AG Nixon is warning consumers in southwest Missouri that the phishers are up to it again - this time sending text messages, hoping to trick customers of Empire Bank into giving out their personal info. This is the first phishing scam we've seen using text messages to people's cell phones. They send consumers to a bogus Web site that looks just like the bank site. Here, by the way, is the official Empire Bank site.

Get the lead out! Are your kids' new toys among the millions that have lead in them? As you know, recalled toys were all the talk in 2007 because of lead content. Now you can bring up to three toys to events AG Nixon is co-sponsoring Friday and Saturday, to have them screened for lead. The events are at two different St. Louis Community College campuses - Friday at Forest Park and Saturday at Florissant Valley.

Last week, our office announced its annual "Top 10" list of consumer complaint categories. Here is that list again along with some helpful links that will give you tips on how to recognize and avoid becoming another victim of consumer fraud:

1. Financing, credit, and debt collection
2. Auto sales, repair, odometer fraud, title and towing
3. Gasoline prices and storm-related price-gouging
4. Telephone slamming, cramming and billing
5. Home repair and remodeling
6. Lotteries and sweepstakes
7. Identity Theft
8. Travel Clubs, timeshares and travel related promotions
9. Computer software, online services and internet auctions
10. Charitable organizations

The St. Louis office of AmeriCorps, the federal volunteer program, is staffing a toll-free hotline to help find warming locations near you in Missouri. 1-888-377-2100, open 8a - 9p seven days a week.

Three promising developments for consumers in the cell phone world:

1. A class-action lawsuit is suing T-Mobile over high termination fees, and several California courts have ruled that the lawsuit can proceed. T-Mobile had argued it should be thrown out. Granted, any benefit from this lawsuit might only help these plaintiffs or Californians in general... but it could start a movement nationwide. These termination fees are a big source of consumer complaints to our office. This recent blog comment was typical of other consumers:

I signed my family up for the family plan,(3 lines), and then discovered that the service in our area was not good at all. US Cellular is charging me $150.00 early termination fee PER phone!!!

This is such a volatile issue for consumers that the federal government may weigh in on it. We blogged about that a couple of weeks ago.

2. Verizon has announced a major shift in policy: you can now make changes to your contract in mid-term without extending it. Most wireless contracts feature a little-known clause that triggers a lengthy contract extension any time a change is made to your service - more minutes, etc. Will be interesting to see if other celltelcos follow suit.

3. AT&T has settled with the California Attorney General over their handling of stolen cell phones. They have agreed to be a bit more consumer friendly when it comes to charging customers for calls after their phone has been stolen. The CA AG is calling on the other big phoners to step up and make the same agreement. Stay tuned - we will hear more of this kind of thing. Frustrated consumers and the threat of government regulation can lead to all kinds of concessions from the industry. We have seen that very recently with credit bureaus.

Many of the topics we discuss on this blog are covered by publications offered by AG Nixon. Here is a list of all of them. From this page, you can read the full content of each publication, or order them using the online order form.

In a recent blog post, we pointed you to a column in the Kansas City Star written by a representative of the payday loan industry. The editorial defends the business of payday loans in Missouri.

Yesterday, AG Nixon responded to the column and gave significant data that disputes the payday loan industry's claims that they are providing help to Missouri consumers. Nixon continues his promise to stand up to the payday loan businesses that take advantage of cash-strapped Missourians.

Sat. Sept. 8, 9 a.m.-noon Reactor Field, Columbia

Mid-Missourians, take note: you've heard those warnings about shredding your personal trash before throwing it away? But you don't have a home shredder or you have so much stuff stored up that you dread running it through the shredder one by one? (I can relate to the latter.)

This event is for you: Shred Day 2007, September 8, from 9 a.m. to noon at Reactor Field parking lot in Columbia. Bring up to three boxes of confidential, unneeded documents to be destroyed on site by a 4-ton shred truck. Lots of crunching and noise, and even a video monitor so you can watch the shredder in action.

The Better Business Bureau held one of these in St. Louis last April and got 6.5 tons of paper in a short amount of time. Shredding sensitive paperwork before tossing it is one important way to prevent ID theft.

