Rachel DePompa
Investigative reporter
:no_upscale()/s3.amazonaws.com/arc-authors/raycom/8ee8f89e-6d22-4ba1-8692-422401e3e0a8.png)
Rachel DePompa is NBC12's On Your Side Investigator. Rachel grew up in Waldorf, Md., and graduated from the University of Maryland with a degree in broadcast journalism.Before joining WWBT in March of 2008 Rachel worked in Roanoke, Bristol and Harrisonburg.
Education
Affiliations
Awards
Updated: 20 hours ago
|By Rachel DePompa
More than 25 million people relied on loans from those close to them to meet spending needs, according to the Census Bureau’s latest household pulse survey on finances. That figure is up from 19.1 million people from the same time last year.
Updated: Jun. 30, 2022 at 4:05 PM EDT
|By Rachel DePompa
Budgeting for your summer vacation is a smart money move. Consumables like food and snacks can add up more quickly than you think.
Updated: Jun. 29, 2022 at 4:12 PM EDT
|By Rachel DePompa
Buying a home is the biggest investment many people will make in their lifetime. Getting the best interest rate on a home mortgage will save thousands of dollars over the term of the loan.
Updated: Jun. 28, 2022 at 5:21 PM EDT
|By Rachel DePompa
Rising inflation has changed the way consumers save money, according to NerdWallet. Consumer Investigator Rachel DePompa has expert advice on how you can take advantage of increasing interest rates, while staying prepared for emergencies.
Updated: Jun. 27, 2022 at 1:43 PM EDT
|By Rachel DePompa
New tools on could help you build your credit score. Experian Boost and UltraFICO now use information from utilities, cell phone bills, and other recurring services to determine your credit worthiness.
Updated: Jun. 23, 2022 at 4:01 PM EDT
|By Rachel DePompa
Protecting personal information is critical in the digital age, but according to experts, a simple web search of your name will likely return your age, date of birth or even home address. We show you ways to try to remove your personal information.
Updated: Jun. 22, 2022 at 1:35 PM EDT
|By Rachel DePompa
Student loan interest rates are due for a significant hike. We break down the impact on your bottom line.
Updated: Jun. 21, 2022 at 4:22 PM EDT
|By Rachel DePompa
Rental rates are rising to record highs across the U.S. and according to the latest research from industry experts, wages and salaries are not keeping up.
Updated: Jun. 20, 2022 at 3:46 PM EDT
|By Rachel DePompa and Daniela Molina
Checking online reviews when shopping, researching vacations or even looking for a doctor has become an integral part of the modern consumer experience. But experts say many of the products or service reviews you’re reading were either bought or sold and completely fake. In “Five Star Fakes”, InvestigateTV found several posts on social media platforms where people are bartering - even buying and selling - online reviews, despite a federal law that prohibits this act.
Updated: Jun. 20, 2022 at 11:56 AM EDT
|By Rachel DePompa
30% percent of Americans say they've skipped, or considered skipping, a wedding because they couldn’t afford to attend, according to a new NerdWallet study. Consumer Investigator Rachel DePompa has expert advice on saving for the celebration and the art of the RSVP.
Updated: Jun. 16, 2022 at 3:59 PM EDT
|By Rachel DePompa
A 2022 high school graduate will borrow on average $40,000 in student loans by the time they graduate college, according to a new NerdWallet study. Consumer Investigator Rachel DePompa shares advice from Elizabeth Renter of NerdWallet for students and parents.
Updated: Jun. 15, 2022 at 3:13 PM EDT
|By Rachel DePompa
Credit card debt continues to climb in the U.S. as experts say people will likely lean on their cards to offset rising prices and interest rates. Consumer Investigator Rachel DePompa spoke with a financial expert Elizabeth Renter from NerdWallet on the best ways to manage your debt.
Updated: Jun. 14, 2022 at 3:52 PM EDT
|By Rachel DePompa
Flights and hotels aren’t the only costs you need to plan for that summer trip. Here's why a daily spending budget should be on your packing list.
Updated: Jun. 13, 2022 at 1:48 PM EDT
|By Rachel DePompa
In this Watching Your Wallet, Consumer Investigator Rachel DePompa shares why experts say loan pre-approval is an important first step before you buy.
Updated: Jun. 9, 2022 at 2:27 PM EDT
|By Rachel DePompa
Even if you’ve avoided accidents or tickets this year, your car insurance costs could be on the rise. Learn how you can save money as prices continue to climb.
Updated: Jun. 8, 2022 at 2:05 PM EDT
|By Rachel DePompa and Roxanne Reid
In an effort to fight inflation, The Federal Reserve recently raised interest rates by half a percentage point, the biggest hike in two decades. Consumer Reporter Rachel DePompa talks with a financial consultant to explain what it means to your wallet.
Updated: Jun. 7, 2022 at 4:49 PM EDT
|By Rachel DePompa and Roxanne Reid
Planning a big trip this summer but unsure whether to purchase travel insurance?
