The Indicator from Planet Money

Walmart scams, expensive recycling, and overdraft fees

It is Friday. And Indicators of the Week is back — Plastics Edition. Today, we dig into how fraudsters have used Walmart gift cards to scam consumers out of more than $1 billion. We also find out why recycled plastic is actually more expensive now than newly produced plastic. And we learn how overdraft fees might be going way down. Related Articles ProPublica - <a href="https://www.propublica.org/article/walmart-financial-services-became-fraud-magnet-gift-cards-money-laundering">How Walmart's Financial Services Became a Fraud Magnet </a> Financial Times - <a href="https://www.ft.com/content/6b3f4405-a994-4fb1-b667-1f49c5357db8">Petrochemical glut makes new plastic cheaper than recycled </a> Related episodes <a href="https://www.npr.org/2022/01/20/1074521609/overdraft-fees-from-perk-to-penalty">Overdraft fees: From perk to penalty</a> <a href="https://www.npr.org/2019/05/08/721542495/the-problem-with-banning-plastic-bags">The problem with banning plastic bags</a> For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at <a href="http://plus.npr.org/">plus.npr.org</a>. Music by <a href="https://dropelectric.bandcamp.com/">Drop Electric</a>. Find us: <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@planetmoney">TikTok</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/planetmoney/">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/planetmoney">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://www.npr.org/newsletter/money">Newsletter</a>. Learn more about sponsor message choices: <a href="https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices">podcastchoices.com/adchoices</a> <a href="https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy">NPR Privacy Policy</a>

A little show about big ideas. From the people who make Planet Money, The Indicator helps you make sense of what's happening today. It's a quick hit of insight into work, business, the economy, and everything else. Listen weekday afternoons. Try Planet Money+! a new way to support the show you love, get a sponsor-free feed of the podcast, *and* get access to bonus content. You'll also get access to The Indicator and Planet Money Summer School, both without interruptions. sign up at plus.npr.org/planetmoney