The 22News I-Team is working for you with a warning every parent needs to hear. Identity thieves are now stealing the identities of infants, toddlers, and young children.

Consumer advocates say as many as 10 percent of children have had their identities stolen. They say that babies are excellent targets for thieves because there is an 18 year window of opportunity that they can use that information undetected.

Thieves can use the child’s social security number to take out a loan, get a driver’s license or to apply for a job. Parents don’t think to run credit checks on their children, so it can be years before they notice something is wrong.

Experts say that you should put your child’s social security card in a safe place, where it can’t get lost or stolen, and be very careful who you choose to give the number to.

Don’t miss our 22News I-Team investigation on this troubling scam tonight on 22News at 6pm.

This week the 22News I-Team hit the road with police to target some of the highway hazards in our area. On Tuesday, we focused in on the dangerous stretch of I-91 where drivers illegally exiting I-291 risk their lives (and the lives of others) to cross two lanes of highway and get on exit 7 heading to downtown Springfield.

We first did this story a few years ago, which prompted officials to paint “stay in lane” on the highway. This doesn’t appear to be helping. Last week our cameras caught 160 people violating the law during the 2 hours stretch we were filming. We brought our concerns to police, and they said they’ll be stepping up patrols in the area to better enforce the law.

But that’s clearly a band-aid solution to a potentially deadly problem. Why can’t the Department of Transportation put a barrier up to prevent this risky move? For weeks, we’ve been working to get an interview with our local DOT office, and we’ve yet to get approval. One day we went directly to the office, and we were turned away because we didn’t have the official “OK” from the higher ups at the state. But you can be sure we’ll keep trying. We don’t take no for an answer.

Today, we’re investigating distracted driving. First, we went out in an unmarked news truck, and spotted several people texting, eating, drinking, and putting on make-up while driving. Then, we rode along with state and local police to find out how they’re enforcing the Distracted Driving Law. On those trips we spotted far fewer obvious acts of distracted driving. One police source told us that this law is sometimes difficult for them enforce because once drivers spot a marked cruiser, they quickly lower their phones and stop texting.

Watch this full report tonight on 22News at 6pm, and e-mail iteam@wwlp.com if you see a highway hazard that you want us to investigate.

Today I did the office version of spring cleaning, sorting through hundreds of e-mails that I’d previously read, but never got around to deleting. One thing that stood out to me was number of e-mails I’ve received from viewers who claim they’ve had a bad experience buying a used car or truck.

The complaints were regarding all different auto dealerships throughout the Pioneer Valley, but the problems sounded pretty much the same.

In most cases the buyer drove the vehicle off of the lot, thinking they got a good deal. But just days after the purchase, problems begin to arise with the car or truck in question.

The customer repeatedly brings the vehicle back to the dealership, which does not fix the problem. After months of stress and frustration, the buyer tries to return the car to the seller, but is told it’s too late.

The take away lesson here is that it’s important to do a lot of research before you buy a used car or truck. Research both the dealer and the car, and make sure you run a vehicle history report before you buy it. Remember that for the first week you are covered by the Lemon Aid Law, a state law designed to protect buyers from unscrupulous auto dealers.

The law lets you demand your money back if the car fails inspection within 7 days of purchase, and the repairs needed to make it pass are estimated to cost more than 10% of the purchase price.

But keep in mind that a car bought outside of Massachusetts may not be covered under the Lemon Law.

Click here for important information on buying or repairing a new or used car. You’ll also find valuable advice you can use to handle any problems you may face along the way.

If there’s anything you want the 22News I-Team to investigate, send an e-mail to iteam@wwlp.com.

Being in a hurry to get your tax refund could ultimately cost you a lot of money.  The State Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation is warning the public about so-called Refund Anticipation Loans and Refund Anticipation Checks. State officials say the cost of these loans could take a big bite out of your refund.

Refund Anticipation Loans (RALs) and Refund Anticipation Checks (RACs) give you your cash as soon as you file your return, but sometimes there’s a big price to pay. The cost of these loans are often so high that federal regulators have decided to block them by next year.

RALs are bank loans that a taxpayer receives with the understanding that the IRS will repay the loan once their refund goes through. According to the state, the interest rates can be higher than 100%.
 
At a Liberty Tax Service outlet last week in Boston, the cost of Refund Anticipation Loans was $61.42 in addition to the cost to file the tax return, which ranges from $150 to $200. The taxpayer is charged a short-term rate of 124 percent for the loan. To qualify the taxpayer must be receiving a refund check of at least $2,000. For a $2,000 refund, the payout would be $1,600.

