Consumer News: Gas prices start the week with another surge

The products include sausage patties sold in the US and two other nations

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• MorningStar Farms has voluntarily recalled two frozen plant-based products after reports of possible plastic contamination.

• The recall affects select Buffalo Chikn Nuggets and Hot & Spicy Sausage Patties sold in the U.S., Puerto Rico and Costa Rica.

• Consumers are urged not to eat the affected products and should discard them or contact the company for a refund.

MorningStar Farms is voluntarily recalling two of its frozen plant-based products because they may contain pieces of plastic, according to a notice posted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The recall covers MorningStar Farms Buffalo Chikn Nuggets (10.5-ounce packages) and MorningStar Farms Hot & Spicy Sausage Patties (8-ounce packages) distributed throughout the United States, Puerto Rico and Costa Rica. The company said no other MorningStar Farms products are affected.

The recall was initiated after the company received consumer complaints about the possible presence of plastic pieces in the products. While no injuries have been reported, the company said it took the action out of an abundance of caution and has implemented additional quality-control measures to prevent similar incidents.

What to do

Affected Buffalo Chikn Nuggets packages carry UPC code 000 28989 10110 5 and Better if Used Before dates of July 7 or July 8, 2027. The recalled Hot & Spicy Sausage Patties have UPC code 000 28989 10094 8 and Better if Used Before dates of July 5, 6 or 7, 2027.

Consumers who purchased the affected products should not consume them. MorningStar Farms advises customers to discard the products and contact the company for a full refund. Consumer Affairs representatives can be reached at 800-962-0120 or by text at 877-453-5837 Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern time.

The FDA said it is posting the companys announcement as a public service. Consumers can find additional information and photos of the affected products on the FDAs recall website.

Seniors are especially vulnerable to imposter

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Older Americans lost billions of dollars to last year, with imposter schemes, investment fraud and tech-support among the most costly.

• Criminals increasingly use artificial intelligence, spoofed phone numbers and social media to make appear legitimate.

• Experts say the best defense is slowing down, independently verifying requests and never sending money or personal information under pressure.

Anyone can become a scam victim, but older Americans remain one of the most frequent targets of financial fraud, often because scammers believe they have substantial savings, strong credit histories, and a tendency to trust authority figures.

While fraud affects people of all ages, consumers over 60 consistently report some of the highest financial losses when they become victims.

Here are the five that most commonly target older adults, according to several consumer advocacy organizations, and the warning signs consumers should watch for.

1. Government and Business Imposter

In these schemes, criminals pretend to represent trusted organizations such as the Social Security Administration, Medicare, the IRS, law enforcement agencies or major companies.

Victims may receive a phone call, email or text claiming there is a problem with their Social Security benefits, Medicare account or taxes. The scammer often creates a sense of urgency, threatening arrest, fines or benefit suspension unless immediate action is taken.

Red flags:

• Demands for immediate payment.

• Requests for gift cards, cryptocurrency or wire transfers.

• Threats of arrest or loss of benefits.

• Caller IDs that appear to show a government agency.

How to protect yourself:

Hang up and contact the agency directly using a phone number from its official website. Government agencies generally do not demand payment over the phone or threaten arrest for immediate payment.

2. Investment and Cryptocurrency Fraud

Investment have become one of the most expensive forms of fraud for older consumers. Scammers promise unusually high returns through cryptocurrency, foreign exchange trading or exclusive investment opportunities.

Many victims are introduced to these schemes through social media, dating sites or online advertisements. Early "profits" may be fabricated to encourage larger investments.

Red flags:

• Guaranteed returns.

• Claims of little or no risk.

• Pressure to act quickly.

• Requests to move money into cryptocurrency.

How to protect yourself:

Research any investment independently and consult a licensed financial adviser before investing. If an opportunity sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

3. Tech-Support

Tech-support typically begin with a pop-up warning, unsolicited phone call or email claiming a computer has been infected with malware.

The scammer poses as a representative from a well-known technology company and offers to "fix" the problem. Once granted access to the device, the criminal may install malicious software, steal personal information or demand payment for unnecessary services.

Red flags:

• Unsolicited calls about computer problems.

• Pop-up messages claiming your device is infected.

• Requests for remote access to your computer.

• Demands for payment to remove malware.

How to protect yourself:

Never grant remote access to someone who contacts you unexpectedly. If you suspect a computer issue, contact the company's official support department directly.

4. Romance

Romance often begin on dating platforms, social media sites or messaging apps. Criminals spend weeks or months building trust before asking for money.

Scammers frequently claim they are working overseas, serving in the military or dealing with an emergency that prevents them from meeting in person. Once victims send money, additional requests often follow.

