jessica Long

Jessica Long

Tropical Trap: The Dark Side of Duty-Free Glamour

A free facial and a glass of champagne turned into a $4,000 regret for one vacationing couple. Here's how to avoid getting duped by high-pressure sales tactics in tourist hotspots.

Mortgage Muddle: How to Tell If That Debt Collector Is Real
Finance & Tips Scam Prevention
Jessica Long

Jessica Long

Mortgage Muddle: How to Tell If That Debt Collector Is Real

If a debt collector contacts you after your mortgage is sold, don't panic. But don’t pay blindly either. Here's how to verify who really owns your debt and protect yourself from scams.

The $2,000 Vacuum Pitch: What You’re Really Paying For
Finance & Tips Scam Prevention
Jessica Long

Jessica Long

The $2,000 Vacuum Pitch: What You’re Really Paying For

A door-to-door salesman offers a $2,000 Kirby vacuum. Here's what you're really paying for and how to protect your wallet from overpriced pitches.

Closet Con: The Red Flags That Make Annie Cloth a Risky Buy
Scam Prevention
Jessica Long

Jessica Long

Closet Con: The Red Flags That Make Annie Cloth a Risky Buy

Annie Cloth looks trendy, but behind the scenes it raises major red flags. Here's what consumers need to know before clicking “add to cart.”

The Deposit Trap: Why “LeaseLock” Could Cost You More Than You Think
Finance & Tips Scam Prevention
Jessica Long

Jessica Long

The Deposit Trap: Why “LeaseLock” Could Cost You More Than You Think

Before agreeing to pay your security deposit in monthly installments, find out whether it’s refundable or if you’re throwing money away.

The Timeshare Trap: How to Help Your Parents Dodge a Costly Mistake
Finance & Tips Scam Prevention
Jessica Long

Jessica Long

The Timeshare Trap: How to Help Your Parents Dodge a Costly Mistake

Before your parents buy a timeshare in Florida, read this. Learn how to spot red flags, avoid pressure tactics, and protect their money.

The Price of “Free”: What Home Show Streaming Gadgets Aren’t Telling You
Finance & Tips Scam Prevention
Jessica Long

Jessica Long

The Price of “Free”: What Home Show Streaming Gadgets Aren’t Telling You

A $400 streaming device promising free Netflix and cable sounds tempting, but it's likely illegal, insecure, and could expose you to hackers. Here’s what every savvy consumer should know.

The Student Loan Help Hustle: Why You Should Think Twice
Finance & Tips Scam Prevention
Jessica Long

Jessica Long

The Student Loan Help Hustle: Why You Should Think Twice

Student loan assistance shouldn’t cost a dime, but some companies want you to pay anyway. Learn how to avoid the hustle and get real help for free.

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Three for Thursday is a weekly email and Dale's Do's and Don'ts is a monthly newsletter from Consumer Investigator Dale Cardwell. Each week in Three for Thursday you will see a video of one of our investigations, hear Dale answer real consumer questions and learn the steps to becoming a savvy consumer. Each month in Dale's Do's and Don'ts Dale provides information valuable to homeowners.

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