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Restaurant Reservation ‘Black Market’ Target Of NY Law Signed By Gov. Hochul Restaurant Reservation ‘Black Market’ Target Of NY Law Signed By Gov. Hochul
Restaurant Reservation ‘Black Market’ Target Of NY Law Signed By Gov. Hochul New Yorkers can now enjoy fairer access to coveted restaurant reservations. A new law signed by Gov. Kathy Hochul on Thursday, Dec. 19, prohibits third-party reservation platforms from arranging reservations without a restaurant's consent. The platforms often charge consumers additional fees, creating a costly “black market” for popular dining spots and making it harder for diners to secure tables without paying a premium. “We’re putting an end to the predatory black market for restaurant reservations — protecting consumers and businesses, and giving everyone a chance to get a seat at the …

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by Michael Mashburn
Business
NY Baby Formula Suppliers Accused Of Price Gouging Agree To $675K Settlement NY Baby Formula Suppliers Accused Of Price Gouging Agree To $675K Settlement
NY Baby Formula Suppliers Accused Of Price Gouging Agree To $675K Settlement Thousands of cans of baby formula are being distributed to families in need across New York after a settlement was reached with two companies accused of illegal price gouging. New York Attorney General Letitia James announced on Monday, Dec. 18, that her office had secured $675,000 worth of baby formula from Marine Park Distribution Inc. and its affiliate, Formula Depot Inc., following an investigation into price gouging during the nationwide formula shortage in 2022. The companies allegedly raised formula prices by more than 60 percent in some cases, with costs doubling for certain product…

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by Michael Mashburn
News
Five New Laws Save New Yorkers Money, Offer Transparency Five New Laws Save New Yorkers Money, Offer Transparency
Five New Laws Save New Yorkers Money, Offer Transparency Five new laws signed by New York Gov. Kathy Hochul will make it easier for residents to do everything from canceling health memberships to learning about restaurant sanitary inspections while saving them money. “At a time when New Yorkers are experiencing the devastating effects of rising prices, it’s important that I do everything I can to put more money back in their pockets,” Hochul said.  Here are the five new laws: Canceling health club memberships: Health clubs must accept the cancellation of membership within 10 days of receiving the request. The previous law gave them 15 days.…

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by Kathy Reakes
Business
NYers To Receive Cut Of $4.8M Settlement With SmileDirectClub Over Improper Billing NYers To Receive Cut Of $4.8M Settlement With SmileDirectClub Over Improper Billing
NYers To Receive Cut Of $4.8M Settlement With SmileDirectClub Over Improper Billing Thousands of New Yorkers will benefit from a $4.8 million settlement with the now-defunct SmileDirectClub over improper billing practices. The former Nashville, Tennessee-based teledentistry company agreed to the move after it continued to charge more than 28,000 consumers despite filing for bankruptcy and stopping services in September 2023. Multiple complaints were filed with the New York State Office of the Attorney General (OAG) after consumers were told to keep making monthly installment payments despite no longer receiving aligner treatment. In December 2023, OAG sent a cease-and-de…

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by Michael Mashburn
Business
Fire Pits Sold At Retailers Nationwide Recalled After Multiple Burn Injuries Reported Fire Pits Sold At Retailers Nationwide Recalled After Multiple Burn Injuries Reported
Fire Pits Sold At Retailers Nationwide Recalled After Multiple Burn Injuries Reported Nearly 90,000 popular fire pits sold at major retailers nationwide are subject to a federal recall due to concerns about flames escaping from their containers and causing critical injuries. Homeowners have been advised to stop using several Colsen-branded fire pits after receiving multiple reports of serious burn injuries suffered by users, according to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). "Alcohol flames can be invisible and lead to flame jetting when refilling the fire pit reservoir," a CPSC notice states.  "Flame jetting is a serious event that can occur while pouring …

