Scams

Attorney General Rob McKenna today warned consumers to beware of possible flood-related scams including fraudulent home repair offers, phony charity pitches and cons posing as government officials. As sick as it may seem, cons like to prey on disaster situations. Washington residents are generous folks. ...

Gift cards are easy to give and great to receive. But be careful if you shop online. Some cards sold on auction sites are counterfeit or stolen. Plus, there's an important difference between cards sold by merchants and those issued by banks and malls. (more)

An estimated 30.2 million adults – 13.5 percent of the U.S. adult population – were victims of fraud during a single year, according to a new survey released yesterday by the Federal Trade Commission. Here...

Attorney General Rob McKenna today urged homeowners to check out contractors they hire to help repair their storm-damaged homes and remove fallen trees caused by yesterday’s 40-50 mph winds. Storms often...

Our Consumer Protection High-Tech Unit filed a lawsuit today accusing a former Bremerton couple who sold magazine subscriptions of violating consumer protection laws. According to the state’s complaint,...

“Con artists have come up with another devious way to steal your money. Their bait: cute little puppies. It starts with an e-mail or a classified ad, and it ends with disappointment and a drained bank...

We love snappy consumer protection campaigns. And the New York Public Interest Research Group's new CyberStreetSmart.org Web site hits the mark. The site advises consumers on how to protect themselves...

Doug Walsh, chief of our Consumer Protection Division, and other experts were interviewed by KING 5 TV for “Secrets of the Contractor Trade Uncovered." If you missed Monday’s broadcast, you can watch online....

U.S. Postal Inspectors unveiled a new consumer education campaign aimed at reducing fraud involving fake checks and wire scams -- a growing problem in Washington state. You can test your ability to detect...

Actor J.K. Simmons  (“Law & Order” and “Spider-Man”) and Montana State Auditor John Morrison teamed up to film a documentary aimed at preventing investor fraud, the Missoulian newspaper reported. Their...