Other LanguagesIn the wake of the massive tornados that touched down in Oklahoma this week, Better Business Bureau (BBB), the Washington State Attorney General’s Office (AGO) and the Secretary of State (SOS) are warning of opportunistic fraudsters. Cons follow the headlines and can easily create bogus charities under the guise of helping victims.
The Attorney General’s Office and the Better Business Bureau are warning Washington residents to read the fine print before responding to letters from businesses offering to sell them copies of records easily accessible from local government offices for a much lower price.
Attorney General Bob Ferguson’s High-Tech Unit has secured a $97,000 settlement with ZookaWare, an Arizona-based software company, and its owner for engaging in unfair and deceptive practices against consumers over the last several years.
Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson and the Better Business Bureau are teaming up to remind consumers that scammers never take a vacation. Both the AGO and the BBB have seen a recent spike in “Timeshare Reseller” scams. Together both agencies have received more than 20 complaints since the start of the year.
Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson has ordered T-Mobile to correct deceptive advertising that promised consumers no annual contracts while carrying hidden charges for early termination of phone plans. Today, the Attorney General's Office filed a court order signed by T-Mobile and effective nationwide that will ensure the company clearly communicates the limitations of its new “no-contract” wireless service plans and allows customers duped by the deceptive ads to exit their contracts with no penalty.
CONSUMER ALERT: AG Ferguson, Sec State Wyman warn against fake fundraisers feeding on Boston tragedy
Attorney General Bob Ferguson and Secretary of State Kim Wyman today expressed their condolences to the victims of the horrific violence at the 2013 Boston Marathon—and warned people not to fall victim to fake fundraisers using the tragedy to scam people into making bogus contributions.
Attorney General Ferguson was infuriated to learn unauthorized financial planning companies were targeting senior veterans with schemes promising new untapped veterans benefits—if the veterans were willing to let these “planners” help manage their financial assets.
The Attorney General’s Office has learned people are receiving e-mails that appear to be from the AGO Webmaster or other “@atg.wa.gov” e-mail addresses with subject lines offering stock tips and other news. These are spoofs to trick people into parting with their personal information or lure them into clicking on a document or link that will infect their computer with viruses or malware.
OLYMPIA...Call them scammers, swindlers, fraudsters or grifters. But whatever you do, don’t believe a word they say.
The Attorney General’s Office today warned parents to be careful about educational companies who claim to be affiliated with their child’s school as a way to sell their wares.