Consumers donating clothes and household items to three St. Louis thrift stores might think they’re helping disabled veterans. But the Better Business Bureau says the company that runs the shops won’t document how much money, if any, ends up going…

US Fidelis Chief Executive Chris Riley

More than three months after the new chief executive of US Fidelis told the Better Business Bureau he planned to make sweeping, consumer-friendly reforms at the Wentzville firm, the watchdog group says the number of consumers filing…

Business association of trophy peddler?

St. Louis area business should be wary if they get e-mails announcing that they’ve won a “prestigious” award from the Washington-based U.S. Commerce Association. Businesses have to pay for the plaques and trophies and the group…

One of the postcards advertising the free necklace.

A Florida businessman with a history of snookering Missouri and Illinois residents seems to be at it again — this time with a direct-mail offer of a “gold-toned” necklace valued at $50.…

It ought to go without saying, but the $787 billion federal stimulus package isn’t going to just any down-on-his-luck layabout who asks for it.  Still, that hasn’t stopped con artists from crafting elaborate scams that prey on naive marks who…

There’s usually no such thing as a free lunch, or a free MP3 player. At least not when they come gratis at one of those seminars promising to teach the secret of making big bucks at home. Still, that’s not…