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Consumer Handbook

Every week, join Sydney Waters as she helps you navigate life as a smart consumer. You'll cover everything in avoiding the latest scams, including phishing emails, medical equipment fraud, understanding layaway, hiring a reputable tax preparer, and even digital spring cleaning. 

Add to your toolbox and flip through your Consumer Handbook Thursdays during NPR’s Morning Edition at 6:42 a.m. and 8:42 a.m., only on KRCU.

Latest Episodes
  • Consumer Handbook: Identity Theft
    Since 2021, identity and information theft reports to BBB Scam TrackerSM have totaled more than 16,600 and monetary losses are rising, according to a new study by the Better Business Bureau’s® International Investigations Initiative.
  • Using a six-digit verification code to keep accounts secure.
    Consumer Handbook: Six-Digit Verification Code Safety
    What's a verification code, and why are they so important? Six-digit verification codes are a form of two-factor authentication, a process that helps keep your important online accounts secure. For example, you might get a text message or email with a six-digit code that you must enter when you log into your bank account. This extra level of protection keeps scammers and hackers out.
  • Consumers unaware of the passport renewal process may fall victim to online scams.
    Consumer Handbook: Preparing to Travel Abroad
    If you’re traveling internationally, you may need to renew your passport. Consumers unaware of the passport renewal process may fall victim to online scams.
  • Scammers are counting on college students being new to job hunting and excited about an offer and are hoping you won’t notice something is off.
    Consumer Handbook: How College Students Can Avoid Online Job Scams
    Whether you’re looking for an internship, a remote way to work during the school year, or a post-grad career, job hunting can be a lot. It doesn’t help that there are tons of fake listings floating around.
  • College is the first time many young adults are out on their own and spending their own money.
    Consumer Handbook: New College Student Scam Prevention
    If you have a college student who's starting a new school year, now's a good time to talk about taking care of their money and personal information while they're on campus.
  • It might seem like there are no downsides to a free package, but it could be a sign that someone is using your personal information for their own gain.
    Consumer Handbook: Brushing Scams
    Have you ever gotten a package you didn’t order? It might seem like a fun surprise, but it might be the setup for a scam known as brushing.
  • House, Rooftop, Ceiling, Leaking, Water
    Consumer Handbook: Protect Yourself from Storm Chasers
    Natural disasters like storms, tornadoes, hurricanes, flooding, and wildfires often bring out the best in people as strangers reach out to help others in need. Unfortunately, the aftermath of a crisis also brings out contractors taking advantage of those who have already been victimized.
  • Children in classroom
    Consumer Handbook: Back to School Shopping
    Plenty of retailers capitalize on the back-to-school buying season with late summer sales. Unfortunately, scammers and illegitimate vendors may also take advantage of the demand with phishing attempts or ads with outrageous deals.
  • Remember that government agencies won’t contact you by text message to pay for a traffic violation.
    Consumer Handbook: Traffic Ticket Scams
    Have you gotten a text message about a traffic ticket recently? Don’t click the link – it could be a scam.
  • The best way to protect your business is to make sure you and your employees know the signs of a scam and how to respond.
    Consumer Handbook: Business Scam Study
    Scams are hitting businesses hard. According to one report, nearly 80% of businesses were targeted by fraud attempts in 2024.