Free Republic

California officials say the state overpaid at least $700,000 to state employees last month and the government is working to get the money back. The Sacramento Bee reports about 20,000 state employees got too much money in their paycheck -- ranging from $37 to $101 per employee. State Controller's Office spokesman John Hill says the mistake was limited to workers covered by two unions, including 12,689 employees in the California Correctional Peace Officers Association and "about 7,000" workers in the International Union of Operating Engineers Bargaining Unit 12. ...

TALLAHASSEE - Attorney General Charlie Crist today issued a consumer alert warning Floridians of an emerging scam in which con artists target individuals trying to sell their vehicles and other items. The Attorney General’s Office has received numerous complaints from consumers across the state reporting the overpayment scam. In this scheme, a thief selects the victim after browsing through classified ads for a car or other large-ticket item offered for sale. The thief pretends to be an interested buyer from out of town and sends payment in the form of a cashier’s check, money order or personal check. The payment...