While the Federal Government is phasing out RALs, tax preparers are turning to a new but still costly Refund Anticipation Check. This is a temporary bank account into which the IRS directly deposits a refund check. You can withdraw that cash either using a check or prepaid card.

The state says the problem is that consumers typically pay about $30 to set up the one-time-use account. They may also be forced to pay check cashing fees and other fees.

So what should you do if you want your refund A.S.A.P.? Read the fine print, make sure you know what you’re agreeing to, and take into account how much it will cost you.

Here’s some advice from the State Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation:

* Beware the extra fees: It costs money to receive a refund in the form of an immediate check from a tax service. A prepaid debit card also will come with a hefty charge each time consumers use the card. And the owner of the ATM may charge a fee as well.
* Use a direct deposit:  Even though it may take up to four days longer, consumers avoid any fees and the money will be placed into your personal bank account.
* Pay up front and wait for your refund: Taxpayers will receive all of their refund with this sensible approach.
* General informational inquiry on fees: Before you make a final decision as to how you want to pay for your tax prep services, make sure you understand ALL the options AND the associated fees.

Lawmakers are discussing a bill that could save you some cash on car repair. On Thursday the Senate will discuss first-in-the nation legislation that would force auto manufacturers to reveal detailed repair data to body shops and aftermarket parts dealers.

An organization called the Right to Repair Coalition has been pushing for the bill. They say the bill is needed because manufacturers often refuse to share important diagnostic information about their vehicles. They say this forces people to go to their auto dealers for service, which often charge more money than independent repair shops.

People who oppose the bill claim it’s a move by aftermarket parts dealers to get privileged repair information so they can manufacture cheap knock-offs.

A lot of people on Beacon Hill are paying close attention to this bill, which is opposed by major auto companies like Ford, General Motors and Honda. There’s a lot at stake here, and the power players are taking notice. This bill is one of the most aggressively lobbied proposals on Beacon Hill, with more than two dozen organizations and companies spending cash to either promote or criticize the bill.

We’ll be closely watching this bill closely because it could have an big impact on the auto repair industry, and could ultimately affect how much money you pay to repair your vehicle.

If there’s anything you want the 22News I-Team to investigate, send an e-mail to iteam@wwlp.com.

Several times a week the 22News I-Team gets phone calls and e-mails from parents who say their child is being bullied at school. Many of these concerned parents say they’ve been trying to work with school leadership to handle the problem, and aren’t getting anywhere.

Their voices are full of desperation and fear. Most parents want to protect their children, and it scares them to think that for several hours a day, their kids are put in a position where they are tormented mentally, and sometimes even physically.

Bullying is no longer confined to our classrooms and streets, online taunting can affect a child or young adult anywhere, anytime, even in the comfort of their homes. There is no longer a safe space, a place they can go to get away.

The state Bullying Law that passed in 2011 mandates that schools work to fight bullying, and outlines the steps that schools should be taking to prevent and address it.  This law was established after 15 year old Phoebe Prince took her own life, after she was allegedly bullied by students at South Hadley High School.

The question here is simple. Is this law working? Many parents I’ve spoken with say more needs to be done, and that a school enforcement plan that looks good on paper is worthless if children are still living in fear.

Phoebe’s story is one with a tragic ending, but it’s also a lesson about the mental and emotional toll that bullying can take on a teenager.

Tonight on 22News at 6pm, I-Team Reporter Laura Hutchinson will give you a sneak peak at “What Happened to Phoebe”, the hour-long Dateline special that is airing at 7pm on Sunday night here on 22News. 

If there’s anything you want the 22News I-Team to investigate, send an e-mail to iteam@wwlp.com.

Your personal information may not be as private as you think it is. Right now, when you use the internet, your  smartphone, or other forms of technology, companies are collecting information about you, and they’re using it to turn a profit.

This week the Federal Trade Commission released a privacy report that revealed startling details about the information that companies are collecting about private citizens. The FTC said Congress needs to get more control over so-called “data brokers”. These companies profit from the collection and sale of files that contain this sensitive information. This information can affect your life, including your ability to get a job or find a place to live.

As you could probably guess, this information is not always accurate. A 2011 investigation by The Associated Press found that data brokers often store incorrect or outdated information, including criminal records.

