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- PE-Backed Insurance Broker Hub International Files Confidentially for US IPO
Private equity-backed insurance broker Hub International announced on Friday that it has confidentially filed for an initial public offering in the United States. The Chicago-based company was valued at $29 billion in its last funding round in 2025, led by … [TheTopNews] Read More.41 mins ago - Employment scams are surging. Here’s how to recognize the most common sche...
Employment scams more than doubled in 2025 By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs June 29, 2026 Employment scams are one of the fastest-growing forms of consumer fraud, with FTC reports and financial losses rising sharply over the past several years.Scammers increasingly use fake remote jobs, task-based work, reshipping positions and bogus recruiter contacts to steal money and personal information.Consumer advocates say legitimate employers will never require applicants to pay upfront fees or purchase equipment before starting work.For Americans searching for work, finding the right job has become more difficultand avoiding scammers has become another challenge altogether.Federal Trade Commission data show reports of job and employment scams have nearly tripled since 2020, while consumer losses have climbed from about $90 million to more than $500 million annually. The FTC says scammers are increasingly targeting job seekers with convincing emails, text messages and online job postings that appear to come from legitimate employers. The Better Business Bureau reports employment scams more than doubled in 2025, fueled in part by the popularity of remote work and the growing use of artificial intelligence to create realistic fake job listings and recruiter communications. The most common employment scamsFake remote jobsThe most common scam involves advertising work-from-home positions that promise flexible hours, high pay and minimal qualifications. Victims are often "hired" after a brief text or online interview, only to be asked for bank information, Social Security numbers or payments for training or equipment. Task scamsThe FTC has identified so-called "task scams" as one of the fastest-growing employment frauds. Victims receive unsolicited text messages or WhatsApp contacts offering simple online work, such as rating products or optimizing apps.Initially, victims may receive small payments to build trust. Eventually, they are instructed to deposit their own moneyoften in cryptocurrencyto unlock larger assignments or earnings. The promised payouts never materialize, and the scammers disappear. Task scams accounted for nearly 40% of reported job scams in 2024. Reshipping jobsFraudsters recruit workers to receive packages at home and ship them elsewhere. Victims believe they are working in logistics, but the merchandise is often purchased with stolen credit cards, potentially exposing participants to legal problems while they never receive the promised wages.Fake check scamsAfter offering a job, scammers send what appears to be a company check to purchase office equipment. Applicants are instructed to buy supplies from a designated vendor or forward part of the money. Days later, the check bounces, leaving… [TheTopNews] Read More.56 mins ago - The average price of a new car has risen by $11,000 since 2019New car affordability keeps many consumers driving used cars By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs June 29, 2026 New-vehicle affordability has deteriorated sharply as entry-level models disappear and average prices have climbed more than $11,000 since 2019.Buyers are increasingly relying on record-long 84-month auto loans to keep monthly payments manageable, creating new challenges for dealers.Analysts say the shrinking supply of lower-priced vehicles is reshaping the market, pushing consumers toward used cars and forcing dealerships to rely more heavily on financing and insurance products.Housing affordability is a real issue. Increasingly, so is car affordability.Buying a new vehicle has become significantly more difficult for budget-conscious consumers, and as a result, dealers are selling fewer new cars and trucks.Data from automotive research firm Edmunds show the average transaction price of a new vehicle reached $48,402 in 2025, up from $37,310 in 2019. That represents an increase of more than $11,000, or roughly 30%, reflecting both inflation and a shift toward more expensive vehicles. The biggest change has occurred at the lower end of the market.Vehicles priced at $20,000 or less have all but vanished, accounting for just 0.2% of new-vehicle sales in 2025. Models selling for $25,000 or less made up only 4.7% of sales, down from nearly 21% six years earlier. Meanwhile, vehicles priced below $30,000 now represent just 15% of the market, compared with 40% in 2019. Many of the affordable subcompact cars that once served as entry points for first-time buyers have been discontinued, including the Mitsubishi Mirage, Honda Fit, Toyota Yaris and, in most markets, the Nissan Versa. Big jump in seven yearsAt the opposite end of the market, high-priced vehicles have become increasingly common. Nearly 95% of large SUVs now sell for more than $60,000, compared with about 59% in 2019. Among full-size pickup trucks, nearly half now exceed the $60,000 mark, versus just 8% six years ago. To cope with rising prices, consumers are stretching loan terms to record lengths. Edmunds found that loans lasting 84 months or longer accounted for 22.9% of financed new-vehicle purchases during the first quarter of 2026, the highest level on record. Longer loan terms reduce monthly payments but also increase the total interest paid over the life of the loan and can leave buyers owing more than their vehicles are worth for extended periods.Problem for dealersFor dealerships, the affordability squeeze presents a mixed picture. Higher vehicle prices can increase revenue per… [TheTopNews] Read More.1 hour ago
- Fitness brand founder and Olympian Les Mills dies aged 91
The Les Mills International brand is now known globally for choreographed workouts set to music, like Body Pump and Body Combat. [TheTopNews] Read More.2 hours ago - Hormuz Traffic Drops Off as Vessel Attacks Raise Fresh ConcernsCommercial traffic through the Strait of Hormuz persisted at a reduced level after attacks on two ships raised fresh concerns about the ability and willingness of shipowners to traverse the waterway. A handful of vessels made open transits over the … [TheTopNews] Read More.3 hours ago
- Bed-and-Breakfasts Vs. Airbnb
Traditional bed-and-breakfast inns are doubling down on unique décor, personalized service and flexible policies, as they seek to distinguish themselves from vacation rentals. [TheTopNews] Read More.4 hours ago - Extreme Heat Grips Eastern Europe After Records Fall in GermanyThe deadly heat wave that’s set temperature records across western Europe for more than a week has shifted east to scorch Hungary, Romania and the Balkans. Budapest is expected to top 40C (104F) on Tuesday, according to models from the … [TheTopNews] Read More.4 hours ago
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