Consumer Alert

An accurate bathroom scale can be an important weight loss tool: consumer reports

It's been almost four weeks since many of us made New Year's resolutions and one of the most popular goals is losing weight.

Looking for a snow blower? Some new electric models no longer need to be plugged in

Those looking for a snow blower to clear their driveways may want to consider an electric model. Consumer Reports has been testing battery-powered snow blowers for the past six years and found electric models are improving.

A man pushes a snow blower around a giant pile of snow left by road crews in the Country Club Plaza shopping district of Kansas City, Mo., Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2013. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner)

Toronto woman denied full refund for unexpectedly cancelled New Zealand trip

A Toronto woman says she was given the runaround when she sought a full refund for her upcoming trip, which was cancelled outside of her control.

Inside a busy Toronto Pearson airport. (CTV News Toronto)

Ontario man 'devastated' after losing his home and nearly $500K to crypto scam

An Ontario man says he is 'devastated' after spending his entire life savings in an investment scam he got involved from a YouTube video he watched.

An image of Stephen Carr, who says he lost nearly $500,000 in an investment scam. (CTV News Torontno)

Mail theft a growing concern following rash of mailbox break-ins in GTA

Thieves are allegedly targeting community mailboxes looking to rob them of packages, cheques, and financial documents they can use to steal identities.

This is how thieves stole a Toronto condo and sold it for $970,000

Moffy Yu, a former international student who now lives in China's Hubei province, said she never put her home in Toronto up for sale. Instead, she says, it was stolen.

New bank form aims to help reduce fraud against seniors, limit liability

TD Canada Trust is now using a bank form that could raise red flags and help deter fraud against seniors.

Ontario woman 'shocked' when her $250 gift card expires

An Ontario woman says she was “shocked” when her $250 pre-paid Visa gift card expired, despite a provincial ban on gift card expiration dates.

Zellers is returning to Canada. Here's where the GTA locations will be

Nearly a decade after it closed its doors nationwide, Zellers is set to return to Canada.

Pat Foran

Pat Foran is an award-winning videojournalist with CTV News Toronto and the host of the station’s popular feature segment “Consumer Alert”.

In this role, Foran has helped consumers recover millions of dollars, exposed scams, warned about unsafe products, and passed on countless money saving tips to the public. The thousands of phone calls, e-mails, and letters he receives prove there is an intense public interest in solid, trustworthy consumer information.

Prior to his role as CTV Toronto’s consumer advocate, Foran worked as a reporter for three different CTV affiliates, beginning in 1986.

Foran is also the author of four national bestselling books on consumer and financial issues. His latest, The Smart, Savvy Young Consumer, is designed to help young Canadians spend and save wisely.

Have a story tip for Pat? Email alert@ctv.ca