Author: Danielle Antosz

An investigation into stolen pickup truck tailgates has uncovered a deeper, more alarming trend in Houston: thieves are using high-tech tools to clone key fobs and drive away with vehicles in under eight minutes.

According to the Harris County Sheriff’s Office, victims whose tailgates were stolen worked together to track down the suspects by searching social media posts, passing that information along to local authorities. When deputies intercepted the suspects, they discovered more than just stolen tailgates.

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KHOU 11 reported that officers found a stash of blank key fobs and a key programming device — evidence of a growing problem with high-tech car theft in the area. Officials are warning vehicle owners to take additional precautions as key fob-related car thefts rise both in Texas and across the country.

"Eight minutes tops. Five minutes. We’ve seen the fastest and they’re gone," Harris County sergeant Eduardo Rivera told KHOU 11.

As thefts rise, authorities are providing tips to residents on how to help safeguard their vehicles. Here’s the rundown and what you can do to help avoid getting bumrushed.

How thieves can use key fobs to steal your car

The investigation into the stolen tailgates started when victims noticed their parts being listed online. After organizing with law enforcement, they confronted the suspects, Lieutenant John Gonzalez of the Harris County Sheriff’s Office auto theft unit told KHOU 11.

“There’s a big aftermarket for truck parts, especially for Ford and GM models,” Gonzalez said.

Thieves access a vehicle’s onboard diagnostics (OBD) port, usually located under the dashboard. Using a specialized programmer, they create a new key fob that lets them unlock, start and drive away with the car — sometimes in five minutes.

Another technique called "relay theft" targets keyless entry vehicles. Criminals use electronic devices to capture the signal from a key fob inside a home, transmit it to a receiver near the car and trick the vehicle into starting.

Thefts like these are big business. Tailgates alone can fetch up to $10,000 on the aftermarket, and stolen cars are often sold at steep discounts through online marketplaces, luring unsuspecting buyers.

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How to protect your vehicle from key fob theft

Vehicle theft is on the rise in Texas, and authorities are urging drivers to take extra precautions. Even though car thefts have declined at the national level, with 850,708 cars stolen in 2024 and 1,020,729 in 2023, as per the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB), that doesn’t mean thieves aren’t getting more creative.

To protect your vehicle:

• Lock your tailgate and vehicle doors: This simple step can protect your tailgate and limit theft.
• Use OBD port protection: Devices that block access to the OBD port can prevent cloning.
• Store key fobs in a Faraday bag: These pouches block the signal from your fob, stopping thieves from capturing it.
• Install a steering wheel lock or aftermarket alarm: Old-school mechanical locks are highly effective deterrents.
• Park in a secure garage: When possible, keep your vehicle out of sight and out of reach.
• Turn off your fob’s wireless signal: Some newer fobs allow you to disable the signal when not in use—check your owner’s manual.
• Upgrade your home security: Motion detectors and cameras can add an extra layer of protection.
• Install a car camera: Adding a dashboard or rear camera can help deter thieves and provide police with important evidence.
• Add an AirTag or other GPS device: This can help you track your stolen car. But be sure to tell police; don’t try to recover the car yourself.

As high-tech theft methods continue to evolve, staying vigilant and taking preventive measures can make a crucial difference in keeping your vehicle safe. Even with the best precautions, theft can still happen.

If your vehicle is stolen, contact the police immediately to file a report. Then, if the car is financed, contact your car insurance company and lender. They can help you with the next steps.

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This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.

It’s enough to leave any adult child fuming with frustration. You agreed to cosign a car loan for your parents with normal expectations — a limit on how much they’d spend, say $23,000, and an understanding you’d actually get to sign the loan. You hand over your information to help with initial paperwork, then you get shut out — by both your parents and the dealer.

Now you learn the dealer upsold your parents by $10,000 and they agreed to a loan with a terrible rate.

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Most disturbingly, you’re listed as a cosigner even though you didn’t sign any paperwork. Are you legally on the hook for this loan?

Yo-Yo Financing

Your parents may have been duped by “yo-yo financing” — a technique underhanded salespeople use to hook people into costly car loans.

It starts as something that appears to be win-win: spot delivery. As Capital One explains, spot delivery plays to would-be buyers’ desire for immediate gratification, as a dealer lets customers leave the lot with a new car before financing is actually finalized.

That’s when the allure of spot delivery can turn into the less savoury ‘yo-yo financing,’ a kind of bait-and-switch.

