Consumer Advocate 

The New Year is well under way, but the top scams of 2010 still threaten unsuspecting consumers.

In 2011, the Ohio Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Section filed dozens of lawsuits and received more than 31,000 complaints, among other highlights.

Scammers have convinced Ohio grandparents to send hundreds of thousands of dollars out of the country through the “grandparent scam,” where scammers pose as a grandchild in trouble and call grandparents asking for money.
 

As winter falls upon us, concerns arise about safety, travel, and money. With a little planning, you can protect yourself and save money.

If you are considering a home repair this spring or summer, make sure you know how to find a good contractor.

Ohio high school students can submit 60-second videos on Internet safety for the chance to win college scholarships in the 2011 Take Action High School Video Contest.

A Southeast Ohio consumer reported that while she was chatting with her sister on Facebook, her sister said she had received a government grant.

The consumer’s sister forwarded a link about the grant, and soon the consumer began chatting with an official who said he was from the Federal Government Humanity & Empowerment Program.

Ohioans should beware of the “Uniform Traffic Ticket” scam, in which consumers receive emails stating that they have been caught speeding on camera.

“Online webcam notarization” is invalid in Ohio, but at least one company is claiming to provide a web-based notary service to consumers throughout the U.S.

Under Ohio law, if you need to get a document notarized to verify your signature on the document, you must be physically present with the notary public at the time you sign the document.

Consumers throughout Ohio are reporting losing money to advance fee loan scams. In some cases, they send hundreds of dollars out of the country for loans that are nonexistent.

For example, a Central Ohio consumer received a call saying she qualified for a loan worth up to $5,000. In order to receive the loan, she first had to send $300 via wire transfer to India. She sent the money, but never received the loan. It was all a scam.

New crib standards from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) prohibit the manufacture and sale of dangerous, traditional drop-side cribs.  They also require importers, distributors, manufacturers, and retailers to offer only cribs that meet new mandatory rules, including:

May 31, 2011 – Bicycle Helmets Recalled by Bell Sports Due to Head Injury Hazard: The plastic buckle that connects the chin straps can fail, causing the helmet to come off the wearer’s head. Consumers should stop using the helmets immediately and contact Bell Sports by calling 866-892-6059, via e-mail at answer_desk@bellsports.com, or by visiting the firm's website at www.bellsports.com for a replacement or refund.

If you or someone you know loses money in a scam involving a wire transfer, file a complaint with the Ohio Attorney General’s Office and report the fraud to the wire transfer company.

Report fraud to the Ohio Attorney General’s Office by filing a consumer complaint at www.OhioAttorneyGeneral.gov/ConsumerComplaint or calling 800-282-0515. Keep in mind that once money has been sent via wire transfer, it can be very difficult – if not impossible – to recover. Nevertheless, complaints are an important tool for tracking potential criminal activity.

Gabbard Cars, Inc. (Medina County): A judge ordered Gabbard Cars to pay more than $68,000 for failing to transfer vehicle titles properly and mishandling consumers' payments. In the March 9 judgment, the judge agreed with Attorney General Cordray that the auto dealer's actions violated Ohio's Consumer Sales Practices Act and Title Defect Rescission Act.

Every day the Ohio Attorney General’s Office receives complaints from consumers and businesses working hard to make ends meet. Among these complaints are reports of scams targeting businesses.  

Child identity theft occurs when someone fraudulently uses a child’s identity for personal gain.

The imposter may be a family member, friend or a stranger. He or she may use the child’s name and Social Security number to open new accounts for cell phones, utilities, credit cards and even mortgages.

File a complaint by Feb. 10, 2012

Ohio has a wealth of both oil and natural gas. Since the late 1860s, Ohio has been home to oil and gas drilling. Oil and gas wells are permitted and regulated by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Mineral Resources Management (ODNR-DMRM). In 2010, 431 new oil and gas wells were drilled. There are approximately 64,378 active wells in Ohio.

Ohio's families and communities are under siege by the misuse and abuse of prescription drugs.

A recent execution-style double homicide in Ashtabula County is the latest link in a disturbing chain of prescription drug-fueled crimes. The Ashtabula County sheriff said that the trafficking of OxyContin and Percocet -- the two most popular prescription drugs in his jurisdiction -- was "running wild."

Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine wants to make sure the people who rip off our families, friends, and neighbors face criminal penalties.

In early March, Attorney General DeWine announced that former Jackson County Prosecutor Jonathan Blanton will join the office’s Consumer Protection Section to assist local county prosecutors in the preparation and prosecution of consumer fraud cases.

When looking for debt settlement lawyers online, you must find an attorney who has the ability to practice law in Ohio, not just firms that advertise themselves as “national firms.”

The Supreme Court of Ohio Board of Commissioners on Grievances & Discipline issued an advisory opinion on October 7th stating that out-of-state lawyers are not practicing law if they are representing an Ohioan in a debt-settlement case.

Domestic violence is devastating to the victim, family, and community. The Ohio Attorney General's Office works hard to shine a light on this problem and help those who are victims.

One way anyone can show their awareness of domestic violence is to incorporate purple, the official color of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, into their lives during October. This can be done by wearing some type of purple clothing during the month. Another opportunity to show awareness is to use a purple light bulb for a home’s porch light.

November marks National Runaway Prevention Month. It’s an effort to call attention to the estimated 1.6 to 2.8 million children in a year who run away.

Reporting a missing person is the first step a family member or other loved one can take when faced with this situation. There is also the Missing Persons Checklist available from the Ohio Attorney General's Office. Leads to the whereabouts of missing persons can also be submitted.

As part of National Consumer Protection Week (March 6–12), Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine announced the three winning teams for the 2010 Take Action High School Video Contest.

The first place team was Billy Lewandowski and Todd Thompson from Pymatuning Valley High School (Ashtabula County), who won a $2,500 scholarship for their video, “Too good to be true? It probably is.”

With the cost of college steadily increasing, many Ohioans are looking for creative ways to finance a college education.

To apply for federal financial aid for free, visit www.fafsa.ed.gov. Other similar-sounding websites and companies may charge fees for their services.

For example, a Central Ohio consumer said she completed what she thought was a free government application for financial aid. She later discovered that it was an application to a student aid advisory service that charged $79 to complete the application.

Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine is proud to join government and nonprofit organizations across the country to celebrate National Consumer Protection Week, coming March 4-10, 2012.

National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW) is a coordinated campaign that encourages consumers nationwide to take full advantage of their consumer rights and to make better-informed decisions.

Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine is proud to join government and nonprofit organizations across the country to celebrate National Consumer Protection Week, coming March 6-12, 2011.

National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW) is a coordinated campaign that encourages consumers nationwide to take full advantage of their consumer rights and to make better-informed decisions.