Scams

Asks Companies to Provide Warnings, Advice to Internet Customers

October 23, 2007 -- TRENTON – New Jersey Attorney General Anne Milgram today called on four banks to provide information on how they are protecting customers from identity theft and related loss resulting from “phishing” – an on-line fraud gambit in which authentic-looking e-mails are used to trick recipients into giving out sensitive personal information such as credit card, bank account and Social Security numbers.    » read more »

October 22, 2007 -- The FBI and other law enforcement agencies around the country have reported the resurgence of an old trick known as the jury duty scam.    » read more »

October 22, 2007 -- New Hampshire Attorney General Kelly A. Ayotte warns consumers of a recent business practice brought to the attention of the Consumer Protection Bureau by numerous consumers who have called the Consumer Hotline or filed written complaints.

A major credit card company is providing former customers of a major department store with an unsolicited ready-to-activate credit card. The credit card company claims they prefaced the actual mailing of these cards with a letter explaining that they had acquired the department store’s credit card business last year.    » read more »

October 19, 2007 -- LOS ANGELES – California Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. today announced the arrest of four suspects involved in a $1.5 million “fake healthcare clinic” scam. The suspects created a health clinic and recruited people to undergo unnecessary medical tests, with the sole purpose of filing false claims with Medi-Cal and Medicare.    » read more »

October 4, 2007 -- CLEVELAND – A new partnership spearheaded by the United States Postal Service, Ohio Attorney General Marc Dann and the Postal Inspection Service, is bringing together financial institutions and credit unions to help fight the onslaught of fake check scams.    » read more »

October 3, 2007 -- (Lincoln, NE) – Nebraska Attorney General Jon Bruning, U.S. Postal Inspector Dave Margritz, and Lincoln U.S. Postmaster Kerry Kowalski today kicked off the launch of a new Web site, FakeChecks.org, and advertising campaign to educate consumers about fake check scams.    » read more »

Department of Justice Adds Defendants To Lawsuit Against Dane County Window Retailer Accused of Using Misleading “100% Rebate” Scheme to Sell Its Window Products

October 3, 2007 -- MADISON — Wisconsin Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen announced today that his office has expanded a consumer protection lawsuit to include a Colorado company, National Rebate Fund, Inc.    » read more »

October 3, 2007 -- The following consumer advisory is offered by the Office of the Nevada Attorney General, Bureau of Consumer Protection, as part of an ongoing effort to educate consumers.    » read more »

October 3 , 2007 -- Chicago - Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan today urged fans purchasing tickets to the Chicago Cubs-Arizona Diamondbacks playoff series to exercise caution when making online payments.

“Baseball fans need to be wary of fraudulent ticket scams,” Madigan said. “During this exciting playoff series, there are con artists out there looking to exploit fans who just want to show support for their team.”    » read more »

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

“Internal Revenue Service” Scam:    » read more »

(Phoenix, Ariz. – Oct. 1, 2007) Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard is warning sports fans to be mindful of fraud artists when purchasing Arizona Diamondbacks playoff tickets or other event tickets.    » read more »

Sep 28, 2007 -- LITTLE ROCK – The scam is not new. You get a letter notifying you that you are a big winner in a lottery. You may even get the prize check in the mail with the congratulatory notice. All you have to do to become a big winner is deposit the check and wire money to the sender to cover some taxes and fees. Sounds easy, doesn't it?    » read more »

September 28, 2007 -- Jefferson City, Mo. — Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon says his office is getting new reports from consumers about a popular identity theft trick - the jury duty scam. Consumers this week complained of phone calls from individuals posing as officers of state and federal courts in an attempt to steal personal information.    » read more »

9/26/2007 -- PIERRE, S.D. - South Dakota Attorney General Larry Long said today that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) refund scam is resurfacing in South Dakota. The Consumer Protection Division has received several inquires from consumers who have been targeted by this scam. Attorney General Long is asking consumers to proceed with caution when visiting websites that either associate themselves with the IRS or have the appearance of the IRS site.    » read more »

September 27, 2007 -- DETROIT - Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox today announced the culmination of a successful investigation into a complex scheme to defraud Michigan taxpayers. Operation Can Scam uncovered two Ohio-based smuggling rings that have bilked Michigan taxpayers out of hundreds of thousands of dollars by perpetrating a continuous fraud on the Michigan Bottle Deposit Fund.    » read more »