Fraud Tip of the Day - January 2

Consumer Goods Recalled do to Safety Issues

Before you purchase items off of Craigslist or eBay check with the manufacturer and find out if the item was recalled due to a defect. Some people will stoop to selling recalled items once they've received a replacement. Doing this is more than just being dishonest because it can put you and your family at risk.

Manufacturers recall items as a last resort because replacement is expensive and the negative publicity can harm their image in the eyes of consumers. So when an item is recalled you can be very sure that there's a good reason for it. You do not want these items in your home.

So do a quick check on the manufacturers website for even inexpensive items. It may seem like a hassle but if you're already seated at a computer browsing through Craigslist or eBay it should take no more than a minute to determine whether the item you are considering for purchase is safe or not.

Consumer Produce Recall Websites

Recalls.gov
http://www.recalls.gov/

To provide better service in alerting the American people to unsafe, hazardous or defective products, six federal agencies with vastly different jurisdictions have joined together to create www.recalls.gov -- a "one stop shop" for U.S. Government recalls.

US Consumer Product Safety Commission
http://www.cpsc.gov./

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of serious injury or death from more than 15,000 types of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction. Deaths, injuries and property damage from consumer product incidents cost the nation more than $700 billion annually. The CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical, or mechanical hazard or can injure children. The CPSC's work to ensure the safety of consumer products - such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters, and household chemicals - contributed significantly to the 30 percent decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 30 years

More Recall.gov Information

How to find out about product safety and recalls