FRAUD PREVENTION / SCAM INFORMATION

The material provided on the 211 eLibrary is for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be and should not be construed as legal advice.

HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF AGAINST FRAUD

In virtually every type of purchase or financial transaction you make, there is always the chance that you may be doing business with someone who will not provide the product or service you expect for your money. Given the wide range of possibilities for fraud, your best protection is to be an informed, educated consumer. There are several organizations that offer information and guidance to consumers:

• The Federal Trade Commission (FTC): (www.ftc.gov/) enforces a variety of federal antitrust and consumer protection laws. The FTC works to eliminate acts or practices that are unfair or deceptive. In general, the Commission's efforts are directed toward stopping actions that threaten consumers' opportunities to exercise informed choice. The Commission has enforcement and administrative responsibilities under 46 federal laws. In addition to carrying out its statutory enforcement responsibilities, the FTC conducts consumer education programs.

• The Federal Citizen Information Center (www.pueblo.gsa.gov/) publishes the Consumer Action Handbook (www.consumeraction.gov/), which provides advice and consumer tips on car repair, purchase, and leasing, shopping from home, avoiding consumer and investment fraud, home improvement and financing, choosing and using credit cards wisely, and much more. The handbook is available for online viewing at www.consumeraction.gov/viewpdf.shtml, and you can order a copy for just the cost of mailing.

• The State of Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection (www.ct.gov/dcp/) offers information and guidance to Connecticut consumers, issues news releases about agency programs, and takes enforcement actions.

• The Connecticut Attorney General (www.ct.gov/ag/) is the state official responsible for legal action in all civil matters, which includes investigating consumer fraud or suspected consumer fraud occurring in Connecticut. In addition, the Attorney General’s office has special hotlines for healthcare fraud and fraud prevention for seniors.

• The Public Charities Information Unit (www.ct.gov/dcp/cwp/view.asp?a=1629&Q=274418&dcpNav=|), jointly administered by the Attorney General and the Department of Consumer Protection, keeps information on all charities registered with the State of Connecticut, including addresses, financial reports, and tax returns of individual charities.

• The Better Business Bureau (BBB) (www.connecticut.bbb.org/) is a business sponsored consumer protection agency which provides the public with information on Connecticut businesses, handles complaints, functions as a mediator in disputes, monitors advertising for truth and honesty, and sponsors consumer education programs.

• The Connecticut Department of Social Services, Aging Services Division, maintains a page on its website (www.ct.gov/agingservices/cwp/view.asp?Q=395058&A=2513) that provides information on scams against older adults that have been reported in Connecticut.

TO FIND PROVIDERS IN CONNECTICUT'S COMMUNITY RESOURCES DATABASE:

Search by service names:

• Fraud Prevention
• General Consumer Complaints
• Consumer Education

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SOURCES:

• Federal Trade Commission
• Federal Citizen Information Center
• State of Conn. Dept. of Consumer Protection
• State of Conn. Office of the Attorney General
• State of Conn. Dept. of Social Services, Aging Services Division
• Conn. Better Business Bureau
• Refer Database