In some cases, people have been denied jobs because data brokers incorrectly report them as convicted felons. Widespread complaints about inaccurate records triggered a class-action lawsuit cost one database company, HireRight Solutions Inc., $28.4 million last year.

The FTC is pushing for a law that would let consumers see their files and dispute personal data held by information brokers. It would be similar to current federal laws that guarantee consumers free access to their credit reports once a year.

The FTC is also looking for Web browsers and other key Internet services to offer simpler ways for consumers to prevent their online activities from being tracked and stored. That echoes a recommendation that the FTC first made in late 2010.

This anti-tracking effort is facing resistance because of its impact on Internet advertising, which has become a popular marketing tool for companies.

FTC Chairman Jon Leibowitz says that if the Internet industry doesn’t volunteer to offer anti-tracking tools, the FTC will urge Congress to pass a law to address that privacy issue, too.

Don’t miss our 22News report on this issue, tonight on 22News starting at 5pm.

A warning for Facebook users. You have the right to post, but anything you post can be used against you in a court of law. Attorney Mitch Jackson says what you put on your Facebook wall can be used in court to damage your credibility.

According to lawyer.com, Jackson worked on a case where a client was awarded more than $430,000.00 in damages because of comments posted on the defendant’s Facebook page.

During the trial, which involved a dispute between neighbors, Attorney Jackson pulled up a photocopy of the defendant’s facebook page, showing that he had posted negative comments about his neighbor. The jury ended up ruling in favor of Jackson’s plaintiff, and it cost the defendant a lot of cash. After the trial, the jury told Jackson that the Facebook wall postings were a key factor in damaging the defendant’s credibility.

You need to be very careful about what you post. Attorneys can mine your Facebook and Twitter accounts for evidence. You should also be aware that deleting your social media accounts during trial can result in penalties.

Facebook has more than 800 million active user on the site’s network, who are uploading millions of photos and posting millions of comments very day. Jackson said it’s no surprise that attorneys are using this information to benefit their clients.

“Anytime you are trying a case, it is the trial attorney’s obligation and duty to accumulate as much information as he or she can to support the client’s case or defend against it. Many trial lawyers today are learning as much as they can about the parties and the witnesses through social media sites. And what people need to understand is that this information doesn’t simply evaporate into thin air after it leaves your screen. It can be mined, analyzed and reviewed in civil and criminal cases,” Jackson said.

He said if you’re involved in a lawsuit, ask your lawyer for advice on how to use social media while your case is pending. If there’s anything you want the 22News I-Team to investigate, send an e-mail to iteam@wwlp.com.

Still more questions than answers for the hundreds of people who worked for AdLife, the home health company that went out of business last year because of allegations of Medicaid Fraud. Last summer the company stopped paying its workers after Masshealth shut off its funding during a fraud investigation.

State law enforcement officials apparently found what they were looking for. In October people linked with Adlife were charged in connection with fraud schemes that allegedly cost the state millions of dollars. But unfortunately, Adlife’s closure affected 600 workers across the state, and more than 2,000 clients, who stopped receiving care.

Former Adlife employee Shawn Flanders e-mailed the 22News I-Team, telling us that he’s still waiting for his cash. Shawn worked for the company for six months, and worked for weeks without pay before he finally quit. Sean and the other workers 22News spoke with said they kept working for a while without pay, hoping the state would release the money and they’d be paid retroactively. They also continued working because they knew their physically and mentally disabled patients would not have anyone else to care for them.

Flanders told 22News he’s also waiting for his W2 tax form, and there’s no guarantee he’ll get one. He said a company representative told him that none of the former employees will be getting any tax documents this year.

This didn’t sound right to me, so I decided to do something about it. I called Adlife’s lawyer to find out when the employees will be paid, and why they are still waiting for the forms they need to file their taxes.

The 22News I-Team will keep working on this until we get some answers. Don’t miss our I-Team report on Adlife tonight at 6pm on 22News. If there’s anything you want the I-Team to investigate, send an e-mail to iteam@wwlp.com.

Right now you can lose your driver’s license if you don’t pay your taxes, but you could soon also lose your ability to leave the country.  Accounting Today reports the U.S. Senate has unanimously approved a measure that could revoke the passports of anyone who owes more than $50,000.00 in taxes.

This passport-revoking measure is part of a highway transportation bill.  The Senate is expected to vote on the transportation bill this week, and the House is expected to take up the bill sometime during the next few weeks.

Do you think this is a fair penalty for non-payment of taxes? Let us know what you think. Send an e-mail to i-team@wwlp.com.