John Matarese

John Matarese

John Matarese

Consumer Reporter

John is the “Don’t Waste Your Money” consumer reporter for Scripps, featuring money saving reports and scam alerts that are shared with more than 40 Scripps TV stations from his home base at WCPO-TV in Cincinnati. He is most proud of being able to help people who have been taken advantage of unfairly, and to warn others not to fall into the same situation. Whether it is alerting viewers to fake job scams, fighting an unfair rent hike, or saving money on the weekly grocery bill, John’s goal is to help everyday people save for a better future, and avoid the thousands of cons that are trying to separate us from our hard-earned money.

Recent Work
Lead paint

Your home could contain dangerous lead paint: How to find out

Customers checkout at registers with cashiers near a section of self-checkout kiosks at Stew Leonard's grocery store.

Surprise: Some grocery stores moving away from self-checkout

Stanley cups.

Stanley cup craze: As prices soar, scammers swoop in

Google Flights website.

Affordable travel destinations that can save you thousands of dollars

Afterpay logo in a window.

'Buy now, pay later' plans: The hidden risks you need to know

Suze Orman speaks to reporters.

Suze Orman: Don't make resolutions, do this in 2024

A group kneels during a fitness class.

Get fit in 2024 without busting your budget

Family celebrates New Year's Eve by lighting sparklers.

10 ways to save on your New Year's celebration

An auto mechanic works on a car.

5 steps to save money on auto repair

Family opening Christmas gifts.

Return season is here: Watch for shorter return windows, shipping fees

A Costco warehouse is seen, July 8, 2022, in Thornton, Colo.

Great last-minute Christmas deals on 'Super Saturday'

An image of fake stamps.

Beware of fake postage stamps being sold online

A ring doorbell camera.

Protect your home from burglars this holiday season

Books on a shelf at a library.

Save big bucks on books, as prices keep rising

A view of the audience during the final night of the "Kiss Farewell Tour."

Fight 'funflation' with these entertainment savings ideas

Person holds a card at wedding.

Skip the blender; today's brides and grooms want house down payments

Someone holds fake Apple Air Pods

Family buys fake Apple AirPods, now warning other holiday shoppers

Frontier Airlines jets sit at gates at Denver International Airport.

Frequent flyer programs are changing, frustrating many customers

A person watching TV.

Here are ways to save on streaming TV services

A person writing a Christmas card.

Save on holiday cards without looking cheap

A downtown Jackson, Miss., business posts a large "Now Hiring" sign.

Looking to earn some holiday money? Beware of these jobs scams

An Amazon package sits by the mailbox at Jason Goldberg's Chicago apartment.

Stop porch pirates with these simple steps

A home with outdoor Christmas lights and inflatable snowman.

Great ways to save money on Christmas decorations

Man shopping during Black Friday.

These are the deals you should look for on Black Friday

Woman uses laptop to shop online.

How to stay safe when holiday shopping online

Displays of cranberry sauce, green beans and soups set up for Thanksgiving feasts in a grocery store.

How to save on Thanksgiving dinner this year

Automobile traffic jams Route 93 South in Boston.

Secrets to painless holiday travel, whether you are flying or driving

Electric vehicle plugged into electricity.

EVs are more affordable than ever: Is now the time to buy?

Spectrum of the Seas cruise ship is docked at Kai Tak cruise terminal in Hong Kong.

Vantage Travel bankruptcy means travelers may never see refunds

A person counts money.

Easy way to find unclaimed funds in your name