Consumer News: Another costly winter is coming for US households

occurring in one state often spread to others

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Recent scam warnings from Texas, Illinois, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, California and New York show criminals impersonating police, government workers and trusted institutions.

• Fraudsters are using spoofed phone numbers, genuine public-record details and professional-looking couriers to make their demands appear legitimate.

• Americans reported nearly 1.01 million cybercrime complaints and $20.88 billion in losses to the FBI in 2025, a 26% increase in reported losses from the previous year.

A Texas school employee lost her life savings after callers claimed she had missed jury duty. In Illinois, fraudulent invoices containing genuine permit details landed in residents inboxes. In Connecticut, an older adult handed more than $100,000 to a courier allegedly working for government officials.

The cases are among a series of recently reported around the United States, illustrating how criminals combine familiar pressure tactics with increasingly convincing technology.

Although the schemes differ, many follow the same pattern: A caller, email or pop-up creates a crisis, impersonates a trusted authority and demands immediate payment through a difficult-to-reverse method.

In Fort Bend County, Texas, a school employee reportedly lost $50,000 after scammers spoofed the county sheriffs telephone number and told her that warrants had been issued because she failed to appear for federal jury duty. The callers allegedly used the names of real law-enforcement personnel and instructed the woman to transfer money to avoid arrest, according to reporting summarized by Hoodline.

Remember this red flag

Real courts and law-enforcement agencies do not call people to collect money for missed jury service or demand payment to cancel an arrest warrant. Caller-ID information can be manipulated, meaning an incoming call can appear to come from a genuine government number.

A similar jury-duty scheme was reported in Pennsylvania, where authorities warned that a scammer was impersonating a Hatboro police officer and demanding money from residents over supposedly missed court service.

Elsewhere, scammers have turned publicly available information into a tool for targeting specific victims.

McHenry County officials in Illinois said people who had filed zoning or permit applications were receiving fraudulent emails claiming their requests had been approved. The messages included real case information taken from publicly streamed county meetings, making the attached invoices appear credible.

Recipients were told to reply for wire-transfer instructions. County officials said authentic government email addresses end in @mchenrycountyil.gov and that the Planning and Development Department does not request payment by wire transfer. Officials also warned that opening the attachments could expose a computer or network to malware or ransomware.

Courier scam

In Stamford, Connecticut, police reported that an 82-year-old resident lost more than $100,000 in a courier scam. Fraudsters allegedly posed as officials, warned that the victims personal information or money was in danger and arranged for someone to collect cash.

Police charged a 28-year-old New York man with second-degree larceny after accusing him of traveling to Stamford to retrieve a package he believed contained about $15,000. The charge is an allegation, and the case had not been resolved at the time of the report. Police emphasized that legitimate U.S. government agencies do not send couriers to homes to collect cash, gold, gift cards or other valuables, according to the Stamford Advocate.

Gold has become a particularly prominent payment method in some impersonation schemes. New York authorities said older residents in the state had lost more than $100 million over two years to in which victims were persuaded to buy precious metals and surrender them to fake government representatives.

Those schemes often begin with a computer pop-up claiming that a financial account has been compromised. A purported technology-support worker gains remote access to the victims computer before transferring the call to someone posing as a law-enforcement officer. Victims are then told to convert their savings into gold and keep the transaction secret until a courier arrives.

Authorities have also reported substantial losses involving cryptocurrency, gift cards and timeshares. Four older residents in Petaluma, California, reported losing a combined total of more than $315,000 through separate within a 24-hour period, according to local police.

Growing losses

The latest cases come amid historically high reported fraud losses. The FBIs Internet Crime Complaint Center received 1,008,597 complaints in 2025, with losses totaling $20.877 billion. That represented a 26% increase in reported losses from 2024. People aged 60 and older reported losing $7.7 billion, more than any other age group, according to the FBIs 2025 Internet Crime Report.

