SEATTLE – Attorney General Rob McKenna warned consumers today to be wary of phone calls and e-mails from con artists who – piggybacking on recent security breach reports – pretend to be from the fraud department of a bank or credit card company.

OLYMPIA - Washington and four other western states have reached an agreement with the operator of ARCO gas stations that is intended to reduce the amount of tobacco products sold to minors at those stations, Attorney General Christine Gregoire announced.

The agreement, expected to be filed Wednesday in Thurston County Superior Court, calls for the implementation of new employee hiring and training policies to prevent persons under legal age from purchasing tobacco products at ARCO stations and convenience stores.

SEATTLE - April 13, 2000 - Washington state, Oregon, California and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) today filed settlement papers that clear the way for the merger of BP Amoco and ARCO.

The states and the FTC challenged the proposed merger of the two oil giants, alleging that it could have led to higher crude oil prices or tightened supplies for refiners in the western states by reducing the number of suppliers of Alaskan crude oil. The states’ concern was that this could lead to higher consumer prices for gasoline.

OLYMPIA - Attorney General Christine Gregoire is warning consumers, especially Spanish-speaking residents, to be cautious when considering purchases of computer equipment from telemarketers or unfamiliar businesses that advertise on television.

Over the past four months, the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division has received at least 12 reports from consumers complaining that they either did not receive the computers they purchased, or only received a portion of the equipment ordered. The telemarketing calls and TV advertising are aimed at Spanish-speaking consumers.

Olympia- September 18, 1997- A settlement was announced today in a lawsuit filed by the Attorney General's Office on October 10, 1995, challenging the alleged use of public resources to promote a 1994 Seattle School District school construction bond measure. The settlement includes an acknowledgment of violations of state campaign laws along with a commitment by the District to develop a plan to prevent future violations.

Kennewick -March 26, 2003- About two dozen Central Washington families who purchased defective computers and educational software from a company that falsely claimed it was associated with local schools have had their money returned.

Attorney General Christine Gregoire traveled to Kennewick to personally present checks -- covering down payments and any monthly payments made toward the computers' purchase -- to the scam's victims.

SEATTLE ---One of the nations largest sweepstakes operators, American Family Publishers, which uses Ed McMahon and Dick Clark as its spokespersons, has agreed to pay Washington and 31 other states $1.25 million and stop the use of illegal promotions tactics.

"There's a line between hype to sell a product and deception," said Attorney General Christine Gregoire. "This company crossed over that line with their promotion suggesting consumers were one of only two recipients in Washington with the winning numbers."

Olympia —September 3, 1997 - Washington Attorney General Christine Gregoire today announced that Sears, Roebuck & Co. will pay almost $4.9 million to the state and 4,450 Washington consumers under a $290 million multi-state settlement.

SEATTLE - May 28, 1998 -- Washington Attorney General Christine Gregoire and 43 other attorneys general have negotiated a $2.6 million national settlement with America Online (AOL) that gives consumers important new protections.

“Consumers have a right to be notified in advance whenever there is a price increase or a substantial change to their services,” said Gregoire. “Only with all the facts can consumers make informed choices.”

January 29, 1997 - Seattle -- America Online today agreed to refund monthly service fees, make cancellation easier, and stop advertising for February until the network and system problems caused by the introduction of their new flat rate pricing plan are resolved.