This fan blows--and not in a good way

I got this fan for $25 at Target. At first I was very happy with it. I like the remote control, because living in Phoenix I usually start off the evening with a fan on a higher setting then wake up in the night to turn it down. I thought it was a pretty good deal.

About a month later, the fan all of a sudden started making a loud pitch squeal. I thought it was a fire alarm at first; the noise is that high, loud and annoying. All of the lights on the front started flashing, and it turned every feature on (oscillate, sleep mode, etc). The only way to turn it off and shut it up is to unplug it. I don't use the oscillate or sleep options, but I might still be able to find a use for the fan if it weren't for the squeal.

Either my fan is possessed or it was a complete waste of money. Either way, I don't recommend it.