Category: Scams & Safety
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That Official-Looking ‘Deed Copy’ Letter Isn’t the County
Mailers selling North Texas homeowners a copy of their own deed for close to $100 mimic government letters. The Dallas County Clerk sells the same record for a few dollars.
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How to Get a Copy of a Dallas Police or Crash Report
Crash reports come from TxDOT’s CRIS system for $6; Dallas police incident reports go through the city’s open records portal. Who can get what, and how.
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Hiring a Roofer After a Storm: How to Vet the Crew
Texas doesn’t license roofers, and storm chasers know it. The checks that protect DFW homeowners: insurance proof, deductible rules, payment terms.
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West Nile Season: How Dallas County Decides Where to Spray
Dallas County traps and tests mosquitoes all summer, and a positive West Nile pool triggers targeted night spraying. How the system works and how to check your ZIP.
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Texas Price-Gouging Rules: When They Apply, How to Report
Texas price-gouging law only switches on with a disaster declaration. What counts as gouging, what doesn’t, and how to file with the Texas AG.
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Callers Threatening to Cut Your Power? Hang Up First
The pay-now-or-we-disconnect phone scam targets DFW in summer. What Oncor and Texas electric providers actually do, PUCT heat rules, and how to report it.
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Fireworks Stands Are Open. Where You Can Legally Light Them
Texas fireworks stands open June 24, but lighting them inside Dallas, Fort Worth or Arlington can cost you up to $2,000. Where buying and shooting are actually legal.
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Check Your Car for Open Recalls in About Two Minutes
NHTSA’s free VIN lookup shows whether your car has an open safety recall, and dealers must fix it at no charge. Here is how DFW drivers can check today.
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That Text About Unpaid Tolls Is Almost Always a Scam
Fake “unpaid toll” texts are blanketing North Texas phones. How NTTA really bills drivers, the only safe ways to check a balance, and where to report.
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Food Recalls Happen Weekly. Here’s Where to Check Yours
USDA and FDA recall databases cover meat, produce and packaged foods. How to match lot codes in your own pantry and sign up for free recall alerts.
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Freezing Your Credit Is Free and Takes Ten Minutes
Credit freezes are free by federal law at Equifax, Experian and TransUnion and stop new-account fraud cold. How to set one up and thaw it when needed.
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Check Washing Is Back. Protect What You Drop in the Mail
Thieves steal mailed checks and rewrite them with common chemicals. How check washing works, the habits that stop it, and what to do if a washed check clears.