Seer Press IRS warns of new scam WBRC For information about other common tax scams, check out the IRS Dirty Dozen Tax Scams for 2010 at IRS.gov. You must be logged in to rate this story. … New E-mail Scam Lures Victims with Claim of Rejected Tax Payment Tucson Citizen all 13 news articles

People in line for a job fair in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. (Michael Francis McElroy/ZUMA Press) This morning, the Department of Labor announced that the unemployment rate climbed from 9.5 percent in July to 9.6 percent in August, as economy-wide lack of demand kept businesses from hiring new workers. Some economists expected a worse report, and the August data offers more evidence of a stall-out in the recovery. Image by: Matt Mahurin Share The report indicated that total employment declined by 54,000, with 121,000 jobs lost from the public sector and 67,000 jobs gained in the private sector. The federal government shed workers as the census finished up. The number of long-term unemployed — workers out of a job for more than six months — declined from 6.6 million to 6.2 million. The long-term unemployed make up 42 percent of unemployed persons, down from 44.9 percent in July. Economists feared a worse report — with private-sector job growth beating forecasts by 20 to 50 percent. For the first time since 2007, the unemployment rate improved year-on-year. But the rising unemployment rate remains evidence of a lagging recovery. Stimulus funds are drying up. Joblessness is pervasive, meaning lower sales for companies. Business owners are concerned about economic conditions, and therefore are loath to hire new workers. Since December, 2009, the private sector has added 763,000 jobs — 95,375 a month — but to keep up with population growth, the United States needs to add about 125,000 positions per month. To return to full employment in five years , the economy needs to add 300,000 a month, every month. The United States has added just 3.4 million net new jobs since January 2000, though the country has grown by 29 million people. In the past few months, the White House has focused on private-sector job creation as evidence of “recovery summer,” though the unemployment rate remains stubbornly high. Some economists inside and out of the administration have declared the jobs trend evidence of the need for new government stimulus to make up for a lack of private demand. Leaving her post as the head of the White House’s Council of Economic Advisers this week, Christina Romer declared the turnaround “insufficient.” The economy “is growing, but not fast enough to create the hundreds of thousands of jobs each month needed to return employment to its pre-crisis level.” “The only surefire ways for policymakers to substantially increase aggregate demand in the short run are for the government to spend more and tax less,” Romer argued. “In my view, we should be moving forward on both fronts.” The White House is reportedly considering new measures to help gin up new jobs in advance of the November elections. But it will likely focus on less-stimulative tax cuts, rather than more-stimulative spending measures. (The most effective forms of stimulus are food stamps and unemployment benefits, which go directly to the neediest citizens and are spent almost entirely, immediately.) Senate Republicans and Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) have indicated they will support no additional stimulus funds. However, Republicans have said they support tax breaks, and even might not require spending offsets. Recently, Republicans such as Sens. Jon Kyl (Texas) and Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), the minority leader, have argued that spending increases, but not tax cuts, need to be offset with spending cuts. The administration is reportedly considering pushing for a payroll tax holiday. The tax cut would be temporary, to encourage businesses to hire quickly to take advantage. The Congressional Budget Office this winter found payroll tax holidays to be among the more effective tax cuts in creating jobs and aiding the economy. According to the CBO, a payroll tax cut is about 25 to 33 percent more stimulative than providing a refundable tax credit for lower- and middle-income households, for instance. And the economy is in need of more aid to help restart the recovery, with the jobs report containing broad evidence of a stall out. The number of unemployed persons — workers without a job, but actively seeking a new one — increased from 14.6 million to 14.9 million. The number of workers employed part-time who want to work full time increased by more than 330,000 over the course of the month. The sustained, high rate of joblessness is also suppressing wages for working Americans. Most of the job growth since the recession ended has come not from middle-class or well-salaried positions, but in jobs like home health aide that often come with about $9 an hour and no benefits. “[T]he damaging effects of high unemployment are not just felt by the workers (and the families of workers) who have lost jobs,” Lawrence Mishel and Heidi Shierholz of the Economic Policy Institute wrote this week. “Workers who have kept their jobs or found new work during this downturn have also suffered from a broad-based collapse of wage growth over the last two years. And with unemployment expected to remain elevated for many years to come, we do not expect the suppression of wage growth to ease anytime soon.”