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The seller gives buyers the impression that loan terms are set, and lets them drive off. Then the seller contacts the buyers later saying they tried to finalize the loan at the quoted rate and couldn’t — so the finalized loan comes with a higher rate.

If the buyers can’t afford the rate, they have to return the car or risk having it repossessed or reported as stolen. Or they may think they have to take a loan they might not be able to afford.

What many buyers don’t realize in these ‘yo-yo financing’ cases is that they are not obligated to uphold any loan terms the dealer imposes.

The deal isn’t actually finalized. If all parties — including an unsigned cosigner — can’t agree to the terms, the dealer must either rewrite the deal or unwind it completely and take the car back.

But you’re still exposed to some risks as a cosigner, even an unsigned one.

The legal responsibilities and risks of being a cosigner

In this situation, you would be a "ghost" cosigner. Whether you sign or not, having your name as a co-signer on a loan comes with several risks, including:

Identity and credit exposure. Even without a signature, the dealer has a cosigner’s full name, address, license number, and likely their Social Security number. That’s enough to run a hard inquiry and open an auto‑loan application in their name. A single hard pull can shave a few points off your credit score, while a loan that actually goes through — and later defaults — can torch it for years. 

Liability if the dealer “pushes it through.” Submitting forged or “ghost” signatures is illegal, but it happens. If the lender funds the contract before the fraud is caught, the cosigner becomes jointly liable for the entire balance. Federal law requires lenders to give cosigners a special notice describing that liability, but many don’t see it until the first bill arrives. 

No automatic right to return the car. There is no federal cooling‑off period for buying a vehicle. Once financing is approved and contracts are executed, the sale is final unless the dealer offers a written return policy or state law allows a cancellation window. Most do not. 

No automatic right to use the car. Cosigners share the debt but not the keys. Unless the contract spells out ownership or usage rights, you’re on the hook for payments without any legal claim to drive the vehicle. That also means if the other party defaults on the loan, you can’t just take the car back and use it yourself, unless the contract gives you that permission.

Big picture: Cosigning ties your credit and cash flow to a car you may never touch — often a lopsided deal at best. That is why it’s important to know what you’re getting into.

How to avoid becoming a co-signer on a risky deal

Avoid cosigning unless you trust the person implicitly or are financially able to take over the terms of the loan.

If you do decide to co-sign on a car loan, here’s how to protect yourself:

• Set ground rules in writing. Agree on the maximum purchase price, loan term, and add‑ons before sharing your personal info and make it clear that you must review every document before signing.
• Never text or email your license image. A photo is enough for a lender pull. Hand it over only when you’re physically present to sign.
• Consider getting lender preapproval. Walking in with a credit-union-approved deal forces the dealer to beat or match a firm offer and eliminates spot‑delivery surprises.
• Stay for the entire financing process. Finance offices move fast; being in the chair lets you refuse extras like extended warranties, service contracts, or nitrogen‑filled tires that inflate the price.
• Read (and keep) the Truth‑in‑Lending disclosures. As the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau explains, the federal Truth in Lending Act, or TILA, requires dealers to provide you with a full TILA disclosure outlining APR, total finance charges, amount financed, and payment schedule before you sign anything. 
• Know when to say no. Cosigning can help loved ones, but you shoulder equal liability for late payments, repossession costs, and deficiency balances. If you can’t comfortably afford to make the payments, walk away. 

Being a cosigner is more than a formality; it’s a threat to your credit, wallet and relationships.

Next time, keep the paperwork — and the keys — on hold until every T is crossed and every I is dotted.

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Money doesn’t have to be complicated — sign up for the free Moneywise newsletter for actionable finance tips and news you can use. Join now.

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.

The corner of 28th Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Way in Oakland isn’t where you’d expect to find fruit trees or beehives. Yet nestled between the historic apartments and storefronts, the intersection is now host to a compact urban homestead.

Novella Carpenter transformed part of the property into a garden with pomegranate and almond trees plus beehives. She’s among a growing number of Oakland residents taking food production into their own hands.

"People are getting excited about urban homesteading again," Carpenter told CBS News reporter Kara St. Cyr. "They feel like maybe there will be nobody to help; it’ll only be you helping yourself and your neighbors."

Homesteading is growing, but is it worth the cost?

A 2022 study by Homesteaders of America found that 40% of current homesteaders started in the past three years. When asked why, 59% cited food security, 58% wanted healthier food and 52% pointed to political unrest and changing government policies.

Carpenter said she sees her homestead as a fallback.

“Just in case,” she said. “It’s kind of like a backup plan.”

