Local business owner arrested following Action 9 investigation
Action 9 was at the Orange County Jail when the owner of Knight Fence, Charles Ronald Brown who goes by Ron, turned himself in on an active warrant for arrest.
Latest Headlines by Jeff Deal
Homeowners say Central Florida roofing company took thousands for new roofs, then disappeared
Several Central Florida homeowners say they paid Florida Premier Roofing tens of thousands of dollars upfront for roof replacements that never happened. After months of unanswered calls and unfinished projects, customers were left with damaged roofs and financial losses. The Better Business Bureau revoked the company's accreditation, the business has filed for bankruptcy, and Palm Bay police have launched an active investigation into the complaints.
Customers out thousands of dollars after Central Florida business takes money and closes
A Titusville homeowner says she lost $5,000 after American Made Windows of Central Florida closed its doors before completing a promised sliding glass door installation.
Would-be homebuyers fight for refunds
Would-be homebuyers looking to get a great deal claim an online auction site is collecting large deposits then holding the money for months even after the company promised a refund. “A lot of people are very frustrated,” said Brij Gakhar of Winter Springs. The website Federa.com claims to handle online auctions, many of them on foreclosure properties. To bid you have put deposits down. Often the required deposits are $10,000 or more.
Foreclosure scams: How to protect your home and wallet
Beware of nationwide home foreclosure scam targeting homeowners. Learn how to protect yourself from falling victim to these fraudulent schemes.
‘It was a nightmare’: Woman claims movers threatened to hold belongings hostage
Action 9 started investigating after a local woman reached out claiming a moving company jacked up the price, then threatened to hold her stuff hostage. Karen Jenness told Action 9 Consumer Investigator Jeff Deal, “They said, ‘Fine, we’ll take the truck to our warehouse until you can pay us.’” The company uses the name Best Relocators, but Jenness said her experience with the company was anything but the best. She claims the movers inflated her price by thousands of dollars after about half of her belongings were already on the moving truck.
Canvas school data breach: How to protect yourself
Millions of students, teachers, and other school employees across the country are impacted by a major data breach involving Canvas. Canvas is a popular educational platform used by colleges, universities, and school systems around the country, including central Florida. It’s something that can make people nervous, but there are ways to protect yourself.
Are airport vendors charging too much for food and drinks? Action 9 put them to the test.
Shopping at the airport seems like it always costs more, but are some prices at Orlando International Airport really flying higher than allowed? “The options are great, but it’s very overpriced,” said Erica King, a traveler passing through the airport. That’s the kind of response you might expect, but many people may not know prices for food, drinks and other items are regulated at MCO and other airports. It’s often called a street pricing policy. For example, if you buy a Big Mac at McDonald’s in central Florida, the price you pay at the airport is supposed to be comparable to the price you pay outside the airport, specifically not more than 15% higher.
Ghost Tapping Scams: How thieves can charge your payment cards without you knowing
Your credit card never leaves your pocket, but somehow your money does. It’s called Ghost Tapping, a proximity-based scam that uses the same tap-to-pay technology you see at legitimate businesses every day to steal from you. Using cheap, easy-to-buy card readers, thieves can trigger wireless transactions just by getting close enough to your wallet or phone. No swipe. No PIN. No warning. Tap-to-pay technology is easy and fast, but scammers are taking advantage of that in these ghost tapping scams.
Tips, hacks, and other easy ways to save money on gas
“I can’t just stop at a regular gas station. I have to look for one that has the best price,” said John Rolon as he was filling his tank in Orlando. Yes, pain at the pump is real and drivers are trying all different things to battle high gas prices. From late February to the middle of April the average price of gas in Florida jumped nearly 50%. Action 9 investigated some of the basic things drivers can do to save money on fuel and make the most of the fuel they buy.