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by Zak Failla
Business
Scammers Are Creating Fake Customer Service Numbers In Google Searches: What To Know Scammers Are Creating Fake Customer Service Numbers In Google Searches: What To Know
Scammers Are Creating Fake Customer Service Numbers In Google Searches: What To Know New reports reveal that scammers are trying to trick Google into showing their fake numbers pretending to offer reputable services, and many are getting away with it. Google sometimes highlights impostors during searches for airlines, banks, as well as local businesses, according to a brand-new report in The Washington Post. A victim who called what Google listed as Coinbase customer support was scammed out of $100,000 in 20 minutes by an impostor, Fortune reports. Google told The Washington Post that it uses several methods to determine whether business listings are legitimate, inclu…

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by Joe Lombardi
Business
Boar's Head Facing NY Lawsuit Over Deli Meat Recall Boar's Head Facing NY Lawsuit Over Deli Meat Recall
Boar's Head Facing NY Lawsuit Over Deli Meat Recall Boar’s Head's massive product recall is going from the delicatessen to the courtroom. After an initial recall last month of around 200,000 pounds of deli meat due to possible Listeria contamination, the company expanded it on Tuesday, July 30, to approximately seven million additional pounds of ready-to-eat meat and poultry products.  Click here for a new, updated story: Third Death From Listeria Outbreak Linked To Boar's Head Deli Meat A lawsuit filed on Thursday, Aug. 1 in the US District Court for the Eastern District of New York accuses Boar’s Head Provisions Co. Inc. …

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by Joe Lombardi
News
Cameo Agrees To Pay NY $25K For 'Misleading' Promotional Videos Cameo Agrees To Pay NY $25K For 'Misleading' Promotional Videos
Cameo Agrees To Pay NY $25K For 'Misleading' Promotional Videos Cameo will pay dozens of states, including New York, for failing to ensure customers knew that promotional videos on its site were actually paid endorsements. Baron App Inc., owner of the popular celebrity-shoutout-ordering website, agreed to pay $100,000 in penalties to 30 states as part of a settlement agreement reached Wednesday, July 24. New York will receive $25,000 of that, state Attorney General Letitia James said. Cameo found itself in hot water after launching its “Business Cameo” service in 2020, allowing companies to hire celebrities to record videos endorsing their services. A…

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by Michael Mashburn
Politics
Internet Providers Would Be Forced To Issue Outage Credits Under NY Bill: 'Matter Of Fairness' Internet Providers Would Be Forced To Issue Outage Credits Under NY Bill: 'Matter Of Fairness'
Internet Providers Would Be Forced To Issue Outage Credits Under NY Bill: 'Matter Of Fairness' New York lawmakers are considering legislation that would force internet providers to compensate customers for service outages. Under the “Internet Service Outage Consumer Protection Act,” providers would be required to issue prorated bill credits to customers for any service outages lasting more than an hour. The bill was introduced by Democratic Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara, who represents the 111th Assembly District covering parts of Schenectady County. “In today’s digital age, reliable internet service is not just a convenience, but a necessity,” he said. “When service is disrupted,…

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by Michael Mashburn
Business
NY Woman Sues Cold Stone Over Lack Of Pistachios In Ice Cream NY Woman Sues Cold Stone Over Lack Of Pistachios In Ice Cream
NY Woman Sues Cold Stone Over Lack Of Pistachios In Ice Cream A New York woman has filed a class action lawsuit against Cold Stone Creamery, claiming that the company falsely advertised a number of its flavors. The lawsuit, filed by Nassau County resident Jenna Marie Duncan, may soon move to court, according to documents. Duncan, who is from Farmingdale, claimed that in July 2022, she visited a Levittown Cold Stone for a frozen treat. She ordered the pistachio ice cream under the guise that it contained pistachios. However, Duncan later looked at ingredient lists on the Cold Stone website, which revealed that the pistachio ice cream did not list…

