Scams

Explain New Price Gouging Law

December 5, 2007 -- In the wake of the recent storms hitting the Pacific Northwest, Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski and Attorney General Hardy Myers today warned storm victims to be alert for potential scams targeting them and reminded Oregonians about the state's new price gouging law.

"Natural disasters like the recent storm are usually followed by scam artists who will attempt to take advantage of victims' special needs for goods and services to recover from the storm," Kulongoski said.    » read more »

December 5, 2007 -- Jefferson City, Mo. — Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon says residents of central Missouri are receiving phone calls that appear to be from Central Bank, but actually are from identity thieves. Consumers say an automated phone call tells them there is a problem with their bank account and tells them to go to a Web site to address the problem. That Web site then asks them to enter their bank account information. In other cases, a live caller asks the person asking for the information directly.    » read more »

December 3, 2007 -- Jefferson City, Mo. — Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon says southwest Missourians are receiving phone calls that appear to be from Empire Bank, but actually are from identity thieves. Consumers say an automated phone call tells them there is a problem with their bank account and tells them to go to a Web site to address the problem. That Web site then asks them to enter their bank account information. In other cases, a live caller asks the person asking for the information directly.    » read more »

Gift card sales expected to reach $25 billion this season, according to the National Retail Federation

November 29, 2007 -- TALLAHASSEE, FL – Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum today issued a consumer advisory encouraging Floridians to be savvy shoppers when purchasing and using gift cards this holiday season. The Attorney General reminded consumers that gift cards scams unfortunately can occur, but basic consumer awareness and fraud prevention techniques could spare holiday shoppers considerable trouble.    » read more »

Offers Tips on Prevention

(SANTA FE) -- New Mexico Attorney General Gary King says people facing foreclosures and seeking bankruptcy relief are being victimized by unscrupulous companies that are making their money problems worse, not better. Consumers are being contacted by companies that promise to save their houses for a fee, but do nothing to protect the homeowner.    » read more »

November 20, 2007 -- INDIANAPOLIS, IN – Indiana Attorney General Steve Carter is encouraging holiday shoppers to check product recall lists and to educate themselves on how to avoid scams and fraud this shopping season.    » read more »

FRANKFORT, Ky., Nov. 15, 2007 -- The Kentucky Court of Justice is asking citizens to be on alert about a jury-duty scam intended to result in identity theft of its targets.    » read more »

November 15, 2007 -- TRENTON - New Jersey Attorney General Anne Milgram and Criminal Justice Director Gregory A. Paw announced that a Passaic County man pleaded guilty today to a $13,000 auto insurance scam.

According to Insurance Fraud Prosecutor Greta Gooden Brown, Frank M. Petrelli, 26, of Totowa, pleaded guilty before Superior Court Judge Peter J. Vazquez in Hudson County to a criminal accusation charging him with third-degree insurance fraud.    » read more »

November 14, 2007 -- Several businesses recently complained to the Texas Office of the Attorney General about invoices they received for office supplies that were never ordered, including paper, toner cartridges and other office products.

Business owners should be aware that scam artists often send fraudulent billing invoices to companies of all sizes, hoping that the accounting department will simply pay the bill. Crooks count on the business’s failure to confirm that a purchase order was issued or that goods actually arrived.    » read more »

Kansas Attorney General Paul Morrison warned Kansans today of a new scam targeting the elderly. Seniors are encouraged to contact the Attorney General’s Office if anyone contacts them regarding an income tax return on their Social Security benefits.    » read more »

Nov 2, 2007 -- LITTLE ROCK – Every April, people rush to turn in their federal tax forms, hoping to get a big refund check in return from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). But imagine opening up your inbox in November and reading an email, seemingly from the IRS, alerting you that you have a refund waiting for you now. Sound too good to be true?    » read more »

November 01, 2007 -- The following is an overview of what has been reported to the Attorney General’s Office since the beginning of the month.

Financial Institution Scams:

Several First National Bank of Santa Fe customers have been the targets of a “phising scam”. Northern New Mexico residents reported receiving e-mails telling them their account had been temporarily suspended due to billing failure. The customer is told in the e-mail to click on a link that is provided to start the update process.    » read more »

November 1, 2007 -- INDIANAPOLIS, IN – Indiana Attorney General Steve Carter is alerting Hoosiers to a troubling scam where con artists call and pretend to be a consumer’s credit card institution informing them of fraud on their account. In reality, the scam artists are attempting to obtain credit card information that would allow them to steal the consumer’s identity.    » read more »

Advisory follows FTC announcement of national enforcement efforts

October 26, 2007 -- TALLAHASSEE, FL – Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum and Florida Agriculture and Consumer Services Commissioner Charles H. Bronson today issued a consumer advisory in cooperation with the National Hispanic Institute, warning consumers about work-at-home scams.    » read more »

NEW YORK, NY (October 25, 2007) -- New York Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo today announced arrests in connection with “Operation Home Alone,” the sweeping investigation of fraud in the home health industry. The arrests include 16 home health aides, two registered nurses and a home care patient alleged to have defrauded Medicaid through improper billing and no-show jobs.    » read more »