Two Jacksonville small businesses were the victim of a scam that left them locked out of their social media accounts, meaning they lost a vital part of their marketing.

News4JAX Consumer Investigator Lauren Verno sat down with OnDefend Security CEO Chris Freedman to discuss the differences between two popular social media problems circulating the cyber world: cloning and hacking.

News4JAX Consumer Investigator Lauren Verno found ways to save on insulin prescriptions.

A product claiming to keep your home and family safe from fire popped up on our social media feed. We put it to the test.

A product claiming to keep your home and family safe from fire popped up on our social media feed. We put it to the test.

If you’re in the Jacksonville, Florida area, you’ve likely seen the logjam of container ships sitting idly offshore. The vessels are packed with items destined for store shelves -- and they’re things business owners and consumers desperately need delivered.

Consumer Reports reveals some easy and fun tips to help preserve your family’s memories for generations to come.

There are many other “at home” medical tests, for everything from hormone levels to HIV.

President Biden is calling on companies to drop the price of gas as oil prices continue to tumble.

You think your home is safe because you have a security system. Did you know somone could hack in and violate your privacy? The I-TEAM found how to stop it.

Happy Thursday, News4JAX Insiders. The weekend is right around the corner!

The COVID-19 pandemic has added extra stress in everyone’s lives and for some, it’s taken a toll on marriages. Between navigating families, finances, and the law, getting a divorce can be hard to navigate.

While you hunt for an at-home COVID-19 test, should you worry about which brand you find? News4JAX consumer investigator Lauren Verno gets answers inside a local lab, finding out if the brand matters and learning what you need to do first after opening the box.

From a pandemic to political unrest, events near and far can take their toll on our mental and physical health. But improving those—even with small changes—can make a big impact.

As News4Jax continues to follow this current “Present Pandemic,” Consumer Reports says, yes, the sales are out there -- you just need to buy it when you see it, so you won’t miss out on the item or be disappointed if it’s not delivered in time.

From supply chain issues, to shortages at some stores -- feeding a family this Thanksgiving might be a bit intimidating.

If you use social media to lodge complaints, you’re not alone. Almost every company big and small is on social media.

This is the final weekend of Florida's back-to-school sales tax holiday and it will likely be a busy one for parents. But if you can’t get to all the stores in one shopping spree don’t panic! In fact, Consumer Reports says that may be a good thing.

At News4Jax, we want to test out and review consumer products so you don’t have to.

However, companies have transformed bulky panic alert buttons into fashionable devices that could save your life. Wearable safety devices are meant to lower those numbers, and top security companies are now getting involved. ADT Mobile Security & Strategic Projects Vice President Leah Page speaks with News4Jax crime and safety expert Ken Jefferson and News4Jax consumer investigative reporter Lauren Verno. News4Jax crime and safety expert Ken Jefferson and I sat down to test out the product. ADT representative John McGinnis answered the call as if it was a real-life emergency.

Those were just a few of the topics President Joe Biden addressed in his first town hall as president. After going through the entire transcript of President Biden’s town hall, we found two claims we wanted to run through the Trust Index. “We have now, by the end of July, we’ll have over 600 million doses, enough to vaccinate every single American,” Biden said. Can the President promise 600 million doses by the end of July? Before leaving office, President Trump secured 200 million doses of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines.

“They’re targeting certain people; they are not trying to get this money,” Williams said. As a cancer survivor and Lyft driver, the COVID-19 pandemic has taken a toll on Williams financially. Williams was approved for the City of Jacksonville and Jacksonville Bar Associations JaxCares program, which involves the city paying a landlord directly on behalf of a resident. AdBoathouse Properties, which owns Shorehouse Apartments, went on to say that as long as a person submitted a CDC declaration form, the JaxCares money would be accepted. Shorehouse Apartments said it did not receive that form from Williams, but she argued that she submitted it months ago.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Wednesday’s chaos unfolded across Capitol Hill -- inside and outside, in offices, corridors, and the chambers of Congress. News4Jax consumer investigative reporter Lauren Verno walks us through what we saw to give us a better idea of where everything took place.

Moderna said its vaccine appears to be 94.5% effective, according to preliminary data from an ongoing study. U.S. officials said they hope to have about 20 million Moderna doses and another 20 million of the vaccine made by Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech to use in late December. Moderna’s vaccine is being studied in 30,000 volunteers who received either the real thing or a dummy shot. Moderna’s vaccine also starts off frozen, but the company said Monday it can be thawed and kept in a regular refrigerator for 30 days, easing that concern. Instead, the vaccine contains a piece of genetic code that trains the immune system to recognize the spiked protein on the surface of the virus.

Pfizer released no specific breakdowns, but for the vaccine to be 90% effective, nearly all the infections must have occurred in placebo recipients. But in July, Pfizer signed a contract to supply the U.S. with 100 million doses for $1.95 billion, assuming the vaccine is cleared by the FDA. Pfizer said its only involvement in Operation Warp Speed is that those doses are part of the administration’s goal to have 300 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines ready sometime next year. Earlier this year, Fauci said he would be happy with a COVID-19 vaccine that was 60% effective. TESTING TIMELINE: What’s ahead for COVID-19 vaccinesPfizer has estimated it could have 50 million doses available globally by the end of 2020, enough for 25 million people.