Investment fraud generated the largest category of losses, followed by business-email compromise and technology-support . The Federal Trade Commission separately reported that consumers lost $3.5 billion to impersonation in 2025.

Law enforcement officials say the scale of modern communications allows criminals to contact thousands of prospective victims at little cost. A scam therefore does not need to fool most recipients to be profitable. Personal information obtained from public records, social media or data breaches can make a mass-produced approach feel individually tailored.

The FBI and local authorities advise people to slow down whenever a message creates urgency or demands secrecy. Rather than using a telephone number or link supplied by the caller, consumers should contact the relevant agency, bank or company through an independently verified number.

Requests for gift cards, cryptocurrency, wire transfers, payment apps, cash pickups or gold are major warning signs. Anyone who has transferred money should contact the bank or payment provider immediately, preserve messages and transaction records, and report the incident to local police, the FTCs ReportFraud portal and the FBIs Internet Crime Complaint Center.

Authorities also urge victims not to let embarrassment prevent them from seeking help. Prompt reporting can sometimes stop a transfer, identify a courier or prevent the same criminal network from targeting someone else.

Rates are reaching levels not seen since 2007

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• The 10-year Treasury yield climbed above 5% as surging oil prices revived inflation fears, while heavy government borrowing and expectations of tighter Federal Reserve policy added pressure.

• Higher Treasury yields typically push mortgage rates upward, reducing buyers purchasing power and increasing monthly paymentsespecially as 30-year mortgage rates approach 7%.

• Consumers may also face costlier auto and business loans, although savers could benefit from higher returns on CDs, money-market accounts and newly issued Treasury securities.

The yield on the benchmark 10-year U.S. Treasury note climbed above 5% this week, a milestone that could raise borrowing costs across the economy and further strain a housing market already struggling with affordability.

The yield reached roughly 5.04% in intraday trading Tuesday, its highest level since 2007, as investors sold government bonds ahead of the Federal Reserves interest-rate decision. Bond prices and yields move in opposite directions: when investors demand a greater return to hold Treasury debt, its price falls and its yield rises.

The latest move was triggered largely by a surge in oil prices amid escalating conflict in the Middle East. More expensive energy can spread throughout the economy through higher gasoline, transportation, manufacturing and food-distribution costs. Investors worry that such increases could keep inflation elevated and force the Federal Reserve to maintain high interest ratesor raise them further.

Oil is not the only factor. The rise also reflects a broader reassessment of how much compensation investors need to lend money for a decade.

A resilient economy and labor market have reduced expectations that interest rates will fall soon. Meanwhile, persistent federal budget deficits require the Treasury to issue large amounts of debt. When the supply of bonds grows, yields may need to rise to attract enough buyers.

Heavy corporate borrowing, including financing for artificial-intelligence infrastructure, is adding to the competition for capital.

The selloff has not been confined to the United States. Government-bond yields have risen sharply in Germany, Japan and other major markets, pointing to a global concern that inflation and borrowing costs could remain higher for longer. The Wall Street Journal reported that U.S., German and Japanese 10-year yields all reached multiyear highs Tuesday.

Why the 10-year yield matters

The 10-year Treasury is often treated as the economys foundational long-term interest rate. Because the federal government is considered a low-risk borrower, lenders generally charge households and businesses a premium over the Treasury yield to compensate for credit, liquidity and prepayment risks.

That makes the 10-year yield an important reference point for fixed mortgage rates, corporate bonds and some other long-term loans. It does not determine mortgage rates mechanically, but the two usually move in the same direction.

The Treasurys official closing data showed the 10-year yield at 4.97% on Monday, just before it moved above 5% in Tuesday trading. That was up from 4.19% at the beginning of the year, according to the U.S. Treasury Departments daily yield data.

For consumers, the immediate message is that relief from high borrowing costs may be delayed.

Mortgage rates were already moving upward before the latest Treasury selloff. The average rate on a 30-year fixed mortgage was 6.76% in the week ending Sept. 10, up from 6.71% a week earlier and 6.35% a year earlier, according to Freddie Macs Primary Mortgage Market Survey.