Red flags:

• Refusal to meet in person or video chat.

• Sudden declarations of love.

• Stories involving medical emergencies or travel problems.

• Requests for money, gift cards or cryptocurrency.

How to protect yourself:

Be cautious about sharing personal information online. Never send money to someone you have not met in person, regardless of how convincing their story may seem.

5. Grandparent and Family Emergency

These exploit family relationships and emotions. Criminals call older adults pretending to be a grandchild, child or other relative in distress.

Advances in artificial intelligence have made these schemes more convincing by allowing scammers to mimic a loved one's voice. The caller may claim to have been arrested, injured or stranded and in urgent need of money.

Red flags:

• Requests for secrecy.

• Demands for immediate payment.

• Calls made late at night or during stressful situations.

• Claims that a loved one cannot be reached directly.

How to protect yourself:

Pause before acting. Contact the relative directly using a known phone number or verify the story through another family member before sending money.

Although scammers continually change their tactics, most fraud schemes rely on the same basic strategy: creating fear, urgency or emotional pressure. Consumer advocates recommend taking a moment to verify unexpected requests, refusing to send money immediately and discussing major financial decisions with a trusted friend, family member or adviser.

The most effective anti-scam tool remains simple skepticism. When someone pressures you to act immediately, it's often a sign that they're hoping you won't have time to discover the truth.

Just 250,000 special quarters bearing a "July 4th" privy mark will enter circulation nationwide

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• The U.S. Mint will release 250,000 limited-edition 2026 Declaration of Independence quarters featuring a special "July 4th" privy mark to commemorate America's 250th anniversary.

• The coins will be mixed randomly into circulation and distributed through banks and financial institutions nationwide ahead of Independence Day, rather than sold directly by the Mint.

• Collectors can identify the special quarters by their unique "July 4th" privy mark and the absence of a traditional mint mark.

Americans may soon find a rare piece of history in their pocket change.

The United States Mint has announced that it will produce 250,000 limited-edition 2026 Declaration of Independence quarters bearing a special "July 4th" privy mark to celebrate the nation's 250th anniversary. The commemorative coins will be randomly released into circulation through banks and financial institutions across the country in time for Independence Day.

Unlike standard circulating quarters, the limited-edition coins will not carry a traditional mint mark. Instead, they will feature the distinctive "July 4th" privy mark, making them easily identifiable to collectors while remaining legal tender. The special quarters also will not be available for purchase through the U.S. Mint's website, meaning the only way to obtain one is by finding it in everyday circulation.

The commemorative quarter features Thomas Jefferson on the obverse alongside the dual date "17762026," marking the nation's semiquincentennial. The reverse depicts the Liberty Bell with its iconic crack, symbolizing both the Declaration of Independence and the nation's founding.

More than a coin

This is more than a coin; its a defining moment in our nations story, said Mint Director Paul Hollis. We hope Americans enjoy the search for these iconic quarters as theyre meant to be shared, saved, and remembered as part of this historic anniversary.

The limited-edition release is part of the Mint's broader 2026 Semiquincentennial Coin Program, which includes five quarter designs commemorating pivotal moments in American history. The Declaration of Independence quarter is one of several special circulating coins being issued to mark the country's 250th birthday.

Learn which products are worth buying now and which ones are better left for Fourth of July deals

• Prime Day and Fourth of July sales excel in different categories: Prime Day is typically the best time to buy tech, electronics, beauty products, and back-to-school essentials, while Fourth of July sales shine for appliances, mattresses, patio furniture, and home improvement items.

• Timing your purchases can lead to bigger savings: Shoppers can save more by splitting their shopping lists between the two events instead of buying everything during one sale.

• Dont rely on sale tags alone: Checking price history, comparing retailers, and stacking promo codes, cash back offers, and rewards can help ensure youre getting a genuine deal.

Summer shoppers are getting an unusually early start on deal season this year, with Amazon Prime Day arriving before the Fourth of July sales rush.

While both events promise big savings, they arent necessarily interchangeable.

ConsumerAffairs spoke with RetailMeNot Retail Insights Expert Stephanie Carls, who explained knowing which products are typically discounted during each sale can help consumers avoid overspending and score the best prices. From laptops and beauty products to appliances and patio furniture, timing your purchases strategically could make a noticeable difference in how much you save.

What is Prime Day best for?

Carls broke down what categories consumers should focus on during Prime Day:

• Tech and electronics: Amazon historically offers some of its steepest discounts on its own devices, including Echo speakers, Kindle e-readers, Fire tablets, and Ring security products. Competing retailers also roll out aggressive promotions on headphones, laptops, and smart home gadgets to capture Prime Day shoppers.