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by Sophie Grieser
Police & Fire
Scammers Posing As NYSP Troopers, Agency Warns Scammers Posing As NYSP Troopers, Agency Warns
Scammers Posing As Nysp Troopers, Agency Warns New York State Police are sounding the alarm over scammers posing as troopers in order to con victims out of their money. In an alert issued Tuesday, April 9, the agency said fraudsters employ a variety of tactics to con their victims, including demanding payment for a missed court date, jury duty, or other legal matter. The phony cops have also been known to claim there is a warrant for the victim’s arrest and threaten to apprehend them unless a fine is paid. In some cases, scammers have directed the victim to buy a prepaid money transfer card and give them the card number. “They might s…

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by Michael Mashburn
Police & Fire
Don't Fall For It: Scammers Pretending To Be O&R Workers, Police Say Don't Fall For It: Scammers Pretending To Be O&R Workers, Police Say
Don't Fall For It: Scammers Pretending To Be O&R Workers, Police Say Residents are being warned of predatory phone calls being made by scammers who are attempting to steal from Orange and Rockland Utilities, Inc. customers. The scammers, working across Rockland County, have been making calls pretending to be O&R employees, who tell the residents their account is suspended for non-payment, said the Suffern Police.  Scammers may also create urgency by telling potential victims that an O&R crew is on their way to disconnect service within a short time frame (15 minutes, etc). Scammers will then typically demand payment of a bill balance by prepaid…

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by Kathy Reakes
Police & Fire
Don't Fall For It: Driveway Paving Scams On Rise Don't Fall For It: Driveway Paving Scams On Rise
Don't Fall For It: Driveway Paving Scams On Rise Police are warning of an uptick in scammers hoping to take advantage of the warmer spring weather. Each year, agencies across the country see an increase in complaints about fraudsters who bait homeowners with driveway paving services, according to the North Greenbush Police Department in New York. “As the trees sprout leaf buds and the daffodils peek out of their underground hiding, so must the scam artists offering to pave or sealcoat your driveway for the low low price of only five times what it would cost for a legitimate business to do it,” the agency said on Facebook. “And they must b…

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by Michael Mashburn
News
Avoid Scams: These Are Top 10 Consumer Frauds Of 2023, NY AG Says Avoid Scams: These Are Top 10 Consumer Frauds Of 2023, NY AG Says
Avoid Scams: These Are Top 10 Consumer Frauds Of 2023, NY AG Says To honor National Consumer Protection Week, New York Attorney General Letitia James has revealed the most common fraud complaints faced by residents during 2023.  In an announcement on Monday, March 4, James said that these common complaints ranged from price gouging of much-needed goods and services to housing issues, online banking fraud, and even travel-related issues.  The top ten most common consumer complaints of 2023 in New York were:  Retail Sales: (Online purchases, price gouging, retail sales, defective merchandise, poor customer service, pet stores, animal breede…

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by Ben Crnic
News
World’s Largest Beef Producer 'Greenwashed' Environmental Harms To Boost Sales, NY AG Says World’s Largest Beef Producer 'Greenwashed' Environmental Harms To Boost Sales, NY AG Says
World’s Largest Beef Producer 'Greenwashed' Environmental Harms To Boost Sales, NY AG Says New York State is suing the world’s largest beef producer, claiming it lied about its environmental impacts in order to boost sales. A lawsuit filed by Attorney General Letitia James in New York State Supreme Court on Wednesday, Feb. 28, accuses JBS USA Food Company of deceptive business practices and false advertising. According to James’ office, the company has repeatedly misled the public by claiming it will achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040, despite documented plans to increase production and grow its carbon footprint. In 2021, the JBS Group reported total global greenh…