Because that survey reflects applications received over the preceding week, it may not yet capture the full impact of the latest surge in bond yields.

Daily lender quotes can move more quickly and may differ substantially based on a borrowers credit score, down payment, loan size, location and the points paid at closing.

Another setback for home buyers

For prospective home buyers, even a modest increase in mortgage rates can materially change what is affordable.

On a $400,000, 30-year mortgage, the monthly principal-and-interest payment is about $2,398 at a 6% rate. At 7%, it rises to roughly $2,661a difference of about $263 a month, or more than $94,000 over 30 years if the loan is held to maturity. Taxes, homeowners insurance and association fees would come on top of those amounts.

Higher rates can also reduce the loan for which a buyer qualifies. A household trying to keep its payment unchanged may have to make a larger down payment, purchase a less expensive property or postpone buying altogether.

The effect extends to existing homeowners. Most borrowers with fixed-rate mortgages will not see their current payments change. But high rates discourage them from selling and surrendering older mortgages obtained at 3% or 4%. That lock-in effect can restrict the supply of homes for sale, preventing prices from falling enough to offset higher financing costs.

Builders may also face more expensive construction loans, potentially slowing the creation of new housing. Taken together, those forces can produce an especially difficult market: fewer transactions and weak affordability without a correspondingly large decline in home prices.

Wider effects on household finances

The 10-year yields rise could also make auto loans, business financing and some education borrowing more expensive, although those rates depend on several benchmarks and borrower-specific factors. Credit-card rates and home-equity lines are more closely connected to short-term rates set or influenced by the Federal Reserve.

There is a benefit for savers. Persistently high market rates can support better returns on certificates of deposit, money-market accounts and newly issued Treasury securities. Investors should still compare terms carefully because banks do not always pass higher market yields through to depositors immediately.

Whether the 10-year yield remains above 5% will depend heavily on oil prices, incoming inflation data, the strength of the economy and the Feds message about future policy. A retreat in energy prices or weaker economic data could pull yields lower. Continued inflation pressure, larger debt issuance or signs that the Fed must tighten further could keep borrowing costs elevated.

For home buyers, the key issue is not the symbolism of the 5% threshold itself. It is what that threshold signals: lenders and investors increasingly expect inflation, interest rates and the cost of capital to stay highand the housing market may have to adjust to that reality.

Temu offers 90-day returns on most purchases, but there are some important catches

• Most Temu purchases can be returned within 90 days, but some electronics have shorter 45- or 60-day windows and several product categories are excluded.

• Your first return from each order is free. If you make another separate return from that same order later, you could end up paying return shipping.

• Don't throw away those clear plastic Temu bags. Keeping each item with its barcode packaging can make sorting out a multi-item return much easier.

One of Temu's biggest attractions is that you can buy an awful lot of stuff without spending an awful lot of money, helping turn it into an online shopping giant with tens of billions of dollars in estimated annual sales.

But what happens when the $12 shoes don't fit, the $8 gadget looks nothing like the picture, or half of your 15-item order needs to go back?

That's where Temu's return policy gets quite interesting.

I've dug into Temu's return policy firsthand, making my own returns and talking with frequent Temu shoppers along the way as part of my ongoing look at retailer return policies. The good news is that Temu's return window is actually pretty generous as long as you know about a few important quirks.

You generally get 90 days but check electronics

Temu says almost all items are eligible for a return and refund within 90 days of the purchase date.

Notice that wording. It's the purchase date, not necessarily the day the package arrives at your house.

There are also some return exceptions worth knowing:

• Clothing that's been worn, washed, or damaged after delivery

• Clothing that's had tags or hygiene stickers removed

• Groceries and food products

• Health and personal-care products

• Certain customized products

• Free gifts that came with your purchase

And don't automatically assume you've got 90 days with electronics. Temu says the return window on most electronics can be 45, 60, or 90 days depending on the seller.