• Back-to-school essentials: Prime Day's late-June timing aligns with the start of back-to-school shopping season, making it an ideal time to buy laptops, tablets, backpacks, dorm essentials, and school supplies before demand and prices pick up later in the summer.

• Beauty and personal care: Expect strong discounts on everyday essentials like skincare devices, hair tools and beauty products.

• Streaming devices and TVs: Major brands often release midyear TV promotions during Prime Day as they make room for incoming fall inventory. Streaming devices, soundbars and home entertainment accessories also see significant markdowns.

Best Fourth of July deals

On the other hand, Fourth of July has its own specialties, including:

• Appliances: Fourth of July sales are one of the biggest appliance shopping events of the year, with retailers offering deep discounts on washers, dryers, refrigerators, and kitchen packages as they clear inventory ahead of Labor Day promotions and new model releases.

• Mattresses and bedding: Mattress brands consistently use holiday weekends to run some of their strongest promotions, including bundle deals, free accessories, and extended financing offers.

• Outdoor gear and patio furniture: Retailers begin clearing seasonal inventory after the peak spring shopping season, creating opportunities to save on grills, outdoor decor, patio sets, and lawn equipment while there's still plenty of summer left to enjoy them.

• Tools and home improvement: Home improvement retailers often align Fourth of July promotions with peak DIY season, offering discounts on power tools, paint, hardware, and landscaping equipment as homeowners tackle summer projects.

Prime Day and the Fourth of July are built for different carts, Carls said. Prime Day is a tech event. The best drops are on electronics, Amazons own devices, laptops, and small kitchen appliances, and a lot of those hit their lowest prices of the year this week.

Fourth of July is a home and outdoor event, where the deals move to the big stuff you want to see before you buy: mattresses, furniture, large appliances, patio, and grills. If your list has both split it across the two events. Youll do better than trying to cram everything into June.

A true discount vs. inflated prices

One of the best things shoppers can do for both of these sales is take a little extra time and do your homework. You want to be sure that the sale price you see is actually a true discount and not just a markdown from an inflated price.

Know what the item cost last week, Carls said. Thats the whole trick. A crossed-out price and a lowest of the year badge are easy to print and they dont always mean much.

The fastest way to check is the price history. Amazons own shopping assistant will now pull up to a year of pricing on most products, and there are free browser tools that do the same. If the Prime Day price matches what its been all spring, the badge is doing the work, not the discount. Retailers are counting on you not remembering. A ten-second check fixes that.

Stack your savings

Whether youre shopping Prime Day, Fourth of July, or both, youll want to stack your savings to make the most of the sales.

Heres Carls best advice:

• Start with the sale price, then stack on top of it. The biggest savings almost always come from stacking, not from a single promotion. A sale price plus a promo code plus cash back plus card rewards beats any one of those alone.

• Use cash back youre already eligible for. Many shoppers leave it on the table. Prime members and cardholders often have cash back or rewards that apply right on top of Prime Day pricing, so the sticker price isnt actually the lowest price you can get. Savings and cash back sites like RetailMeNot will do all this stacking for you.

• Compare across retailers before you commit. The same item can run lower at Walmart, Target, or Best Buy during the same week, and stacking a competitors promo with cash back can beat the Amazon price outright. The week belongs to whoever has the best final number, not the biggest banner.

The smartest move right now takes about thirty seconds, Carls said. Get clear on what you actually want, then set a price alert on it. Amazons Alexa will build you a deal guide and ping you when your items hit the number you wanted, so you stop refreshing and start letting the right deal come to you.

Before approving your next repair, try this free second opinion

• ChatGPT can make you a smarter car owner: It translates repair estimates into plain English and helps you understand which repairs may be urgent.

• It might save you money: When I used it on my Silverado repair bill, it suggested negotiating labor costs, which saved me $350.

• Think of it as a second opinion: Use AI to review estimates, compare quotes, and learn what questions to ask before approving costly repairs.

When most people think about ChatGPT, they think about writing emails, planning vacations, or helping with homework. What many don't realize is that AI can also be surprisingly useful when dealing with car repairs.

I recently put it to the test with my own truck, a well maintained 2004 Chevrolet Silverado with about 145,000 miles on it.

After taking the truck to the dealership for brake work, the repair estimate quickly started growing. First, it was the brake pads and rotors. Then came new brake calipers. Then recommendations for fluid flushes. Then a new problem appeared after the repairs were completed: the parking brake was sticking and not releasing properly.

Rather than blindly approving every recommendation or spending hours digging through automotive forums, I turned to ChatGPT.