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Unemployment Rate Rises to 9.6 Percent

DPD: Beware of shopper scam Diboll Free Press “They are sending out a letter with a large check , and instructing the mystery shopper to cash the check , keep a certain amount for themselves and then wire …

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The Fixer: $40 refund scores GOOOOOAL! Pioneer Press Online … that the original check from your “employer” was a fake. That's when you realize you're on the hook for the money you have wired to some scam artists. … and more

Appearing on Meet the Press this weekend, Alan Greenspan, the former head of the Federal Reserve, sounded an awful lot like John Edwards for a central banker with a strong libertarian streak: Our problem, basically, is that we have a very distorted economy in the sense that there has been a significant recovery in a limited area of the economy amongst high-income individuals who have just had $800 billion added to their 401(k)s and are spending it and are carrying what consumption there is. Large banks, who are doing much better, and large corporations, whom you point out and the — and everyone’s pointing out, are in excellent shape. The rest of the economy, small business, small banks, and a very significant amount of the labor force, which is in tragic unemployment, long-term unemployment, that is pulling the economy apart. The average of those two is what we are looking at, but they are fundamentally two separate types of economy. Greenspan also argued for extending the Bush tax cuts for the highest-income families as well as the middle class, noting that the rich are the only ones spending, so best not to discourage them from doing so. That said, Greenspan said that eventually the Bush tax cuts should sunset. “I’m very much in favor of tax cuts, but not with borrowed money.” he argued. “And the problem that we’ve gotten into in recent years is spending programs with borrowed money, tax cuts with borrowed money, and at the end of the day, that proves disastrous.” Additionally, he said he believed that very high unemployment will stick around for a long time. “I would say that there’s nothing out there that I can see which will alter the trend or the level of unemployment in this context,” he noted.

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Greenspan on the Two Americas

ECI BizWatch: Medicare scam targets seniors Muncie Star Press … that they have to supply personal information to receive their $250 rebate check for the gap in prescription drug coverage, or the “doughnut hole. … and more

Man, 45, facing 11 fraud counts in lease scam Winnipeg Free Press Police found that some of the companies named on the leases had no business relationship with the investment broker, a Winnipeg company known as Keywest … and more

The Grand Rapids Press – MLive.com Man to serve up to 20 years in prison for role in multimillion-dollar check scheme The Grand Rapids Press – MLive.com Paul L. Newby II | The Grand Rapids PressRichard Junior Douglas was sentenced Thursday for his part of a check scam . GRAND RAPIDS — A 42-year-old man who … and more

Chattanooga Times Free Press Online Oil Spill Scams WRBL … says they are also asking for banking information as part of their scam . “They'll ask you to pay for a background check or advance fee for some reason. … Beware of BP oil spill cleanup scams WCNC (subscription) Scammers get sophisticated as economic doldrums continue The Spokesman Review all 9 news articles

Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) (Zuma Press) Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), whose state has the second-highest unemployment rate in the country, just held a conference call with reporters, in which she expressed her belief that Republicans have cynically joined together to stop the jobs bill, also known as the tax extenders package or H.R. 4213, to keep the unemployment situation bad, or possibly make it worse, for their own electoral gains in the fall. Image by: Matt Mahurin Share Here is a flash transcript of some of her remarks: On Republican obstruction: It’s an extremely maddening and concerning time right now, and frankly we need your help. We’re in a situation where, after spending at least eight weeks on the floor trying to pass this jobs bill, which focuses on creating jobs as well as helping people … not one Republican is willing to help us stop this Republican filibuster. We’ve spent a tremendous amount of time and discussions to get just one person to join us. And we don’t have that. So, we will be voting again today to stop the filibuster and we have every anticipation that we won’t have the votes. It is very clear that the Republicans in the Senate want this economy to fail. They see that things are beginning to turn around. You know the numbers. When this president took office, we were losing 750,000 jobs a month. … Now we are gaining jobs. … Unfortunately, and cynically [on their part], in cynical political terms, it doesn’t serve them in terms of their elections if things are beginning to turn around. I believe when you look at this bill, which is all paid for — we raised revenues to pay for it — the one piece that is technically not paid for [is the federal unemployment benefit extensions and] that is done in a way that we have always done it, … [those are] always categorized as an emergency. And, frankly, if 15 million people without jobs is not an emergency, I don’t know what is. On who Republicans are helping: When you look as well underneath they are protecting wealthy investors, corporations sending jobs overseas and big oil companies — because we have included provisions to close tax loopholes in each of those areas. Republicans are standing with them at a time when we desperately need to keep this economic recovery going and we desperately need to help people who are hurt. In Michigan, it’s estimated that by the end of this month we’re going to have 87,400 who are going to lose help, temporary help, in their unemployment benefits, by the end of this month. That’s literally the difference between somebody keeping a roof over their head, food on the table and a little gas in the car to go look for work. I’m frankly outraged about what has been happening. On what will happen if the bill fails: We will put this temporarily aside. We have no choice. We met every single objection, we’ve negotiated — we’ve tried to meet what we’re viewed as concerns on the other side. Every time we tried to do that they changed the concerns. We can come back to it in a moment’s notice. … [But] we will temporarily put it aside. We’re going to move on to another jobs bill, focused on small businesses. On the impact of Republican intransigence: They’re willing to take down the people of this country with them. Republicans are out of work too. There are Republicans’ and Democrats’ businesses that need the access to capital and [other provisions] in this bill. On the White House’s involvement in pressing Sens. Susan Collins (Maine), Olympia Snowe (Maine) and Scott Brown (Mass.), viewed as the most likely Republicans to switch: They’re very strongly pushing to get this passed. The negotiations have been primarily been with senators at this point. But the president and the White House are on the phone multiple times a day with the [majority] leader Sen. [Max] Baucus (D-Mont.). On what this augurs for future jobs bills: This is an extremely bad sign, because, based on the inability to get at least one Republican — in the past, we’ve had the ability to work, certainly, with members of the Republican caucus and get people of good will, willing to negotiate. The fact that’s not happening now and everything seems to be turned over to [Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.)], it appears that everybody in the Republican caucus has gone purely into election mode [before] the fall. If they can stop the recovery from occurring, if they can create as much pain as possible, people will be angry and will not vote at all or will vote against those in the majority. This is a very cynical political strategy and I sure hope it doesn’t work. On continuing to fight: My hair is even redder than ever. This is about real people. This is not some political, cynical game here.

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Stabenow: Republicans in ‘Cynical Game’ to Crater Economy by Stopping Jobs Bill

Iowa City man arrested for check -cashing scam Iowa City Press Citizen An Iowa City man was arrested Wednesday after his alleged check cashing scam resulted in multiple thefts. According to Iowa City Police, Kevin Lee Penro … Iowa City Man Faces Theft Charges for False Checks KCRG all 2 news articles

BizWatch: New scam in the works, police warn Muncie Star Press … ostensibly in order to do a background check . The scam artists might even go so far as arranging to meet their potential victim outside the house, … and more

How to spot red flags of investment seminar scam Alexandria Echo Press Investment scams and schemes can come in many forms and a common technique to lure people in is the offer of a free financial seminar over lunch. … and more

Organizer of '08 Houston concert indicted on fraud charges Houston Chronicle But he said Watson was the principal organizer of the festival and that he got $2 million from investors and used investors to float a $400000 check . … James Watson, Jr. Indicted Over Failed Texas Music Festival In Downtown Houston Houston Press (blog) all 2 news articles

Saybrook police warn of phone scam TheDay.com The caller, police said, may ask the intended victim to send money by bank check or a money-transfer company. The money is to “process the claim” or to … Saybrook police warn of telephone scam Middletown Press all 2 news articles

Saybrook police warn of telephone scam Middletown Press The caller then tells the victim to send them money by bank check or a money transfer company to “process the claim” or to “release the winning funds. … Saybrook police warn of phone scam TheDay.com all 3 news articles

pension funds sue men over alleged scam Detroit Free Press Today's suit said Detroit's retirement funds have received no return on the $20-million investment . The suit was assigned to US District Judge Victoria … and more

Police: Scam artist blames Bush for turning to crime Pioneer Press Online The woman brought police a $4850 check she had been sent by mail, because she suspected the check was fraudulent. While investigating the case, …

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Police: Scam artist blames Bush for turning to crime – Pioneer Press Online