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by Michael Mashburn
News
New Yorkers At Risk Of Scam Calls, Attorney General Warns New Yorkers At Risk Of Scam Calls, Attorney General Warns
New Yorkers At Risk Of Scam Calls, Attorney General Warns As New Yorkers across the state report being contacted by scammers impersonating their banks, officials are cautioning consumers to keep their eyes peeled. In a statement on Friday, Oct. 27, NY Attorney General Letitia James provided tips to avoid getting scammed by callers pretending to be bank or government officials. “Scammers claiming to be a trusted bank, or any institution relied on for financial services, can seriously harm New Yorkers by taking their money and their personal information,” she said. James said the Office of the Attorney General has been receiving calls from New Y…

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by Sophie Grieser
News
NY Law Requiring Businesses To Warn Customers Of Gift Card Scams Takes Effect NY Law Requiring Businesses To Warn Customers Of Gift Card Scams Takes Effect
NY Law Requiring Businesses To Warn Customers Of Gift Card Scams Takes Effect Leaders in New York have given consumers another tool in their belt to help fend off would-be fraudsters. New legislation that went into effect on Tuesday, June 20, requires businesses that sell gift cards in New York to post a notice warning customers about gift card scams. Notices must be posted near where any gift card or gift certificate is displayed or sold. The law was introduced by Long Island State Sen. Kevin Thomas, a Democrat whose 6th Senate District covers central Nassau County. Thomas chairs the senate’s Consumer Protection Committee. “I am happy to see the Department of St…

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by Michael Mashburn
Business
Public Health Alert Issued For Ready-To-Cook Chicken Products Public Health Alert Issued For Ready-To-Cook Chicken Products
Public Health Alert Issued For Ready-To-Cook Chicken Products A public health alert has been issued for ready-to-cook chicken entrée products that may be missing labeling that includes the list of ingredients and cooking instructions, the US Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced.  "This product contains soy and milk, known allergens, which may not be declared on the finished product label," FSIS said in a statement, saying the alert is being issued to "ensure that consumers with an allergy to soy and dairy are aware that these products should not be consumed and to ensure that consumers properly …

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by Joe Lombardi
News
$34.2M Recovered For Thousands Of Service Members Defrauded By NY Jeweler $34.2M Recovered For Thousands Of Service Members Defrauded By NY Jeweler
$34.2M Recovered For Thousands Of Service Members Defrauded By NY Jeweler A New York-based jewelry chain will pay $34.2 million as part of a settlement with 18 states for “deceiving and defrauding” more than 46,000 service members and veterans, according to the New York Attorney General’s Office. Long Island-based Harris Jewelry, headquartered in Hauppauge, had been accused of using deceptive marketing tactics to lure active-duty service members to their financing program and of falsely claiming that investing in the program would improve customers’ credit scores. The company also made customers believe that protection plans were required to purchase jewelry and…

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by Michael Mashburn
News
Beware Of These Summer Rental Scams, NY AG Says Beware Of These Summer Rental Scams, NY AG Says
Beware Of These Summer Rental Scams, NY AG Says With the summer vacation season just around the corner, New York Attorney General Letitia James is warning of possible rental scams. “As millions of New Yorkers plan their getaway trips and look to rent homes, they should be mindful of scammers that misrepresent rentals or list fake homes online that do not actually exist, tricking consumers into paying and leaving them with nowhere to stay,” James’ office said in a statement. She offered several tips for would-be vacationers to avoid falling victim to fraud, including: Verify the host. Make sure the renter or host has a valid address and…

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by Michael Mashburn
News
Gas Sales Tax Cap To Take Effect In This Hudson Valley County Gas Sales Tax Cap To Take Effect In This Hudson Valley County
Gas Sales Tax Cap To Take Effect In This Hudson Valley County Motorists in one Hudson Valley county will see some financial relief at the gas pump as prices continue to rise to record levels nationwide. In Rockland County, beginning on Wednesday, June 1, the local sales cap tax on gas will be capped at $2 per gallon, amid the record spike in prices at the pump. According to officials, the change means sales tax will only be applied to the first $2 of a gasoline purchase, as opposed to the full gas price. The cap will be in effect through Feb. 28, 2023. Officials said that inspectors from the Rockland County Office of Consumer Protection "have been…

