Atlanta home inspector wants to share “Stimulus Payment” E-mail scam
March 8, 2009 by Bonnie Lelak
Filed under Maintenance & Safety Tip, News & Events
This valuable ispector shares stimulnformation was sent to me from my parents who received it from their Email service provider. I know we are all the time getting all kinds of warnings and everything else. But for a service provider to send this out, there is someone out there who has perhaps already fallen victim to this. I don’t want it to be me or you.
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E-Mail Scam – Beware Of “Stimulus Payment” IRS E-Mail Scam Don’t believe it if you get an e-mail that appears to be from the Internal Revenue Service saying you’re due for a stimulus payment. According to the IRS, it’s part of the latest tax-related phishing scam designed to get personal information from you such as bank account or Social Security numbers. These e-mails, often bearing the IRS letterhead, tell users they must fill out and submit a form in order for the stimulus payment to be processed. The message then says to follow a link to a website or to complete an attached document. Remember, the IRS does NOT send unsolicited e-mail about tax account matters to taxpayers. Should you receive an e-mail claiming to be from the IRS, DO NOT REPLY, CLICK ON ANY LINKS, OR PROVIDE ANY INFORMATION. Users receiving these fraudulent IRS e-mails are encouraged to forward the message and the website URL to the IRS at phishing@irs.gov. After you forward the e-mail, delete the message. If the IRS ever needs to contact you about a tax refund or audit, they will do so by traditional mail. When you need to access the IRS website to get information or download forms, initiate contact by typing the www.IRS.gov address into your browser window. For more about reporting and identifying IRS e-mail scams, go to: http://www.irs.gov/privacy/article/0,,id=179820,00.html?portlet=5 |
If you need to schedule a great home inspector for a home inspection schedule it here.
Also take time to to check out our ActiveRain blog we have been so busy here that we haven’t had time to post much over at ActiveRain, but there is some valuable information over there.
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Atlanta home inspector found this article about Lasko fans
January 17, 2009 by Bonnie Lelak
Filed under Maintenance & Safety Tip
Atlanta home inspector found out that Lasko
Products to Pay $500,000 Civil Penalty for Failure
to Report Defective Fans
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced today that Lasko Products Inc., of West Chester, Pa., has agreed to pay a $500,000 civil penalty. The penalty (pdf), which has been provisionally accepted by the Commission, settles allegations that the company failed to immediately report incidents about its defective portable fans. recall of about 5.6 million fans.
These box and floor fans were sold between 2000 and 2004. In February 2006, CPSC and Lasko announced the
CPSC alleged that Lasko failed to report to the government in a timely manner that fans sold by the firm could overheat, smoke, or catch fire, and pose fire and burn hazards to consumers.
Between November 2002 and September 2005, Lasko received about 42 reports of fans overheating, smoking, melting, or catching fire, which resulted in nine personal injuries and property damage. Lasko did not fully report the incidents to CPSC until September 2005.
Consumers who have the recalled fans can still receive a free fan cord adaptor, designed to shut off the fan motor if overheating occurs. Contact Lasko at (800) 984-3311, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.laskoproducts.com/recall/recall_fans.html
Federal law requires firms to report to CPSC immediately (within 24 hours) after obtaining information reasonably supporting the conclusion that a product contains a defect which could create a substantial product hazard, creates an unreasonable risk of serious injury or death, or violates any consumer product safety rule, or any other rule, regulation, standard, or ban enforced by CPSC.
In agreeing to settle the matter, Lasko denies that it knowingly violated the law.
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Recall of Window Blinds from the Atlanta home inspector
January 16, 2009 by Bonnie Lelak
Filed under Maintenance & Safety Tip
Risk of Strangulation Prompts Recall of Window Blinds Sold at Cost Plus and World Market Stores
Released January 13, 2009
Release #09-090
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.
Name of Product: Roman Shades and Roll-up Blinds
Units: About 692,400
Distributor: Cost Plus Inc., of Oakland, Calif.
Hazard:
Roman Shades: These shades have a looped pull cord and exposed inner cords on the back of the shade. Looped pull cords and exposed inner cords on roman shades present a strangulation hazard.
