Consumer Advocate 

Speaking of warmer weather, vacations peak in the spring and summer months too! Consumers should beware of travel scams when planning their next vacation. The best way to avoid scams is to start planning early.

Please consider attending one of these upcoming conferences on elder financial exploitation in facility settings, or fraud investigations and prevention. Read on to learn more. 

Speaking of scams, some bad actors send out legitimate-looking emails and text messages that purport to be from popular companies. Learn how to spot the red flags to avoid falling victim to one of these all-too-common business impersonation scams.

Love may abound, but scammers do, too! Don’t get your heart broken by a fake love interest. Learn about the red flags of romance scams – also known as “sweetheart” scams – that infiltrate dating websites/apps, chat rooms and online message boards.

The Ohio Attorney General’s Office received more than 20,500 consumer complaints in 2021. Find out what areas drew the most complaints, how the Consumer Protection Section handles the informal dispute-resolution process and what other free services are available.

Data Privacy Week was observed last month, but it’s always the right time to remember the importance of keeping personal information private. Read on for important privacy tips and data from the National Cybersecurity Alliance.

It’s the holiday season – and, to help keep it merry and bright, the Ohio Attorney General’s Office is sharing some tips for identifying shopping scams.

At a time when the weather outside can turn frightful, donations are delightful. Many charities draw a substantial portion of their contributions from year-end donations. Read on to learn how to be a wise donor this holiday season and to avoid potential charity scams.

Gift cards are popular presents during the year-end holidays, especially for last-minute shoppers. Here is some consumer protection advice involving gift cards, including security tips to help you prevent a scammer or thief from receiving your holiday present.

Amid the seasonal hustle and bustle, Ohioans should be on the lookout for package delivery scams, which typically rise at this time of year. Discover how to identify these scams and to avoid malware embedded in such scam emails and texts.

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

These days, many types of products can be purchased through supposed “free trial” offers. Often, these offers come with terms including automatic renewals, which can result in significant costs to unsuspecting consumers.

October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month and a perfect time to review the warning signs that a con artist is trying to get you to divulge personal information.

With the holiday season approaching, the Ohio Attorney General’s Office is sharing tips on shopping online, identifying false reviews and understanding return policies.

If you are considering investing in cryptocurrency, make sure you understand how it works and keep up on emerging cryptocurrency scams. Cryptocurrency is a form of payment that can be exchanged online for goods and services. Common types of cryptocurrency are Bitcoin, Ethereum, Dogecoin, Tether and Polkadot. Cryptocurrencies work using a technology called blockchain, which is a technology spread across many computers that manages and records transactions. 

Fraud can be difficult to detect, but recognizing the payment methods often used by con artists can help you spot a scam. Also, if you paid a scammer using MoneyGram between 2013 and 2017, read on for important info about a potential refund opportunity.

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.

Don’t miss your chance to save on back-to-school shopping this year. The sales tax holiday runs from Friday, Aug. 6, through Sunday, Aug. 8, 2021.

Ready to get back to traveling? As more Ohioans are and as the summer months approach, consumers are advised to research any new COVID-19 policies and learn how to dodge scammers who would cheat travelers out of long-awaited vacations.

AG Yost’s Consumer Protection Section protects Ohioans from predatory and illegal business practices by enforcing state laws. Read about this month’s big win that got money returned to an Ohioan just like you. 

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.