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by Zak Failla
News
NY Officials Direct Major Utilities To Increase Customer Outreach As Bills Increase NY Officials Direct Major Utilities To Increase Customer Outreach As Bills Increase
NY Officials Direct Major Utilities To Increase Customer Outreach As Bills Increase State officials sent letters to New York's major electric and gas utilities, directing them to improve their outreach to customers as utility bills have increased due to surging energy prices. Gov. Kathy Hochul said her administration has also launched a statewide campaign to increase relief efforts for customers with lower incomes. "The extreme utility bill increases all of us are seeing are having a serious impact on our household budgets, and in response we are taking action," Hochul said. "I have directed the Department of Public Service to ensure all the major electric and gas utilitie…

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by Nicole Valinote
News
Bad Actors Using Apple AirTags To Track People's Locations, Personal Belongings, NY AG Warns Bad Actors Using Apple AirTags To Track People's Locations, Personal Belongings, NY AG Warns
Bad Actors Using Apple AirTags To Track People's Locations, Personal Belongings, NY AG Warns The New York Attorney General is cautioning about bad apples who have been using Apple to track their locations and belongings. Attorney General Letitia James issued a consumer alert with safety recommendations to protect New Yorkers from bad actors who have been using Apple AirTags to track individuals’ locations and belongings with malicious intent. According to the AG, those targeted have reported finding unknown AirTags attached to their cars, and in their purses, coat pockets, and other personal property. Others have reportedly received alerts on their phones that their location inform…

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by Zak Failla
News
NY AG Alerts Residents To Deceptive Sports Betting Companies Ahead Of Super Bowl NY AG Alerts Residents To Deceptive Sports Betting Companies Ahead Of Super Bowl
NY AG Alerts Residents To Deceptive Sports Betting Companies Ahead Of Super Bowl Attorney General Letitia James advised New Yorkers to be aware of deceptive online sports betting organizations ahead of the Super Bowl. James said since online sports betting became legal in the state last month, many residents have encountered misleading ads online that make claims such as "risk-free bets" or "$1,000 welcome offers." She said these deceptive ads often come with requirements consumers aren't aware of. “I urge all New Yorkers watching the Super Bowl and betting online for the first time to be careful — don’t let scammers game your gamble,” James said. “Before placing a bet…

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by Nicole Valinote
News
1.1M Accounts Compromised In Cyberattacks Of 17 Companies, NY AG Investigation Finds 1.1M Accounts Compromised In Cyberattacks Of 17 Companies, NY AG Investigation Finds
1.1M Accounts Compromised In Cyberattacks Of 17 Companies, NY AG Investigation Finds An investigation by the New York Attorney General's Office found that more than 1.1 million accounts were compromised in cyberattacks of 17 companies. Attorney General Letitia James said in an announcement on Wednesday, Jan. 5, that the "Credential Stuffing Attacks" involve repeated, automated attempts to access accounts by using information stolen from other websites. James said often people reuse the same passwords on different sites, which allows cybercriminals to use stolen passwords on other websites.  “Right now, there are more than 15 billion stolen credentials being circu…

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by Nicole Valinote
News
Wegmans Recalls Two Separate Products Wegmans Recalls Two Separate Products
Wegmans Recalls Two Separate Products Wegmans is recalling a pair of popular items that may contain foreign materials. The grocery giant announced that seven-pound bags of “Wegmans Bagged Ice” has been recalled due to the possibility of metal shavings in the package. It is also recalling “Wegmans Everything Bagel Seasoned Hummus” that may contain small, hard, black items inside the product. Bagged ice products that are subject to recall can be identified by lot codes printed on the bags, reading “ROC 100” or “ROC 104” with the UPC “0-77890-42446-9.” The hummus has a lot code of “211088,” with a UPC of “7789050576,” and “Best…