I recently posted a blog entitled, "Questions to ask before you rent," that focused on the tenant/landlord relationship. But with college starting up, students are still moving into apartments, duplexes and condos. Many choose their best friends as roommates, which can make for great experiences but can also make the relationship with roommates even more complicated. Whether or not someone chooses to room with their best buddy or a total stranger, there are some precautions to take that will ensure the protection of each person's best interests.

First, consult our renter's checklist, the landlord/tenant law brochure, as well as our student consumer guide, all of which will provide tips and questions that renters can ask their future landlords. Then, after all the roommates have settled on an apartment, they should sit down and hammer out some of the specific details. They could draft a roommate agreement that addresses issues that could come up over time. For instance, this agreement could establish rules and boundaries for smoking, stay-over guests, division of rent, cable, utilities, and other expenses and cleaning responsibilities.

The worst possible scenario for a roommate is when he or she comes home to find another roommate has moved out without notice. With a signed agreement, there will be certain measures that will protect the deserted roommate(s). This may be an awkward conversation to have with a good friend or even a new person, but it is better to get these questions out in the open at the beginning. Many people have had roommate horror stories; taking these small steps might start the school year off right.

Small business owners take note: AG Nixon has announced a court order to temporarily shut down some operations of a deceptive yellow pages operation.

This time, the scheme plays upon the yellow pages name. Our lawsuit says this company called businesses, said they're with the "yellow pages" and asked if they want to renew their ad. The business owner says "yes," thinking it's the local yellow pages. Turns out it's a completely different company, and the ads run who knows where - some obscure directory, online only, etc. And the business gets a big bill for this ad.

Lesson to businesses: when dealing with the yellow pages company, get out your directory and call the number in your book. Don't trust a caller who says they're with the yellow pages - there are simply too many out there. This is the third time recently we've gotten results against a yellow page operator. In December, we announced one settlement, then another three weeks later. In those cases, the companies were sending "activation checks" to businesses. Those are the $2 checks you receive, cash, and next thing you know you have a contract for something you don't want.

AG Nixon has unveiled an updated version of Know Your Rights in Spanish. Conozca sus derechos covers a wide variety of consumer topics, including ID theft, credit, cars, payday loans and scams that specifically target Spanish speakers. We offer two publications in Spanish, the other being Landlord-Tenant law.

These and all of our publications can be ordered for free online or by phone at 1-800-392-8222.

AG Nixon announced today a new feature on our Web site that allows you to check whether your number is on the No Call list.

We get this question from consumers a lot - and in the past, we've had them call our office and ask. So this will be more convenient.

FYI, registration is permanent - once you sign up, you never have to again. If you move and keep your number, you stay on the list. The only time you would need to re-register is if you change your number. Recent blog post explains the basic ABCs of No Call - who is exempt, your rights, etc.

Forever we have told consumers to check out a company's history of consumer complaints with the Attorney General's Office before making buying or hiring decisions. In the past you had to call our Consumer Protection Hotline (1-800-392-8222). But today AG Nixon announced we have put complaint history on our Web site - the feature is called Know MO, and you'll see the icon on our home page.

There are about 3.5 years worth of complaints in the database - more than 100,000 records.

A group that studies charitable giving says last year Americans gave about what they did in 2005, which is impressive given that 2006 saw no major catastrohpe like hurricanes or 9/11, which tend to generate massive contributions.

With all that money flowing, you can bet the bogus charities and con artists are eager to trick you out of your well intentioned money. A recent blog post gave our basic tips for giving wisely.

Missouri landlord writes:

I have a tenant who had his electric shut off. He drinks a lot and I am afraid he is going to pass out and burn my apartment down with the candles he uses for light. What can I do?

If you have questions about your legal rights as a landlord, you should talk to your lawyer.

Missouri law explains grounds for eviction. See page 17 of our Landlord-Tenant Law publication for details. Remember that you have to go to court and get an order from a judge before evicting. Also, some leases give additional grounds for lease termination. If there is no written lease, a 30-day lease is assumed, so either party can cancel it with 30 days written notice.