Three for Thursday 03.02.2023

Welcome to TrustDALE's Three For Thursday with Consumer Investigator Dale Cardwell.

A close friend of mine recently mentioned the suppression of information on a popular social media site. It had made them angry because it completely betrayed their trust. It made me realize how far we ‘ve moved from unbiased reporting. First, social media sites aren't created or controlled by journalists, they're profit driven instigators. But millions of Americans are following them because the news platforms that used to be unbiased have adopted shock and awe to drive ratings. They mostly still tell the truth, but the truth is built around a I've got to scare you or titillate you for fear you might change the channel, - go online. Well guess what? That's driven the 40 and under audience to snarky platforms, like The Daily Show. I agree, the host can be funny, but almost all the narrative is "we're doomed." Well, I don't believe we're doomed. I believe our TrustDALE community yearns for a return of balance. I believe you can find honesty, and yes, not just trust, but truth - at TrustDALE.

Watch this Investigation

Here are the FTC's Top Five Scams for 2022. You need to follow my 7 point process to avoid them. Watch because this could happen to you!

Ask Dale

Today's Ask Dale question comes from Brenda, who wants advice on how to find a puppy breeder. This is dangerous territory, so...watch the video to learn what you can do!

Todays Lesson on how to be a Savvy Consumer!

Today's seven-point lesson is on whether to proceed with an online service or product.

Fast - Do they want your money NOW? 100% payment to an unknown online vendor is a bad idea.

Funds - Is the investment required relevant to the promised payoff? Again, if the source is known and trusted, the offer is more trustworthy. If you don't know the source, a too good to believe offer IS.

Found - A person who intends to rip you off will make certain he can't be found after he gets your money. This is one of the greatest risks with online offers, especially from out of state sources.

Define - Your deal by comparing product, Offer and Price. Being able to compare before purchase, and verifying the validity of the source of the offer is a must.

Ensure - Your deal with an Ethical negotiation, an Equitable contract, and an Effective Guarantee. Following these three steps aren't as forceful if you haven't verified the location and reputation of the source.

Authenticate - Your deal by requesting References, checking reviews, and examining government and watchdog reports. This step is a must when dealing with an online company making a long-distance offer.

Legitimize - your deal by determining if the company has a business license, liability insurance and is Lawsuit and background checked. This step is perhaps the second most important compared to Authenticate.