Updated: May. 16, 2022 at 3:00 PM EDT
|By Rachel DePompa and Daniela Molina
Cutting-edge computer technology designed to mimic the human brain is being used by hackers to create lifelike videos of celebrities and politicians. But now, bad actors are using this readily available tech to target everyday social media users in cryptocurrency scams.
Updated: Apr. 18, 2022 at 5:24 PM EDT
|By Rachel DePompa and Daniela Molina
A trip to the emergency room can instantly change your life - not just medically, but financially as well. Americans are burdened with at least $140 billion in outstanding medical debt according to the Journal of the American Medical Association. But help is out there. Consumer Investigator Rachel DePompa speaks with experts on the frontline aiding those “Diagnosed with Debt”.
Updated: Apr. 11, 2022 at 3:36 PM EDT
|By Rachel DePompa
If you qualify, there’s no reason to file your taxes and pay a fee each year. And yet, according to Nerdwallet, nearly 100 million Americans who qualified didn’t take advantage of this feature.
Updated: Mar. 25, 2022 at 1:09 PM EDT
|By Rachel DePompa
Whether you’re in a new relationship or you’re about to get married, it’s always a good idea to eventually talk money.
Updated: Mar. 21, 2022 at 5:41 PM EDT
|By Rachel DePompa and Daniela Molina
Los expertos dicen que los hackers no solo toman control de cuentas sociales, sino que roban fotos y videos para crear una versión completamente nueva, y a veces es un perfil que no trama nada bueno.
Updated: Mar. 21, 2022 at 5:15 PM EDT
|By Rachel DePompa and Daniela Molina
Experts say hackers aren’t just taking over your social media accounts, but many are stealing pictures and videos to create a completely new you, and in some cases, it’s a profile that’s up to no good.
Updated: Feb. 14, 2022 at 6:23 PM EST
|By Rachel DePompa and Daniela Molina
There are two websites you can use to find out whether something you just bought, or have owned for years, has either been recalled or reported as potentially dangerous.
Updated: Feb. 7, 2022 at 3:40 PM EST
|By Rachel DePompa and Daniela Molina
People use Facebook and Instagram to stay in touch, to share memories, and now more and more, to build a clientele. Hackers have taken advantage of this growth to gain access to people’s accounts, often targeting weak passwords.
Updated: Feb. 4, 2022 at 10:42 AM EST
|By Rachel DePompa
This is it! the month you’ve been waiting for if you need to buy a TV! Rachel DePompa breaks down all the things you should buy in February in this On Your Side Savings Guide.
Updated: Jan. 31, 2022 at 7:09 AM EST
|By Rachel DePompa
There are times in life where a computer won’t cut it. You need an actual human to speak with for a financial issue.
Updated: Jan. 28, 2022 at 7:00 AM EST
|By Rachel DePompa
The average American has around $155,000 in debt according to a new study by Nerdwallet. That’s an increase of more than 6% from last year.
Updated: Nov. 1, 2021 at 6:02 PM EDT
|By Rachel DePompa
Companies are accused of sending official-looking letters to convince business owners to pay for services and business products they could get for free.
Updated: Oct. 25, 2021 at 3:29 PM EDT
|By Rachel DePompa
It’s one of the most intimidating cyber attacks we face: Ransomware. We’ve seen it take down company’s that control gas pipelines, hospitals and doctors offices. Even school systems and local governments have been attacked. On Your Side Investigator Rachel DePompa goes inside the FBI to find out how you and your business can stay safe.
Updated: Oct. 11, 2021 at 7:05 PM EDT
|By Rachel DePompa
They’re designed to pull at your heartstrings. But Romance con artists often leave a financial and emotionally devastating trail of loss. On Your Side Investigator Rachel DePompa has the warning signs.
Updated: Oct. 11, 2021 at 5:16 PM EDT
|By Rachel DePompa
From a 1953 Mickey Mantle to a rare Mike Trout rookie card, soccer cards, UFC, and even passionate Pokemon collectors are feeding the resurgence.
Updated: Jun. 28, 2021 at 2:50 PM EDT
|By Rachel DePompa
You’ve no doubt seen the ads on TV and social media. Sports betting is now legal in the commonwealth-- and has been for 5 months now.
Updated: Jun. 21, 2021 at 5:01 PM EDT
|By Rachel DePompa
After filing thousands of papers in applications and appeals, a mother who helped her son battle for mental health treatment is now helping other families with a new guide.
Updated: May. 31, 2021 at 2:17 PM EDT
|By Rachel DePompa
On May 31, 2019, a deadly mass shooting at a municipal building in Virginia Beach.
Updated: May. 12, 2021 at 12:48 PM EDT
|By Rachel DePompa
There are 17 million vehicles in the US, ranging in age from 2002 to 2015, that still have deadly Takata airbags inside the steering wheel.