The timing makes sense. Grocery prices jumped 5.8% in 2023, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, after an 11.4% spike in 2022. Tariffs and climate-related disruptions add more pressure.

"Security is a concern," Carpenter said. "You can kind of relax a little bit. You can be like, ‘Oh, okay, I’ve got at least this covered.’ And the thing is, you can barter with honey.”

Getting there isn’t cheap, however. Carpenter spent $2,000 to $5,000 to set up her homestead, not counting upkeep or her labor. The payoff comes in stages: seasonal fruit, honey to sell or trade, and — most of all — peace of mind.

Whether that math works for you depends on your goals, said Robert Eyler, an economics professor at Sonoma State University.

“The trick is, for those who are thinking about replacing what they would buy at the grocery store with something to do at home, is what’s the cost for you to do that, versus what you can buy from the store?” he said.

Thinking about homesteading? Keep these tips in mind

Urban homesteading has emotional and practical perks, but it’s not always a money saver. Take backyard chickens: when egg prices soared, many people bought hens. Even a small flock costs at least $200 for a coop, plus heat lamps, brooder plates, feed and water systems. Hens need six to nine months before they lay, and often slow down in winter. Spending hundreds on eggs may not pan out unless you scale up.

If you want to try homesteading:

• Start small. Begin with a couple of fruit trees, a few garden beds or a small flock of chickens.
• Tap local knowledge. Join community groups, attend workshops or talk with neighbors who have already homesteaded.
• Share the load. Eyler suggests trading with neighbors: one grows herbs, another keeps bees, another raises chickens. "It’s almost like creating a little economy in your neighborhood,” he said.
• Look for used or shared tools. Items like tillers or brooder plates are often only needed temporarily, and borrowing or buying used can save hundreds.

For Carpenter, the payoff goes beyond dollars.

“You want to create a sense of self-sufficiency,” she said. In a time of economic anxiety and rising prices, that feeling alone may be worth the investment.

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.

All parents want a safe place for their family to call home. But Makayla Phillips and her partner, Mikey Johnson, say that’s not what they have. They have a “substandard apartment.”

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“I want to be able to cook for my kids. I don’t want to have to worry about where my kids sleep so they don’t get bitten by rats,” Phillips told WATE 6 News in May.

According to the couple, their Bramblewood Townhomes apartment in Knoxville is riddled with problems — no hot water, a dangerous back porch, exposed wiring, a broken fridge, a stove that needs to be replaced, and rats. They shared one video of a rat running inside their children’s bedroom.

They signed a lease in late February for $975 a month and appear to be near breaking point.

The issues keep piling up

The problems started almost immediately after they moved in.

“So the A/C has not worked. We have not had heat or air for the whole time we have been here. They were supposed to be exchanging parts for it, and it’s just been left completely open, wires exposed, and still has not been repaired,” said Johnson.

Phillips said the latest refrigerator put in the home does not work well either and arrived moldy. It doesn’t get cold enough and sometimes leaks, damaging the kitchen floor.

“Everything in [the refrigerator] is bad,” said Phillips. “It will go in and out. We’ve told them multiple times about it … It keeps on going in and out.”

She thinks management simply pulled this replacement refrigerator from among the appliances sitting in the complex’s closed pool area, exposed to the elements. They cleaned off the mold, but some wouldn’t come off.

As for the stove, the couple said maintenance moved it to the middle of the kitchen over a week ago, where it stands unplugged. Maintenance reportedly told them a new one would not be installed until the rat problem was dealt with.

And the rat problem, the couple says, is severe. Johnson pointed out the hole in the wall pest control said was the likely entry point. He also said they were coming in from a gap between the wall and the floor.

“They’re in the whole building really. There’s basically been an infestation,” he said.

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The problems don’t end there. There’s no hot water, which suggests the water heater is not working. There’s also a hole in the kitchen ceiling from an old leak that was never properly repaired — just patched with cardboard.

Outside, the porch is structurally unsound.

Johnson tried to brace it with boards, but it remains unstable. “The trusses underneath have completely snapped in half,” he said.

The couple says they’ve even had to stay elsewhere at times to cook meals and avoid the rats.

When WATE 6 News tried to reach the landlord’s office, no one answered and they found the voicemail box full. Landlord Jim McSpadden later told the news station by phone that Phillips and Johnson knew there were problems when they accepted the apartment “as is” and created even more problems themselves.

He also said they recently stopped paying rent. The couple said they asked that repairs be made, but then gave up and withheld May’s rent — but March and April were paid in full.

McSpadden said he plans to begin legal proceedings to evict the family.

