An Australian woman who was targeted by Nigerian scam artists apparently spent more than $30,000 of their gains from a phony Internet car sales operation.

Sarah Jane Cochrane-Ramsey, 23, was hired in March 2010 as an "agent" for a Nigerian-based company, according to The Courier-Mail. Her job was to open an Australian bank account, where money would be paid from a "dodgy account on a popular car sales website," The Courier-Mail said.

I recently spent two fun-filled weeks in Italy -- my third trip to that gorgeous country and one of numerous overseas trips I've made. I thought I'd share with you the steps I took to make the most of my vacation spending and guard against identity theft.

How affordable was it? The total cost for two people was $3,380 for 15 days, not including the international airfare. That's just over $112 a day per person.

This post comes from Kelli B. Grant at partner site SmartMoney.

Like rival siblings, stores never stop competing for Mom's affection. The upside for new parents: More deals on everything from bottles to bibs.

The first year of parenthood can cost parents $11,950, according to the latest figures from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the costs only go up from there. Hooking a new parent early can mean thousands in revenue for a retailer over time.

This post comes from J.D. Roth at partner blog Get Rich Slowly.

Though many readers of Get Rich Slowly have modest financial goals, others are more ambitious. Many want to get rich. (That's not surprising; after all, the blog is called Get Rich Slowly.) But I think most GRS readers are aiming at something in between.

For instance, Charlotte wrote recently to ask about a goal that many of us have. She wants to know how to make early retirement a reality.

This post comes from Des Toups at partner site CarInsurance.com.

Starting July 1, you'll have to carry a portable blood-alcohol test kit with you if you want to drive in France. You'll be fined 11 euros -- about $15 -- if you can't produce one when the gendarmes ask.

Who knew such a thing even existed?

This post comes from Quentin Fottrell at partner site SmartMoney.

When President Barack Obama tackled American anxiety over rising gas prices with a speech in Feb. 23 speech in Florida, there's one thing he didn't say: Pain at the pump can be good.

But as grousing about gas prices grows into a U.S. pastime, some experts say people lose sight of the benefits of rising costs. Consumers can even use the hikes to their advantage at car dealerships, when they shop and in their investment portfolios.

This post comes from Jeanine Skowronski at partner site MainStreet.

By far the most questions we receive from readers for our weekly credit Q&A series concern credit report disputes. And while we've previously covered the option of contesting information appearing on a credit report, we've never actually delved into what happens after a consumer has done so. That is, until now.

The infographic at the end of this post illustrates how a dispute is handled by the three major credit bureaus -- Equifax, TransUnion and Experian. As previously reported, the big three furnish varying reports to a vast majority of the nation’s lenders.

This post comes from Matt Brownell at partner site MainStreet.

Gas prices are steadily on the rise, as skyrocketing crude oil prices have pushed the price of a gallon of regular gas to $3.64, up more than 20 cents from a month ago.

If you're feeling the sting of these rising prices, here are a few tips for spending less on gas.