Consumer Issues

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• A Consumer Guide to Travel Scams

  By arming yourself with some basic knowledge about the travel industry, you can protect yourself from becoming the victim of a travel scam.

• Mortgage Scam: Spanish-Speaking Homeowners Targeted

  A nationwide scam operating from the Dominican Republic, but pretending to be based out of Chicago, was calling Spanish-speaking distressed homeowners in the United States. Use these Quick Tips to learn about the scam and to avoid falling victim.

• DISCLAIMER

  The following resources are not created, recommended or endorsed by the Office of the Attorney General, but are provided as resources that may offer additional information or assistance. External links will open in a new window and you will be redirected to a third-party website

• Going Shopping on the Internet?

  Going shopping on the Internet? Here are a few Quick Tips to keep in mind.

• Protect Your Business Against Fraud

  Each year, small businesses are targets of fraudulent or deceptive sales practices. Use these Quick Tips to help spot the scammers before your business falls victim.

• Consumer Education Brochures from the National Consumer Law Center

  The NCLC's free, downloadable brochures offer basic information for consumers on the most critical consumer issues, including predatory lending, debt collection, credit reports, lemon laws, bankruptcy, foreclosure, payday loans, predatory mortgage loans, credit card debt, living trust scams, telemarketing fraud, refinancing, loss of utility services and other issues.

• CTLawHelp.org: Self-Help Guides for Consumers

  A project of the Connecticut Network for Legal Aid, this page offers easy-to-understand information about issues affecting consumers including bankruptcy, collection and repossession, credit practices and reports, security deposits, small claims court, and more.

• Public Interest Research Group

  U.S. PIRG is an advocate for the public interest. When consumers are cheated, or our natural environment is threatened, or the voices of ordinary citizens are drowned out by special interest lobbyists, U.S. PIRG speaks up and takes action.

• National Charities Information Bureau

  The Alliance reports on nationally soliciting charitable organizations that are the subject of donor inquiries.

• National Fraud Information Center

  The NFIC was originally established in 1992 by the National Consumers League, the oldest nonprofit consumer organization in the United States, to fight the growing menace of telemarketing fraud by improving prevention and enforcement.

• Identity Theft

  These days, you can never be too careful when it comes to protecting your identity. Help protect your identity, and learn where to turn if you've fallen victim to an identity thief, with these Quick Tips.

• Phishing

  “Phishing" is the fraudulent attempt by individuals to obtain personally identifiable information from the public at large by sending millions of emails randomly to anyone with an email address. Learn how to avoid phishing scams with these Quick Tips.

• Social Security Fraud

  Tips on how to avoid being scammed by fraudsters who falsely claim to be Social Security employees.

• All About Gift Cards

  Gift cards and gift certificates are convenient and when it comes to holidays, birthdays, or special occasions, they often make gift-giving easy. But gift cards are not the same as credit cards and, while Connecticut has its own gift-card laws, they may not apply to all gift cards. Learn all about gift cards with these Quick Tips.

• Cell Phone "Cramming"

  Learn about phone bill "cramming" and what you can do about unauthorized charges with these Quick Tips.