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by Zak Failla
News
Here Are Four Ways To Avoid Stimulus Check Scams Here Are Four Ways To Avoid Stimulus Check Scams
Here Are Four Ways To Avoid Stimulus Check Scams Consumer protection and law enforcement agencies are warning people to be wary of scams associated with stimulus checks. To avoid scammers, the Department of Consumer Protection is circulating tips on how to identify, stop, and/or report fraudsters going after stimulus checks. The second round of stimulus checks to help Americans deal with an economy hampered by COVID-19 began arriving in people’s mailboxes and direct-deposit accounts in late December. Single people will get $600, a married couple will get $1,200, and there will be an additional $600 per child to families. Everyone who qual…

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by Kristin Palpini
Business
Stop & Shop Warns Customers Of Potential Data Security Issue At Five Stores Stop & Shop Warns Customers Of Potential Data Security Issue At Five Stores
Stop & Shop Warns Customers Of Potential Data Security Issue At Five Stores Stop & Shop says it has discovered a potential data security issue at five store locations in the Northeast. Illegal skimming devices known as “shimmers” were identified as part of routine security scans at the locations.  The five stores and dates the issue was identified are als follows: 25 Old King’s Highway North in Darien, Connecticut, April 26 to April 30 404 Springfield Ave., Berkeley Heights, New Jersey: Feb. 8 to Feb. 10 8 Franklin Street, Bloomfield, New Jersey: March 28 to April 9 1189 Broad Street, Clifton, New Jersey: March 14 to April 16 19 Temple Street, Framingham…

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by Joe Lombardi
Politics
COVID-19: Stop Selling Bogus 'Coronavirus-Killing' Devices, State AG Tells Scammers COVID-19: Stop Selling Bogus 'Coronavirus-Killing' Devices, State AG Tells Scammers
Covid-19: Stop Selling Bogus 'Coronavirus-Killing' Devices, State AG Tells Scammers The New York Attorney General is striking back against scammers who have been marketing and selling phony “novel coronavirus-killing” devices. Three companies have allegedly been misrepresenting to consumers that COVID-19 is a primarily airborne disease and that its air purifiers can effectively prevent people from contracting the virus by removing the virus particles from the air.  On Thursday, March 26, James announced that she ordered AllerAir Industries, Airpura Industries, and Sylvane, Inc., to cease and desist marketing their products as tools that can prevent the spread of the v…

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19 Scams: Texts, Emails Promise Updates On Latest Cases COVID-19 Scams: Texts, Emails Promise Updates On Latest Cases
Covid-19 Scams: Texts, Emails Promise Updates On Latest Cases The global outbreak of the novel strain of coronavirus (COVID-19) has led to a rash of new scams from fear-mongering fraudsters, officials warned. Scams ranging from texts and emails from scammers posing as health officials and other professionals to others brewing up phony vaccines and cleaning cocktails have become more prevalent in the weeks since the COVID-19 outbreak, the United States Attorney General’s Office announced. According to the FTC, to help weed out scammers, the organization has issued a joint statement with the FDA to seven sellers of unapproved and misbranded products, cl…

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by Zak Failla
News
Recall Issued For Nearly 700,000 Toyota Vehicles Recall Issued For Nearly 700,000 Toyota Vehicles
Recall Issued For Nearly 700,000 Toyota Vehicles Hundreds of thousands of Toyota vehicles are being recalled due to fuel pumps that could potentially fail and cause engines to stall, increasing the risk of a crash. Toyota announced that it is recalling nearly 700,000 vehicles due to the faulty fuel pumps, impacting dozens of models. The recall covers certain 2018 and 2019 Lexus LS 500, LC 500, RC 350, RC 300, GS 350, IS 300, ES 350, LX 570, GX 460 and RX 350 models. It also includes some 2018 and 2019 models of Toyota 4Runner, Camry, Highlander, Land Cruiser, Sequoia, Sienna, Tacoma, Tundra Avalon, and Corolla models. According to T…

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by Zak Failla