The experience showed me that AI isn't replacing mechanics anytime soon. But it can really help consumers ask smarter questions, better understand repair estimates, and potentially avoid unnecessary expenses.

What ChatGPT can do surprisingly well

One of ChatGPT's biggest strengths is translating mechanic-speak into plain English.

When my dealership's inspection report flagged issues like contaminated brake fluid, corroded bleeder screws, and multiple recommended flushes, ChatGPT helped explain:

• What each item actually meant

• Whether it represented a safety concern

• Which repairs were urgent

• Which repairs could potentially wait

Most repair estimates overwhelm consumers with technical terminology. AI can act as a translator, helping you understand what you're being asked to approve before authorizing hundreds or even thousands of dollars in repairs.

That's especially valuable because many consumers simply don't know enough about vehicles to confidently challenge recommendations.

Using AI to get a second opinion

One of the smartest uses of ChatGPT is obtaining an instant second opinion. That doesn't mean ignoring your mechanic, it just means getting additional context to help you make a decision.

For example, when my Silverado's dealer recommended replacing all four brake calipers because the bleeder screws were corroded, ChatGPT helped explain why that recommendation wasn't unreasonable on a 20-plus-year-old truck.

It also explained potential alternatives and helped identify questions worth asking before proceeding.

Similarly, when the parking brake began sticking after the brake work was completed, ChatGPT outlined several possible causes, including parking brake cable issues, improper adjustment, and hardware problems related to the repair.

That gave me enough background knowledge to have a more informed conversation with the service department.

Reading repair estimates like a pro

Many repair estimates include recommended services that aren't necessarily but may not be immediately necessary.

AI can help consumers sort through recommendations by asking:

• Is this repair urgent?

• What happens if I wait six months?

• Is this preventative maintenance or a current problem?

• Is this price reasonable?

• Are there alternative repair options?

For example, my Silverado's estimate included coolant, brake fluid, and power steering flushes.

Instead of automatically approving everything, ChatGPT helped explain why each service might be recommended and what risks come from postponing them.

That information allowed me to prioritize repairs rather than simply approving every line item.

ChatGPT can make sure you dont get ripped off

This is perhaps the most important aspect of using AI with your auto repair.

When I specifically told ChatGPT what each repair would cost, it gave me a breakdown of what others in the country were paying for the repair. Both at the dealership and when using an independent mechanic.

ChatGPT even suggested that I ask for a reduction in the labor costs for the brake job since I was having the pads, rotors, and calipers all done at the same time. When I asked for this cost reduction, the service tech actually agreed and reduced my labor charge by $350.

In the end, I felt reassured that my repair bill, according to ChatGPT, was actually below what many dealerships charge for the same services.

AI can help identify patterns

One of ChatGPT's underrated strengths is recognizing common vehicle issues. If you can describe the symptoms clearly, AI can often point toward likely causes.

This includes things like strange noises, dashboard warning lights, fluid leaks, brake problems, and electrical issues.

You can even upload photos of worn parts, warning messages, or inspection reports and then ask for detailed explanations in laymans terms.

While AI won't provide a definitive diagnosis, it can often narrow down possibilities and help you understand what you're dealing with before visiting a shop.

What ChatGPT cannot do

Its important to realize that there are some things ChatGPT just cannot do when it comes to car repair.

For example, ChatGPT cannot:

• Physically inspect your vehicle

• Measure brake pad thickness

• Detect fluid contamination

• Identify hidden damage

• Hear noises

• Confirm a diagnosis

Think of AI as more of an informed assistant, not a certified mechanic. A qualified technician still has the tools, experience, and direct access to the vehicle.

The best approach is combining both by using AI to understand the problem, then use a mechanic to confirm it and make the repair.

Actionable tips for using AI on car repairs

• Upload repair estimates: Instead of staring at a multi-page estimate full of technical jargon, upload it and ask: "What repairs are urgent and which can wait?"

• Ask about repair priorities: If the estimate exceeds your budget, ask: "If I can only afford two of these repairs today, which should I prioritize?"

• Compare repair quotes: Upload multiple estimates and ask ChatGPT to identify differences. You may discover one shop is recommending services another shop doesn't consider necessary.

• Research common issues: Tell ChatGPT your vehicle year, make, model, mileage, and symptoms. The more details you provide, the more useful the response becomes.

• Learn before approving: Ask: "What questions should I ask my mechanic before approving this repair?" This often produces valuable questions you wouldn't have considered on your own.

Before authorizing any significant repair, upload the estimate into ChatGPT and ask for a plain-English explanation. Even if you ultimately end up approving every recommendation, understanding exactly what you're paying for can make you a more confident consumer and help prevent costly misunderstandings.