Consumer Advocate 

With vaccines available to all Ohioans age 12 and up, scammers are moving on to new COVID-19 scams. Read on to learn how con artists are scheming and how they are trying to steal consumers’ personal information.

Looking for a new canine companion? Before shopping for a puppy, be sure to learn about how puppy scams have cost some would-be pet owners, leaving them out hundreds of dollars and with no new puppy friend to show for it.

Elder Abuse Awareness Day is June 28, and the Ohio Attorney General’s Office, Elder Abuse Commission and Elder Justice Unit are ready to spread the word to protect seniors. A free webinar – approved for 3 hours of CEU for social workers and counselors – will explore new efforts to prevent elder abuse.

The combination of stimulus payments and income tax refunds may lead some families to consider buying a used car. Motor vehicles are consistently the top complaint category reported to the Consumer Protection Section. Read on for tips on buying a used car.

A new video explains to parents throughout Ohio the importance of protecting their children from identity theft through initiating freezes on their credit reports.

Home improvement scammers often ask for large down payments but simply take the money and run, leaving homeowners with no repairs and no refunds. Then, they move on to another customer to repeat their scheme.
 

On March 4, Attorney General Dave Yost announced the formation of a Robocall Enforcement Unit and the development of a tool that lets consumers report malicious robocalls to his office.

If celebrating Valentine’s Day has you ready to meet your next potential mate, be careful of scammers lurking on dating websites, social media and virtual chat rooms.

In 2020, the Ohio Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Section received over 24,000 complaints. Read on to learn the top complaint categories handled last year and more.

While much of the news involving COVID-19 vaccines is positive and welcomed by Ohioans, scammers are plotting their latest scams to take your personal information and money. Read on for help to protect yourself.

The Ohio Attorney General’s Office launched a new multi-media outreach initiative to increase Ohioans’ awareness of COVID-19 scams, identity theft and red flags of scams. Read on for details about this new initiative.

Unfortunately, data breaches are all too common these days. Now more than ever, then, Ohioans should take precautions against identity theft.

If a new electronic device is on your wish list or that of a loved one, don’t forget to look for red flags before downloading any apps and to review key elements of an app’s privacy policy. These and other tips can help protect both the device and its owner.

Does your New Year’s resolution include losing weight or getting in shape? You’re not alone. Be sure to protect yourself as a consumer when signing up for a gym membership or buying nutritional products.
 

Gift cards are popular presents during the year-end holiday season. But not all gift cards are alike. Before making any purchases, you should understand some basics about gift cards, including card expiration dates and signs of potential scams.

Ohioans should be on the alert for scammers posing as utility company representatives, and threatening to discontinue service to the customer unless the consumer provides personal information or immediate payment for utility service. Read on to learn more about these utility scams as well as where to turn if you need payment assistance.

Whether they want them or not, many consumers are receiving robocalls telling them they are eligible for a lower interest rate on their credit card. Most likely, these calls are more than annoying – they’re also part of a scam. Read about these calls and what to do if you are really interested in a lower rate.

With the global pandemic, many parents and their children are turning more often to online resources using devices such as tablets, smartphones and laptop computers. Read on to apply cybersmart tips to help keep you and your children safe while online.

Time will fly by, and before you know it, Ohioans will start their holiday shopping. As like many things this year, in-person shopping on Black Friday may be different than usual. Whether online or in-person, consumers should understand their rights to shop smart this holiday season.

More often, older adults are using devices such as smartphones and tablets to connect to the internet. Especially in light of COVID-19, they have found themselves using the internet for tasks they might have otherwise completed in person, from ordering groceries to coordinating home deliveries. Read on to apply cybersmart tips from the Ohio Attorney General’s Office.

With the goal of making Ohio the toughest state for illegal robocallers to operate in, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost has continued to fight the growing nuisance with enforcement action that seeks to hold perpetrators accountable.

As consumers get used to the gradual reopening of the economy and rescheduling of events that have been postponed or canceled, it’s a good time to review policies and procedures for COVID-19 related openings and closings, ticketed events, deposits for venues and gift cards.

Don’t let fear and uncertainty surrounding COVID-19 make you fall victim to a scam. Thieves are on the prowl with scams relating to contact tracers, economic impact payments and used cars.

Debt collectors make a living by getting consumers to pay up. Naturally, this occupation is a popular disguise for scammers who want you to pay them instead.

As outside temperatures heat up, Ohioans will no doubt be faced with decisions for home improvement projects ranging from staining decks to installing new roofs.

Upgrading devices can be exciting, with all the potential for better pictures, faster processing speeds, expanded memory and new core functions. Before you dive in to setting up your new device, make sure to remove your personal information from your old device.

As a result of COVID-19, many Ohioans are now facing unemployment or uncertainty about the length of their employment. Explore and understand your options before taking out a high-interest, short-term loan.