Pro tip: The moment an electronic item arrives, check its specific return deadline in your order details. Don't stick it in a closet assuming you have three months to decide.

The first return from every order is free

Here's the Temu rule I think every shopper should know. The first return from each order is free, then youll be hit with a $7.99 fee for any subsequent return from the same order.

So, let's say you order six items. A shirt doesn't fit, so you immediately send it back using your free return.

Two weeks later, you finally try the shoes on and discover they're very uncomfortable. Now you're making another return from the same original order, and youll be hit with a $7.99 fee.

The smarter move when possible is to inspect and try on everything from the order before initiating your first return, then bundle everything you don't want into that free return.

Pro tip: Create a temporary "Temu return box" when an order arrives. Put anything you're unsure about in it and give yourself a few days to inspect the entire order before initiating your free return. Just don't wait so long that you forget about the deadline.

Don't throw away those little plastic bags

Normally I'm all for getting shipping packaging out of the house as quickly as possible. With Temu, youll want to wait.

Many products arrive in individual clear plastic bags with barcode labels identifying the merchandise. But what happens when youre trying stuff on and suddenly can't remember which bag belongs to which product?

A frequent Temu shopper who contacted me gave me a great solution.

When trying on clothing, put each item directly back into the bag it came in until you're positive you're keeping it. That keeps the barcode and item together.

If you lost the plastic bag for an item you want to return, use a Ziploc bag and simply write the item number on it with a Sharpie. You can find the item number on your invoice or from the Temu website.

Pro tip: If you're making a large order, take a quick photo of the items next to their labeled bags before trying everything on. It could save you from playing a very annoying game of "Which bag did this come in?" later.

You don't necessarily need the original box

Already recycled that orange Temu package? Don't panic.

When I researched the policy, Temu told me shoppers can use other suitable packaging capable of holding the items they're returning.

So you generally don't need to preserve the original outer shipping box just in case.

The individual product packaging, however, is worth hanging onto until you've decided what you're keeping.

And there's another important packaging warning: Don't simply mail merchandise back to the sender address printed on the package that arrived at your house. Initiate the return through your Temu account and use the return instructions and label Temu provides.

Starting a return starts another clock

The 90-day window isn't the only deadline you need to know.

Once you submit your return request, Temu says you have 14 days to send the package back.

So don't initiate a return and leave the box sitting by your front door for the next month or your return might be cancelled. Start the process when you're actually prepared to package everything and drop it off.

Wait until you've located everything you're sending back, matched it with its packaging, and know when you'll be able to drop off the package.

Temu might tell you to keep the item

Here's one of the stranger things that can happen during a Temu return.

Sometimes you may request a refund and discover Temu doesn't actually want the merchandise back.

Temu's own return instructions acknowledge this possibility. If no return is required, shoppers can simply choose their refund method and submit the request.

I've found this is most likely to make economic sense with inexpensive merchandise where processing and shipping a return could cost more than the item is worth.

But don't count on it. Temu decides whether an item needs to be returned.

Pro tip: Always start the legitimate return process before assuming Temu won't want something back. If the app tells you no return is necessary, great. Don't simply keep an unwanted item and expect a refund.

Temu credit can get you your refund faster

When you're owed a refund, you may be given a choice between money returned to your original payment method and a Temu credit balance.

If you're definitely going to shop at Temu again, the credit can be the much faster option.

When I've tested Temu returns myself, refunds to my original payment methods were fairly quick. But Temu warns that processing back to the original payment method can take longer depending on the financial institution.

Temu credit avoids much of that waiting but there's an obvious downside. You're turning your refund into money that can only be spent at Temu.

Pro tip: Don't choose Temu credit just because it's faster unless you're certain you'll shop there again. Getting $40 back quickly isn't much of a win if it encourages you to make another $80 order you weren't planning to make.

