Consumer Advocate 

Some advertisements promote free, no-risk trials for the latest and greatest product. But watch out! Asking for free items may subject you to additional purchases and payments. 

Some services advertise that bad credit can be erased or your debts can be settled, but it takes a watchful eye to tell the legitimate services from the scam artists. 

It’s that time of year when you or someone you know might be seeking out that special someone, and con artists know it. Fake online romance is prevalent, so we’ve outlined ways to avoid sweetheart scams and protect your hard-earned money.

Do you go online but wonder if you are taking all the right cybersecurity steps? Here are four tips you can apply right now.

In light of recent large-scale data breaches, it is more important than ever to know the steps to take to protect your identity. That includes understanding the different alerts and freezes you can request from the major credit reporting agencies. 

Consumers across Ohio are reporting scam phone calls about phony grants, especially by con artists pretending to work for government agencies. 

Older adults across the nation are expected to receive new Medicare cards by April 2019. It’s important to know what to expect and to be on the lookout for con artists trying to steal money or personal information. 

Consumers who sent money to scammers using Western Union’s wire service between 2004 and early 2017 may now apply for compensation from a $586 million fund. The fund is related to a settlement that Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine announced in January.

Do you receive unwanted telemarketing or scam phone calls and wonder why your caller ID says many of them are right in your area code? It’s called Caller ID “spoofing;” a cheap and widely available technology that masks where the calls are originating.

October is National Cyber Security Awareness month, and the Ohio Attorney General’s Office is warning users of Apple products that scammers are targeting them for personal information and money.

The Ohio Attorney General’s ninth-annual Take Action Video Contest gives Ohio high school students the opportunity to learn about cybersecurity and a chance to win up to $2,500 in college scholarships. 

There’s no way around the headlines. Equifax, one of the country's three main credit reporting bureaus, suffered a data breach affecting some 143 million U.S. consumers.  Despite this scary news, there are ways you can protect yourself.   

This year, Ohio has a sales tax holiday from Friday, August 4 through Sunday, August 6. Learn which purchases are exempt from sales tax during the holiday and find other back-to-school smart shopping tips. 

With all the telemarketing calls you probably receive, you may wonder if there are penalties for making illegal calls. Read about a federal court ordering Dish Network to pay a record-breaking penalty for more than 82 million violations of the Do Not Call laws.

Many small businesses want to do the right thing by safeguarding their systems from viruses and other malicious software. But, as a small business, where do you start, and where can you find information about keeping your business secure? The answer is the Ohio Attorney General’s CyberOhio initiative.

Looking for a great place to rent? Before sending any money, make sure your new landlord isn’t a con artist. Learn how to detect a phony rental posting designed only to steal your money.

Mystery shopping jobs may appear to be flourishing, but make sure your secret shopper job doesn’t become a surprise you never wanted. Learn to recognize the signs of mystery shopping scams and how to avoid falling for them.

Federal laws generally prohibit companies from making robocalls to you without your written consent, so read on to learn more about the law and for tips to help limit future calls.

Many identity theft protection services charge monthly or annual fees, but there are other free and low-cost methods to protect your identity.

If you’re asked to make a donation online to cover someone’s medical costs, to help victims of a tragedy, or to fund another cause, learn the basics of crowdfunding and how to spot a potential scam.

If you have a problem with a product or service you bought, you may be able to participate in an informal dispute resolution process offered by the Ohio Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Section. The process is free and has helped thousands of consumers resolve complaints.

Year after year, one thing is predictable about Ohio weather: Spring brings out the home improvement scammers. Learn how to prevent these con artists from taking your hard-earned money.

Buying a motor vehicle is often one of the most expensive items we buy in our lifetime. Learn your consumer rights to make sure you’re treated fairly as you go through the buying process.

If you’re in the market for a new job, watch out for signs of a job scam. That “too good to be true” job description or quick offer of employment without a face-to-face interview may signal a con.

Do you think there are unclaimed funds out there belonging to you? Are you unsure of how to claim these funds? Have you recently been contacted by someone who offered to help you claim funds owed to you?

As Valentine’s Day approaches, watch out for con artists seeking to profit off Ohioans looking for love. While we all want to find the perfect match, unless you know how romance scams operate, instead of finding real love, your new “sweetheart” may deliver the double doozy of a broken heart and a lighter wallet.

Did you start out the new year with a new smartphone, tablet, laptop, or even a TV that connects to the internet? The Ohio Attorney General’s Office encourages you to make cybersecurity one of your top priorities as you learn, program, and use your new device

Whether reading a store ad, shopping online, or making a purchase at a retail store, you are likely protected by Ohio’s consumer protection laws. The Ohio Consumer Sales Practices Act (“CSPA”) and its related rules operate to maintain a fair marketplace for consumers.