Roll-up Blinds: These blinds have a looped pull cord and two lifting cord loops that run around the bottom rail. Looped pull cords and exposed lifting loops on roll-up blinds present a strangulation hazard to young children.
Incidents/Injuries: No incidents or injuries have been reported with the Roman shades and roll-up blinds involved in this recall. However, CPSC is aware of the death of a child who became entangled in the lifting cord of a roll-up style blind whose manufacturer and retailer has not yet been identified and at least two deaths involving exposed inner cords on various styles of roman-style shades.
Description: This recall involves four styles of shades, the “Canvass Roman Shade” available in four different sizes (4’x 6’, 5’x 6’, 2.5’ x 6’ and 3’x 6’) with sku numbers 376983, 376984, 376985, 384870; the “Sari Roman Shade” available in two colors (berry and chocolate) with sku numbers 394700, 394701; and the “Buddha or Floral Matchstick Blinds” sku numbers 407376, and 407221. A small tag on the back of the Canvass and Sari Roman Shades states “World Market© Cost Plus, Inc., Oakland, CA 94607, Made in India, 100% Cotton.” In addition, this recall involves other styles of wooden roll-up blinds, with or without valances, that have the following SKU numbers: 404991, 404992, 404993, 400742, 499743, 400744, 400745, 400746 and 358064, 358065, 358066, 358067, 358068.
Sold at: Cost Plus and World Market stores nationwide from February 2006 through August 2008 for between $25 and $60.
Manufactured in: India and China
Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled window blinds/shades and return the product to any Cost Plus/World Market store to obtain a full refund.
Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Cost Plus toll-free at (877) 967-5362 between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m. ET daily, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.worldmarket.com
Note: CPSC reminds consumers to examine all Roman Blinds and Roll-up shades in their homes. If looped pull cords, exposed inner cords, or exposed lifting loops are found and children are in the home or occasionally visit your home, please consider replacing the blinds or shades with products that do not have exposed pull cords or inner cords.
Retweet this postAtlanta home inspector wanted you to know that GE Recalls Wall Ovens
January 1, 2009 by Bonnie Lelak
Filed under Maintenance & Safety Tip
The Atlanta home inspector wanted you to know about the following GE recall for your safety purposes.
| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 18, 2008 Release #09-046Firm’s Recall Hotline: (888) 569-1588 CPSC Recall Hotline: (800) 638-2772 CPSC Media Contact: (301) 504-7908 GE Recalls to Inspect and Repair Wall Ovens Due to Fire and Burn HazardsWASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. Name of Product: GE®, GE Profile™, Monogram® and Kenmore® Wall Ovens Units: About 244,000 Manufacturer: GE Consumer & Industrial, of Louisville, Ky. Hazard: The extreme heat used in the self-clean cycle can escape, if the wall oven door is removed and incorrectly re-attached by the installer or the consumer. This can pose a fire and burn hazard to consumers. Incidents/Injuries: GE is aware of 28 incidents of minor property damage in which adjacent kitchen cabinets have been damaged. No injuries have been reported. Description: This recall involves GE wall ovens sold under the following brand names: GE®, GE Profile™, Monogram® and Kenmore®. The wall ovens were sold in white, black, bisque and stainless steel. The following model and serial numbers can be found inside the oven on the left interior wall. For microwave combination ovens, the serial number can be found on the left interior wall of the microwave. Brand: GE/Profile Brand: Monogram Brand: Kenmore * Lower oven only Sold at: Home builders and appliance stores nationwide from October 2002 through December 2004 for between $900 and $3,600. Manufactured in: United States Remedy: Consumers should immediately inspect the oven to make sure they do not have an incorrectly re-attached wall oven door, which will not open into the flat position. If the wall oven door is incorrectly re-attached, consumers should not use the self-clean cycle and call GE for a free repair. Consumers can continue to use normal baking or broiling function in the oven until the oven is repaired. Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact GE toll-free at (888) 569-1588 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, and between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Saturday ET, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.GEAppliances.com For photos of the oven click here
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| Courtesy of Chad Fabry StructureSmart Home Inspection Rochester, NY www.structuresmart.com |
When I do an Atlanta home inspection, I tried to find all the serial numbers, model numbers and other information for all the appliances located in the home during the home inspection, just in case something like this comes up.
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