Be especially careful buying bulky items

A $6 shirt is one thing. A piece of furniture or heavy piece of exercise equipment is another.

Large or unusually heavy merchandise can create more complicated return logistics, so I'd think twice before buying something from Temu that would be expensive or difficult to package and ship if it doesn't work out.

Before ordering, ask yourself one question: Would I still buy this if returning it turned into a hassle?

If the answer is no, compare the price with another retailer that offers an easier return process, such as IKEA, when ordering furniture.

Saving $30 upfront doesn't look nearly as attractive when you've got a 60-pound box sitting in your garage that you don't want.

The smartest Temu return happens before you order

My biggest takeaway after digging through Temu's return policy is actually about how you shop.

With clothing, don't trust the product photo alone. Check fabric composition, measurements, and customer photos.

With shoes, study the size chart rather than assuming your normal U.S. size will fit.

With expensive or bulky merchandise, compare not only the purchase price but also how difficult the item would be to return.

And when a big Temu order lands on your doorstep, don't immediately toss all the packaging. Try everything and always keep anything questionable with its labeled bag.

Because with Temu, the difference between a free return and a frustrating one can come down to what you do before you ever print the return label.

Target Circle members can save on fall fashion, home finds, and early holiday gifts

• Target Circle Deal Days runs Oct. 67, with savings of up to 40% on thousands of items.

• Deals will cover everything from clothing and home goods to beauty, toys, and tech.

• Target Circle 360 members get early access to select offers starting Oct. 5.

Fall shopping season is about to get a little more tempting at Target. The retailer is bringing back its Target Circle Deal Days event in October, giving shoppers a chance to save on seasonal clothing, home essentials, beauty products, toys, tech, and even some holiday items.

The two-day event is also arriving early enough for shoppers who want to get a head start on their holiday lists without waiting for November.

Some discounts will reach as high as 40% off, and Target Circle 360 members, who pay for the retailers premium membership, will get early access to select offers beginning Oct. 5

"Guests are looking for ways to save as they swap summer wardrobes for cozy layers, refresh their homes for fall and start checking gifts off their holiday shopping lists," Sarah Travis, executive vice president and chief digital and revenue officer, Target, said in a news release.

"Helping guests celebrate the season with great style, thoughtful design, and incredible value is what we do best. Target Circle Deal Days is our way of saying thank you to members while helping them save even more on the styles and brands they love.

What Shoppers Can Expect

There will be deals across several areas, whether youre updating your wardrobe for cooler weather or getting a jump-start on holiday shopping.

Heres a look at some of the sales Target is highlighting before the event:

• 40% off select clothing for the family, including:

  • Women's styles from A New Day and Universal Thread

  • Kids' and toddler clothing from Cat & Jack, Art Class and Cloud Island

  • Men's Goodfellow, Original Use, Champion and Wrangler sweatshirts, sweaters and denim

  • Shoes for the family from Crocs and more

• Up to 65% off Vera Bradley

• 30% off Threshold furniture and Hearth & Hand with Magnolia bedding, bath, candles and furniture

• 30% off fall woven baskets, select storage, and kitchen gadgets

• Up to 40% off select Dyson vacuums

• 40% off seasonal outdoor decor and lights

• Up to 40% off toys, tech and gadgets, including:

  • Select Barbie, Monster Jam and Our Generation toys

  • Select magnetic building sets and pretend play

  • Select laptops from HP, Acer, Lenovo and Dell

  • Heyday tech gear

• 40% off holiday outdoor lights, tree skirts, trees and wreaths

What consumers need to know

There are also some new-member promotions tied to the event. Those who join Target Circle between Sept. 27 and Oct. 5 will receive 15% off their first purchase.

Target says additional rewards will be available for certain new Target Circle Card and Target Circle 360 members during the promotional period, subject to terms and restrictions.

The deals will be available in Target stores, on Target.com and through the Target app, with options including Drive Up, Order Pickup and Same Day Delivery.