Of Consuming Interest

Rosario Mendez, an attorney with the Federal Trade Commission, discusses the actions taken by the agency to inform and protect small businesses from scams Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

John Berlau, Competitive Enterprise Institute, discusses the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, its history, the way it is organized and possible changes to make its organization more in line with other government agencies. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Steve Pociask, American Consumer Institute, discusses the use of apps on your devices, their vulnerabilities to hacking, and the things consumers can do to protect their personal information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Nat Wood, with the Federal Trade Commission, discusses actions taken by the agency to combat robocalls, grandparent scams, identity theft and a host of other frauds targeting consumers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jim Quiggle with the Coalition Against Insurance Fraud describes how crooks are using the new Medicare cards to defraud consumers, as well as the continuing menace of medical identity theft, which can cost lives as well as money and staged car accidents. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Debra Berlyn, president of Consumer Policy Solutions, discusses what it really costs consumers who use “free” things on the internet. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Consumer advocate Charlie Leocha of Travelers United discusses the many hidden fees you are likely to pay when making travel arrangements. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Pete Sepp a member of the Coalition for Contact Lens Consumer Choice discusses proposed changes to the rules that give consumers the ability to shop around for eyewear and to have refractive eye exams and renew prescriptions online. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Chairman Ajit Pai of the Federal Communications Commission discusses the funds dedicated to helping restore the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico communications networks, action taken against robocallers, initiatives against cramming and slamming, and efforts to deploy broadband to rural areas. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ted Frank of the Competitive Enterprise Institute Center for Class Action Fairness discusses how class action lawsuits sometimes benefit only the lawyers bringing the suit, not the damaged consumers. Actions taken by the center have resulted in positive changes for consumers involved in class action lawsuits. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Kyle Burgess of Consumers’ Research discusses how counterfeit products and drugs endanger the lives of millions of consumers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Janet Bodnar, former editor of Kiplinger’s Personal Finance Magazine, discusses the pros and cons of retirement and how to have a meaningful life after leaving your job. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Owen Donley, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, discusses cryptocurrencies. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Stacey Gray of the Future of Privacy Forum discusses the privacy and safety implications of electronic devices that use the internet such as personal assistants, smart TVs, children’s toys, baby monitors, etc. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Maryam Cope, vice president of government affairs at the American Hotel and Lodging Association, discusses third-party hotel booking websites that may steal your money or even your identity. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jill Gonzalez of WalletHub.com discusses which credit cards are best to use for international travel. Choosing the right card can mean significant savings for consumers because some credit cards add 3% foreign transaction fees. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Matt Schulz, senior analyst with creditcards.com, discusses the pros and cons of gas station credit cards. These cards charge an average interest rate of 23.61% which is nearly 7 percentage points higher than the national average of all credit cards and with fewer rewards. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Nat Wood, with the Federal Trade Commission, discusses actions taken by the agency to combat robo calls, grandparent scams, identity theft and a host of other frauds targeting consumers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Patrick Webre of the Federal Communications Commission discusses the agency’s initiatives to stop illegal robocalls. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Marc Scribner of the Competitive Enterprise Institute discusses how automated vehicles will reduce the number of injuries and property damage caused by accidents. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.