How your personal data may already be on the Dark Web for free
Discover the alarming truth about how your personal information is being stolen and shared on the dark web. Learn how to protect yourself from identity theft.
Latest Headlines by Jeff Deal
Local woman charged more than $800 on someone else’s Spectrum account
An Orange County woman said a cell phone company kept her card on file and charged her for months without her permission. “$884. That is ridiculous,” Norma Brown told Action 9 Consumer Investigator Jeff Deal. Brown said she made a one-time payment on someone else's Spectrum account then got hit with the extra charges. She claims she specifically told them not to add her card to the account. Realizing when it comes to money many people need a hand up from time to time, Norma Brown said she was just trying to help by offering to make a payment on the Spectrum cell phone plan that wasn't hers.
‘That was my nest egg’: Retired Daytona Beach woman scammed out of $135,000
A Daytona Beach woman fell victim to a scam that's changed her life forever. “I'm terrified. I can't eat. I can't sleep. That was, you know, that was my nest egg,” said Carol Ann Moritz. Moritz lost much of her life savings after she was contacted by scammers pretending to be from her bank. She told Action 9 Consumer Investigator Jeff Deal, “I have enough to pay the bills, but I don't have enough for a nice life anymore.” The scam started with a phone call from a woman who claimed she was with Fifth Third Bank. The woman told Moritz that someone in Akron, Ohio was trying to access her account and steal her money.
‘I do believe it is a money grab’: National Retail Federation weighs in on business website lawsuits
Action 9 is continuing to investigate the lawsuits targeting business over the accessibility of their websites. Earlier this month, our team showed thousands of businesses across the country have been hit with lawsuits alleging their websites don't meet Americans with Disabilities Act requirements. Now, we're taking a close look at the difficulty facing the blind, how hard it is for business to comply and at a stronger push for changes in the law. The National Retail Federation, which represents businesses, is concerned about the lawsuits. It says the businesses want to comply to better serve the blind, but the way the businesses are getting hit with the lawsuits without a chance to correct the problems first isn’t fair.
Central Florida homeowner faces reverse mortgage nightmare
A retired Volusia County man thought his home was paid off but has now learned he could lose it. “The dog and I will be homeless. You know? That’s what I’m looking at right now,” said Bill Tavernier. Tavernier has been living in the Deltona home for nearly 20-years after moving in to take care of his aging mother. His mom, Theresa, added him to the deed in 2007 then passed away in 2013. Ever since then, he’s continued to live in the home. All that time he didn’t know his mom had a reverse mortgage on the home until he got hit with a lawsuit by the federal government to take the home away.
Businesses Blindsided: Thousands sued for ADA violations on their websites
“It said that we were indeed being sued five days before Christmas,” said Ajeeta Khanna. The Orlando flower shop owner was recalling the moment she found out her business had been hit with a lawsuit in late 2024. She said it was a crippling lawsuit that alleged the company website wasn’t in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. And Action 9 found thousands of businesses across the country may have been blindsided by similar lawsuits. Businesses large and small across central Florida have been targeted with these types of ADA lawsuits including Walt Disney Parks and Resorts and Fun Spot. Any business with a website could be targeted by this type of lawsuit and experts tell Action 9 it’s nearly impossible to be 100% compliant with the ADA requirements.
Water bottle spill that damaged electric car still not settled
After Action 9 first exposed in November the water spill that sparked a $12,000 car repair bill, the owner thought his insurance company would cover the cost, but now he’s learned it may not be that simple. Car owner Mike McCormick said, “And it’s a lot of money, and they’re really not stepping up, and I think they’re acting in bad faith.” Two wiring harnesses in his small SUV fried when a water bottle spilled in his back seat. The car eventually stopped running. After Action 9 aired the story in November, his insurance company, State Farm, sent a letter saying it did additional review and would cover the loss. So, McCormick was excited, but now he claims the insurance company pulled the rug out from under him.
Romance scams and other scams to avoid this Valentine’s Day
Valentine's day is a time to celebrate love, but it's also when crooks are working overtime on romance scams designed to steal people's hearts and their money. The Better Business Bureau warns the scammers often target vulnerable people who have experienced a recent breakup or other hardship. They then play off that heartbreak to establish a connection before going after their money. Looking for love online is more popular than ever and that’s where many of these scams start.
Convenience stores still charging extra tax on coffee months after Action 9 Investigation
Months after Action 9 first exposed major convenience store chains charging an extra tax on coffee drinkers, some stores are still charging the tax even though they aren’t supposed to under Florida law. “The state cheerfully is taking our money, and there’s no repercussion, there’s no answer, there’s no concern,” said Paul Olkowski of Lake County. But some of the major chains have stopped charging the tax. In November, Action 9 first showed many convenience stores charged sales tax on canned and bottled coffee drinks. The problem is the ready-to-drink coffees are considered a food product and aren’t subject to sales tax, but stores may have been charging the tax for decades.
BBB warns renters to be aware of online application fee
Action 9 is looking into what some believe is rental scam sweeping the country. Christy Cosgrove was looking for a place to rent in Osceola County. She came across a rental home listing that looked interesting and was asked to pay an application fee before even viewing the property. She told Action 9 Consumer Investigator Jeff Deal; the ad she saw was on the well-known legitimate website Realtor.com. So, she paid the fee but now believes it was a bogus fee and she’s not the only one to complain.