What questions do you have about your credit score, or just credit in general? News4Jax Consumer Investigator Lauren Verno wants to help you get answers. On Friday, she’ll be speaking with Jacksonville Federal Credit Union President Mary Svoboda. Share your questions below and we’ll get them answered. Tell us what you’d like to know

ICYMI: Vic’s AMA | Rebecca’s AMA | Lena’s AMA | Justin’s AMA | Tarik’s AMA | Jenese’s AMAWe’ve got a lot of ground to cover in this recap, so let’s get to it. Lauren: My biggest piece of advice for someone aspiring to be a journalist is it is not a glamorous job. First of all my favorite soup of all time is Pasta e Fagioli, but it has to be homemade and no my family is not Italian. My boss and I always say we love consumer news because it’s news you can use. Lauren: It depends on where but in Jacksonville, I’m a huge fan of Orsay.

The government issues the jobs report Friday, Sept. 4, for August at a time of continuing layoffs and high unemployment. Employers added 1.4 million jobs last month, down from 1.7 million in July and the fewest since hiring resumed in May. For many voters, the unemployment rate is the most visible measure of the economy. Private companies added just over 1 million jobs in August, with the government providing nearly 350,000 others, including a quarter-million temporary census workers. The fall in private hiring from 1.5 million jobs in July was seen as a sign that employers remain cautious with the virus still out of control.

“Masks prevent particles from my respiratory system from getting into your respiratory system,” Nye said. Surgical mask- Candle NOT blown out. N95 mask - Candle NOT blown out. Surgical mask - Candle blown out. Homemade mask - Candle NOT blown out.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Thinner is better when it comes to the future of TVs, and the competition to bring the newest technology to market is growing. As News4Jax Consumer Investigator Lauren Verno found at the 2020 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, China-based television manufacturer Konka is expected to make its debut in the U.S. this year. The only other companies operating in the U.S. that possess this technology right now are LG and Sony. Fairchild said going thinner with TVs is only one aspect of the new technology in television. “It’s going to get better and better.”

News4Jax Consumer Investigator Lauren Verno breaks down the best deals. If you need help with WJXT’s or WCWJ's FCC public inspection file, call (904) 393-9801.

"Whoever is getting the data, in almost every case, they are selling that data, or they are at least providing access to the data," Johnson explained. Right now, neither Congress nor the Department of Transportation has implemented legal requirements for most car data. While many car companies say they are being proactive about consumer privacy, advocates like Bill Hanvey are concerned with the industry policing itself. Hanvey told News4Jax that he believes insurance companies are basing rates off purchased data. "Contact your insurance company and ask if they buy that data, and if they say yes, switch insurance companies.

CLAY COUNTY, Fla. - The North Florida Balloon Festival turned out to be nothing more than hot air. They said they are working to make sure everyone gets refunds for the North Florida Balloon Festival and that the cancellation happened due to venue issues. The events organizer, MidFlo, claims to host balloon festivals across the nation. North Florida Balloon festival said the airport board made a decision to not proceed just 16 hours after authorizing ticket sales. The company is scheduled to host three more balloon festivals across the state this month.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Getting paid to be a safe driver sounds too good to be true, but thats exactly what one new app promises to do. The app, called OnMyWay, recently went live in app stores. The idea behind the app is to save lives by rewarding people for not texting and driving. For every mile you drive without texting, which the app tracks, you make money. They want to be linked with a brand that promotes these safe driving habits."

News4Jax Consumer Investigator Lauren Verno has more on a local taking the anti vaping fight to Washington.

Consumer Investigator Lauren Verno got some advice from Consumer Reports to help ensure that your home and your belongings are well-protected, and at the best price. Copyright 2019 by WJXT News4Jax - All rights reserved.

Lauren Verno joins us from Landmark Middle School with more on hurricane shelters in your area. Copyright 2019 by WJXT News4Jax - All rights reserved.

News4Jax Consumer Investigator Lauren Verno looks into how realistic is the idea that social media sites can be mined for threats to prevent another tragedy. Copyright 2019 by WJXT News4Jax - All rights reserved.

If your car went into the water would you know what to do? News4Jax Consumer Investigator Lauren Verno shows us what you need to do if you become trapped. Copyright 2019 by WJXT News4Jax - All rights reserved.

VIDEO: News4Jax Consumer Investigator Lauren Verno shows how to make sure your personal data is not being shared. Copyright 2019 by WJXT News4Jax - All rights reserved.

VIDEO: Lauren Verno reports on Atrial fibrillation and how one couple is working together to mend borken hearts. Copyright 2019 by WJXT News4Jax - All rights reserved.

Lauren Verno tells us the signs parents need to watch out for to make sure children don't get a video game addictionCopyright 2019 by WJXT News4Jax - All rights reserved.