Scams arrive by phone and mail BY SUSAN TOMPOR Detroit Free Press The letter explained that the $4970.20 check was issued to cover the “Non-Canadian Residential Tax” the consumer would have to pay. No surprise, it's a scam … and more

New Britain man charged in check -cashing scam in Cromwell Middletown Press CROWMELL — A 33-year-old New Britain man has been arrested for his role in a check -cashing scam . For months, Frank L. Adams, … Cops: Secure vehicles at all times and leave valuables out of site Middletown Press all 2 news articles

Petters scam restitution schedule released; see who gets what Pioneer Press The investment paid off nicely — for a while. “I was drawing the interest off it, and it was pretty good,” paying her about $174 a month, Joseph said. … and more

Former county hire indicted in Detroit scam Chicago Current A background check failed to turn up information on the investigation. County officials did not ask Detroit Public Schools about Hill, the Free Press said. and more

Lakewood man admits theft in gold scam Asbury Park Press McLaughlin pleaded guilty in 2003 to two counts of laundering almost $1 million in proceeds from an investment scam . In that case, authorities said that …

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Lakewood man admits theft in gold scam – Asbury Park Press

Caregivers fight union dues Detroit Free Press Plaintiff Michelle Berry says the whole thing is a scam . “I don't work for the state. I work for my families.” Berry can't recall the exact date a group of …

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Caregivers fight union dues – Detroit Free Press

Beware of fraudulent roof inspections scam Navarre Press The Sheriff's Office recommends that you always check with the company who issued the original warranty to determine what costs are covered, whether or not …

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Union offered home day care providers benefits Detroit Free Press Plaintiff Michelle Berry says the whole thing is a scam . “I don't work for the state. I work for my families.” Berry can't recall the exact date a group of … and more

Guidi strikes plea agreement in AGA Financial case Santa Rosa Press Democrat … the Roseville-based broker dealer that approved the investments , advised brokers that they did not have to disclose Koenig's felony investment fraud … and more

Nation/World headlines: Bravata selects attorney Detroit Free Press Last year, the US Securities and Exchange Commission filed a lawsuit accusing Bravata and his firms of running a $53-million scam in which investors' money … Michigan money manager accused of Ponzi scheme hires new lawyer WWMT all 13 news articles

Money manager gets Jr. Gotti's former lawyer Detroit Free Press The Securities and Exchange Commission last year filed a lawsuit accusing Bravata and his firms of running a $53 million scam in which investors' money was … and more

WTHI IRS Warns Of Tax Time Scams WWJ Don't fall victim to scam artists. IRS Spokesman Luis Garcia tells WWJ they're seeing more of these scams as we get closer to tax day, April 15th. … Haven't filed your taxes yet? Don't panic – read this Alexandria Echo Press Be Wary of Internet Tax Scams WCTV Beware of scams as tax day looms StandardNet Plain Dealer

Investor's lament: “I trusted him” Santa Rosa Press Democrat … the Santa Rosa investment firm that collapsed in 2008. They, along with a third man, James Koenig of Redding, now face dozens of securities fraud and … and more

Today's an ideal day to avoid being fooled by scammers BY SUSAN TOMPOR Detroit Free Press Well it may be old but it's still true, and scam artists are running at full force year-round, not just on April Fools' Day. … and more

CBC.ca Charges laid in another giant Ponzi scheme London Free Press Police looked into allegations of investment fraud and money laundering against HMS Financial Inc. between 2001 to 2004. Investigations began in 2004 and … 4 Albertans accused of $60M Ponzi scam CBC.ca Four Albertans charged in alleged Ponzi scheme Globe and Mail all 82 news articles

Bloomfield Hills investment planner gets prison term in Ponzi scam Detroit Free Press A Bloomfield Hills investment planner was sentenced to eight years in federal prison today for defrauding more than 50 victims of $13.2 … Bloomfield Hills investment planner sentenced for Ponzi scheme, fraud Examiner.com Investment planner gets 8 years in $13.2M Ponzi scheme The Detroit News all 4 news articles

Avoid frauds and scams with these tips Muncie Star Press Because the check seems to clear the bank, people think they're home free. In reality, it doesn't clear and they end up owing the bank the money for that … and more