Can you withhold rent in Tennessee?

Tennessee’s Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act requires landlords to maintain rental properties in a fit and habitable condition. That includes providing essential services like hot water, heat, electricity, and gas, as well as housing that is structurally sound, meets building codes, and is safe, clean, and free from infestations.

If a landlord fails to provide essential services, tenants do have legal options — but they must follow specific steps to protect themselves. Simply withholding rent without going through the proper channels can lead to eviction.

Here’s what tenants should do instead:

• Document everything: Take photos and videos of unsafe conditions. Keep a record of all maintenance requests and communications with your landlord.
• Send a written notice: Before taking any action, Tennessee law requires tenants to notify the landlord in writing, clearly outlining the issue and giving a reasonable amount of time to fix it (typically 14 days).
• Know your rights: If essential services like hot water or electricity aren’t restored, tenants may pay for the service or repair and deduct the cost from rent, stay in the unit and seek a rent reduction, move out temporarily and stop paying rent until services are restored or recover the cost of alternate housing and possibly attorney’s fees.
• Report it: Unsafe conditions or code violations can be reported to the appropriate authorities. JusticeDirect has state-specific guides for filing a complaint against your landlord. You can also file a complaint with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) if yours is a large landlord.
• Seek legal help: Organizations like Legal Aid of East Tennessee can help tenants navigate these issues and respond to eviction threats. You can consider suing in small claims court as a last resort.

For families like Johnson’s, the burden of unsafe housing only adds to the daily stress of caring for children. But knowing your rights — and following the law — can make the difference between getting ignored and getting results.

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This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.

A San Diego judge has ordered Lisa Golden to stay at least 100 yards away from her Ocean View Hills home after two suspicious fires and the disappearance of a $200,000 insurance payout reports CBS 8 San Diego.

Neighbors say the home on Mariner Drive has been a source of stress and fear for years due to hoarding, harassment and repeated court violations. Golden, who previously lived at the residence, is now legally barred from the property amid allegations she continues to trespass despite previous stay-away orders.

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Residents told reporters that Golden screamed at children, threatened news crews and let the property fall into dangerous disrepair. After she failed to comply with multiple court-issued cleanup orders, the court appointed a receiver to take control of the property and prepare it for sale.

Years of issues and refusal to clean up

In California, a court cleanup order can be issued when a property becomes a public nuisance due to severe neglect, code violations or hoarding. If a homeowner fails to comply with city cleanup notices, the court can assign a receiver — an independent third party authorized to take control of the property, perform repairs and, in some cases, sell it to recover costs.

But the receiver’s cleanup efforts at the Mariner Drive home didn’t go smoothly. CBS 8 reported that fires broke out on the exact days crews were scheduled to remove debris. Police have not named a suspect in either blaze, but neighbors claim to have seen Golden at the property around the time of the fires, in defiance of court orders.

"She had promised that if anyone were to take that house away from her, she would burn it down,” neighbor Eddie Mead told reporters after the second fire. “Thus, I believe it’s her. She’s dangerous. I just call her a violent criminal.”

During a court hearing, Deputy City Attorney David Miller told the judge that $200,000 in insurance money from the first fire has vanished. The payout was issued to Golden’s ex-boyfriend, Jeffrey Rogers, who is on the mortgage. Authorities have not confirmed what happened to the funds or whether Golden had access to them.

After the second fire, the judge approved slashing the sale price of the home by $92,000, bringing it to about $500,000 — about half of what similar properties in the area sell for. To secure the residence, CBS 8 reports that officials have installed metal panels over all doors and windows and posted 24-hour security on site.

Golden, who appeared virtually at the hearing, argued that she still needed access to retrieve her belongings.

“We are trying to do this the right way, and the receiver is completely thwarting every effort for me to get clothing that I need and my personal supplies,” she told the judge.

The court ruled that Golden must work through her attorney and a third party to arrange the retrieval of her items, but she herself must maintain the 100-yard distance.

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Plagued by problem neighbors? Here’s what you can do

Lisa Golden’s case is extreme, but not unique. Neighbors in Ocean View Hills told reporters that they felt unsafe and unheard for years before officials stepped in. If you’re dealing with a similar situation, here are steps you can take:

• Document everything. Keep a record of incidents, including dates, photos, and witness statements. If you don’t currently have security cameras, consider installing them.

• Report code violations. In California, you can file complaints with your local code enforcement office for issues like hoarding, pest infestations and unsafe structures.

• Contact police for harassment. If a neighbor is threatening or harassing you, file a report. Repeated incidents may qualify for a restraining order.

