Consumer Advocate 

Have you ever felt tricked into signing up online for a subscription service or product, then found it difficult to cancel? The culprit might be digital “dark pattern,” which are designed to manipulate online user behavior.

Earlier this year, the Ohio Attorney General’s Office won a lawsuit filed in 2021 against a northeast Ohio home-improvement contractor and his business, Neil Construction, netting a judgment exceeding $2 million for the state.

Summer is a popular season for concerts and sporting events, including high-profile attractions that sell out quickly. Don’t be tempted by offers that seem too good to be true. Learn to spot the signs of fake ticket scams.

Vacations are an ideal time to rest and relax – and to explore new locations. Follow these tips to protect your physical safety as well as your personal identification, financial information and digital devices.

Thanks to a new federal law called the INFORM Consumers Act, consumers will see greater transparency when making purchases through online marketplaces.

Each June, Attorney General Yost’s Elder Abuse Commission commemorates World Elder Abuse Awareness Day by helping to educate older adults and those who support them about the problems related to all forms of financial abuse, neglect and exploitation.

Earlier this year, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost sued two used-car dealerships and their owners for allegedly rolling back odometers and selling salvaged, rebuilt vehicles without the legally required disclosures. Learn more about how the Consumer Protection Section protects consumers by taking on dealerships that lie to their customers about the status of vehicles.

Scammers are always thinking of new ways to lay claim to your hard-earned dollars. As you look into options for making your money grow, be on guard for investment scams, which can take many forms.

A new home often involves hiring a moving company, but watch out for the red flags of a scam so you don’t get defrauded in the process.

Search engines typically make money through advertising, but scam ads sometimes make their way into search-engine results. Learn how to avoid such ads and protect yourself when searching online.

Ohio’s Home Solicitation Sales Act protects consumers from high-pressure door-to-door sales by providing a three-day “cooling off” period during which a contract can be canceled. Learn more about your rights before that next knock on your front door.

Before booking a summer vacation, learn how to spot vacation-rental scams. Spend a little time researching your vacation destination in order to avoid losing money and ensure a good time.

The Ohio Attorney General’s Office opened more than 500 civil and criminal investigations in 2022. Likewise, it initiated 43 lawsuits for various unfair, deceptive or unconscionable business practices, and obtained 44 judgments and “assurances of voluntary compliance” that totaled more than $50 million in consumer restitution, civil penalties, costs and other relief for Ohioans. This month, we examine a lawsuit filed in January against a “home warranty” company by our office.

The Ohio Attorney General’s Office files dozens of consumer protection cases each year to protect all Ohioans and enforce laws enacted to keep them safe in the marketplace. In this occasional column, we examine a home-improvement lawsuit filed in November 2022.

With tax season approaching, you may be considering hiring a tax preparer. Before you do, though, review this checklist.

The Ohio Attorney General’s Office commemorated Data Privacy Week last month by educating Ohioans on how to maintain their privacy online. Check out these helpful tips.

Valentine’s Day can be a time to seek out that special someone, and con artists know it. “Sweetheart” scammers may spend countless hours chatting with a victim before requesting money for bogus reasons, such as airfare to visit.

Whether it’s “notarios” who pass themselves off as lawyers or other scammers, predators are always looking to take advantage of immigrants and their community.

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost is taking Dollar General and Family Dollar to court for allegedly advertising goods for one price on shelves and charging a higher price at the register.

When selling products or services online – either through popular auction sites or online stores – scammers may be eager to respond. Learn how to spot a scammer so you don’t wind up losing money.

As temperatures fall and energy rates rise, Ohioans may wonder how to keep heating costs low, including where to turn for assistance. Read more about making safe and smart choices when heating your home this winter.

Scammers are increasingly using text messages to imitate legitimate businesses to steal your personal and financial information. Learn how to spot signs of a scam text. 

October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month. Follow these seven steps to enhance your security when using online devices.

In this second Cybersecurity Awareness Month article, parents and their children can learn how to protect themselves while gaming and when using social media.

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost and 32 other attorneys general announced a proposed $438.5 million settlement with JUUL Labs stemming from a two-year multistate investigation into the e-cigarette manufacturer’s misguided marketing and sales practices.

Consumers can protect themselves against identity theft by taking two simple steps: freezing your credit with the three major credit bureaus and establishing an Identity Protection PIN with the Internal Revenue Service.
 

Also coinciding with back-to-school season, the Ohio Attorney General’s Office is cautioning students and their parents about apartment and home rental scams.
 

As a new school year approaches, you can save some money by taking advantage of Ohio’s sales-tax holiday, which runs from Aug. 5 through Aug. 7.