Scam artist dupes state for $9.1 million tax break Detroit Free Press (MEDC) didn't check whether he had a criminal past. The agency oversees the state program that grants tax credits to lure companies to expand or come to the … and more

State red-faced over $9M tax break for scam artist Detroit Free Press Neither did anyone check his web site for RASCO which makes outlandish claims about his global corporate experience. Greg Main, MEDC president and CEO, … and more

White-collar crime affects us all Winnipeg Free Press As many as one million Canadians have fallen victim to investment fraud , according to the Ontario Securities Commission (OSC). And a recent survey by Visa …

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White-collar crime affects us all – Winnipeg Free Press

The Grand Rapids Press – MLive.com Man accused in $15 million counterfeit check scam waives hearing, working on … The Grand Rapids Press – MLive.com By The Grand Rapids Press staff Anthony TimsWYOMING — Anthony Tims, a suspect allegedly involved in a $15 million counterfeit check scam , waived a probable …

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Man accused in $15 million counterfeit check scam waives hearing, working on … – The Grand Rapids Press – MLive.com

Crown reduces number of charges against Norbourg five in effort to simplify case Winnipeg Free Press Lacroix was sentenced last October to 13 years in jail after quickly pleading guilty to 200 fraud -related charges in a $130-million scam that involved 9200 … and more

WWJ Winans Jr. ran scheme, state says Detroit Free Press And well, you've got the recipe for what investigators call another Michigan-based investment scam . Hundreds of Detroit-area and Michigan investors lost as … Winans Ponzi probe uncovers second alleged fraud based in Ann Arbor The Detroit News Winans family member accused of Ponzi scheme The Associated Press M. Winans Jr. Accused In Ponzi Scheme WDIV Detroit ConnectMidMichigan.com

Police warm of scam phone calls Oxford Press Goins said a similar scheme last year hit the area, when letters were mailed to Oxford Twp. residents with a fraudulent check for $10000 asking for about … and more

New Credit Card Scam WTAP-TV An employee with the West Virginia Office of Technology discovered the most recent credit card scam . Fraudulent companies pretending to be Visa or … Scams strike good people Sheboygan Press Credit card culture changing KTAR.com all 3 news articles

Scams strike good people Sheboygan Press On two different occasions, a man approached a credit union member, asking each of them for help to cash a personal check . He explained that he and his …

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MLive.com Sixth suspect in $15 million Kent County check scam arrested MLive.com By The Grand Rapids Press staff Anthony Tyrille TimsWYOMING — The sixth suspect in a five-year checking scam has turned himself in, police said, …

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Sixth suspect in $15 million Kent County check scam arrested – MLive.com

MSN Money UK Warning over 'boiler room' scams The Press Association Sadly, however, this also means there is a renewed risk to investors and a new type of scam for us to tackle. “Our message remains the same: never deal with … Boiler room share scams get even more devious Mirror.co.uk (blog) Consumers warned of share scam moneyfacts.co.uk FSA issues share scam warning Money Marketing FT Adviser all 44 news articles

FSA to Return Cash In Share Fraud Scam New York Times Having been promised a significant return on their investment , around 32 people paid cash into a UK bank account number. Margaret Cole, the FSA's director … Refunds for victims of Eduvest shares fraud . Mirror.co.uk (blog) Refund for 'boiler room' victims The Press Association FSA returns £270k to share scam victims ifaonline.co.uk Citywire.co.uk

Scammers pick the wrong victim: cops Middletown Press The one constant in the scam : “Whoever receives a check is going to get contacted,” Dalton said. relishes the reaction the scammer will have when …

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Scammers pick the wrong victim: cops – Middletown Press

WOOD-TV More suspects identified, arrested in $15 million counterfeit check scam The Grand Rapids Press – MLive.com By The Grand Rapids Press WYOMING — Police said today they are seeking Anthony Tyrille Tims for his alleged involvement in a counterfeit check scam that … Two more arrested in check fraud scheme WOOD-TV Two more arrested in check fraud investigation WWMT all 3 news articles

Evanston man falls victim to check scam Pioneer Press Online The man with the check convinced the victim to give him a ride to Main Street and Chicago Avenue, where they met up with a second person who was an apparent …

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Evanston man falls victim to check scam – Pioneer Press Online