• Work with your homeowners association (HOA) or city official. Organized pressure from a neighborhood group can push officials to act more quickly.

• Petition the court. As seen in this case, city attorneys and residents may petition the court to appoint a receiver when all else fails.

Golden’s next court hearing is scheduled for June 13, reports CBS 8. Until then, neighbors hope the judge’s latest order brings some peace.

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Stay in the know. Join 200,000+ readers and get the best of Moneywise sent straight to your inbox every week for free. Subscribe now.

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.

An elderly Missoula woman lost nearly $1 million in an elaborate scam involving a fake Amazon support person, the “Social Security Department,” a supposed U.S. Marshal and in-person pickups from her front door, reports the Sacramento Bee.

The woman, who was not named, said the scam started with a phone call from a person claiming to be from Amazon who asked her if she’d purchased computer equipment. The scam ended with a “ruse” that led to the arrest of 29-year-old Zabi Ullah Mohammed, who lives in New Jersey.

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According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Montana, Mohammed has been charged with wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud. He could face up to 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and at least three years of supervised release.

How did the scam unfold?

According to the Attorney’s Office, the fraud began when the woman received a call from someone claiming to be from Amazon’s fraud department. The caller asked if she’d recently purchased computer equipment. When she said no, the caller transferred her to someone claiming to be from Social Security.

That person told her she was the victim of identity theft and that her information had been linked to a money laundering investigation. To keep her funds safe, she was connected to someone identifying himself as U.S. Marshal “Carlos Silva,” who told her to withdraw all her funds so they could be “legalized.” She was assured the funds would be returned.

Between April 2 and April 18, she handed over more than $900,000 in cash and gold bars to individuals who came to her home, believing authorities would safely hold her money. Only later did she realize she’d been scammed.

The woman contacted sheriff’s deputies and agreed to participate in a sting operation. On May 12, she told “Silva” that she had $57,000 ready for pickup. When the supposed agent sent a driver, she handed him a box containing a hidden tracking device instead of cash.

That driver — later identified as Mohammed — took the box, drove to a nearby restaurant and left it in the parking lot. Investigators believe he discovered the tracker. He was soon pulled over by law enforcement and, during questioning, claimed he was simply an Uber driver doing pickups for other people, reports the Sacramento Bee.

In a statement to the media, an Amazon representative said:

“Scammers that attempt to impersonate Amazon put consumers at risk. We will continue to invest in protecting consumers and educating the public on scam avoidance," adding. "We encourage consumers to report suspected scams to us so that we can protect their accounts and refer bad actors to law enforcement to help keep consumers safe.”

Read more: Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan ‘works every single time’ to kill debt, get rich in America — and that ‘anyone’ can do it

How to protect yourself from Amazon scams

Amazon reported a 71% increase in phone-based scams in the UK between February and March 2025, making it crucial to spot these scams and protect your identity, finances and loved ones. Common Amazon scams include:

• Fake order confirmation emails. You may receive a message about a purchase you never made, often accompanied by a link to “cancel” the order, which leads you to a phishing site.

• Requests to change your payment method. Fraudsters may impersonate Amazon support and claim there’s a billing issue that needs to be resolved. This is an effort to gain access to credit, debit or bank account information.

• Fake tech support pop-ups. These may appear while browsing and urge you to call “Amazon support” immediately. These generally lead to requests for money, gold or gift cards.

• Membership scams. Scammers call, saying your Prime membership is about to expire and claim you’ll face a hefty fee if you don’t respond quickly.

• Account suspension. You may receive a text or email saying your Amazon account has been suspended due to suspicious activity. You may be prompted to share login information.

• Delivery driver scams. A phishing scam where the original text or email is about a supposed Amazon delivery. It may trick you into providing your login information.

• Fake job listings. These typically begin with a message (often via text) offering a job with unrealistic pay. Then, they direct you to a third-party site that requests personal information. They may also request prepayment through crypto or gift cards.

Amazon recommends never giving out personal or payment information over the phone. Even if your caller ID displays "Amazon," it could be a fake number. If you receive a text or email, never click the links; always go to Amazon.com or your Amazon app to log in and check your orders.

If you think you’ve been scammed, visit Amazon’s Customer Service page to report it. You should also consider contacting local law enforcement.

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• This is how American car dealers use the ‘4-square method’ to make big profits off you — and how you can ensure you pay a fair price for all your vehicle costs

Stay in the know. Join 200,000+ readers and get the best of Moneywise sent straight to your inbox every week for free. Subscribe now.

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.