Consumer Advocate 

The back-to-school season can be a busy time for families. Unfortunately, scammers are busy this time of year, too.

Your phone bill may just be another one on the list to pay every month. But next time it arrives, take a second look for extra charges or fees. Some may be for services you didn’t order, agree to, or use. If you find these, you may be a victim of  “cramming.”

Online marketplaces make it easy for buyers to access countless products from individual sellers. But shopping this way can leave you vulnerable to scams since you may not know who is selling the item or if the item even exists. Scam artists take advantage of these unknown elements and attempt to steal your money.

You now can tailor the topics and timing of email communications from the Ohio Attorney General’s Office.

You believe your child is destined for the spotlight. So you find a talent search company and spend a lot of money in hopes your child will be “discovered.” This was the goal of many parents and children who signed with The Event in Orlando Inc., a talent agency that operated in the Cleveland area. The business sold talent contest packages to consumers and then failed to deliver the services as advertised.

With the explosion of social media, people have made online connections with many individuals, organizations, and events. Social media can be beneficial, and many legitimate people, businesses, and agencies create accounts to keep others informed of their news and promotions. However, scam artists also are taking advantage of social media sites, using fake profiles and accounts to trick consumers into losing money or releasing personal information.

Finding a new apartment or home to rent can be challenging. As you scan through rental ads considering the neighborhood, cost, and size, what you may not consider is that the listing could be a fake. Rental listing scams target consumers who are looking for a good deal on a great place and trick people into sending money.

If you want to lower your monthly mortgage payments, don’t trust businesses that tell you to stop making your payments.

If you are in the market for summer work or a full-time position, you may have noticed job postings that sound too good to be true. What you may not know is that scammers who want to steal your money — and maybe even your identity — create many of these postings. Learn to recognize the signs of job opportunity scams and how to avoid falling for them.

When short on cash or looking for a way to supplement income, car-title loans may seem like a good option. But beware: Car-title loans may cost more than you expect.

If you own a timeshare and are thinking of selling it, use caution before agreeing to do so through a real estate broker or agent. Since January 2012, the Ohio Attorney General’s Office has received almost 160 complaints regarding timeshares. Most of these complaints are from shareowners who are attempting to sell their timeshare through resale companies.

In April, Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine stood beside Central Ohio law enforcement officers to announce indictments against seven people who ripped off elderly victims in Fairfield, Franklin, Pickaway, and Ross counties with their door-to-door home improvement scheme.

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

When a used car is purchased from a motor vehicle dealer, you expect the dealer to provide a valid certificate of title that transfers ownership of the vehicle. But what happens if the dealer fails to deliver the title? The Attorney General may be able to help.

Mother’s Day is Sunday, May 12, and if you are planning a last-minute gift for the moms in your life, be sure to make smart shopping decisions and avoid scams.

The Ohio Attorney General’s Office now offers several new videos on consumer protection topics. Watch as Consumer Protection Section experts discuss home improvement, identity theft, and other issues, and check out the winning student videos from the office’s 2012 Take Action High School Video Contest.

Scammers have been posing as law enforcement officers for years, but current technology makes the scheme more convincing.

In March, Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine and Miami County Prosecutor Gary Nasal announced the guilty plea of the ringleader of a telemarketing fraud scheme that stole millions of dollars from thousands of victims across the country.

In a typical phishing scam, a con artist pretends to be an employee of your bank or a government agency and asks you to confirm account information by submitting your bank account number, password, or Social Security number. The scammer hopes you will fall for the scam and reveal personal information.

When making a purchase, consumers often face a choice of whether to use cash or credit. What is the difference between these payment methods, and how do they affect the real cost of the items you buy?

Be careful when purchasing used cars. Flood-damaged vehicles from areas ravaged by Hurricane Sandy may be making their way to Ohio and other areas.

National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW) is March 3–9, 2013, and this year Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine is joining other government and nonprofit organizations in Ohio and across the country to help consumers learn to protect their information and understand their rights.

Does a security breach mean an identity theft has occurred? Does most identity theft happen online? Identity theft is a popular topic, but it’s often misunderstood. To protect yourself, make sure you understand a few key facts and what to do if your identity is stolen.

If you have unclaimed funds in your name, you don’t have to hire a professional to try to recover them. Be wary of individuals or websites that tell you otherwise.

Beware of a recent computer scam that tricks consumers into sending money and revealing personal information.

During tax season, take extra precautions to protect your identity and beware of “instant” tax refunds.

Among the more than 30,000 complaints the Ohio Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Section received in 2012 were many reports of potential scams. They ranged from phony business opportunities or online vehicle scams to sweepstakes ploys and sweetheart scams.

Ohio consumers are reporting vehicle sales fraud involving online marketplaces. Scam artists tell exaggerated stories to lure consumers into wire-transferring large sums of money for vehicles that don’t exist. In most cases, wire transferred funds are nearly impossible to recover. Learn how to identify these scams and protect yourself when shopping for vehicles online.