Consumer Law

AG McKenna discusses loan modification and unemployment scams

Posted on May 26, 2010
AG McKenna talks with Comcast's Sabrina Register about scams targeting economically struggling Washingtonians.

AG to host public forum for Chinese-Americans

Posted on May 25, 2010
Washington Attorney General Rob McKenna (????)  is again reaching out to Chinese-American community leaders to help protect residents from fraud and unfair business practices. McKenna, working with Chinese-American community leaders, will host a free public forum focused on consumer protection issues this Saturday at the Attorney General?s Seattle office.

Should you sell gold for cash?

Posted on May 25, 2010
With the price of gold reaching record highs of well over $1,000, you might be thinking about finally dumping that wedding band from your first marriage or cashing in on that broken, out-of-fashion chain. But before you trade in valuables for cash, you should ready Attorney General's Rob McKenna's latest Ask the AG column.

Attorney General orders window sellers to be transparent in their marketing

Posted on May 18, 2010
The Washington Attorney General?s Office continued its efforts to clear up alleged deceptive marketing practices among window selling businesses by reaching a settlement this week with Harley Exteriors, of Bothell.

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Attorney General McKenna to host public forum for Chinese-American community

Posted on May 18, 2010
Washington Attorney General Rob McKenna is again reaching out to Chinese-American community leaders to help protect residents from fraud and unfair business practices. McKenna, working with Chinese-American community leaders, will host a free public forum focused on consumer protection issues from 10 a...

Abagnale and Kasemehas: A Con-tradictory Comparison

Posted on May 11, 2010
A con man is a con man, but to make these two analogous on any level would be grossly unfair. ...

Job scammers lurk on the Internet

Posted on May 03, 2010

Parents warned of crib recalls

Posted on April 30, 2010
Parents and caregivers are being alerted to a substantial recall of cribs linked to child deaths and injuries.

Secrets of Italian cooking revealed

Posted on April 29, 2010
For years now, the Italian restaurant chain The Olive Garden has touted in commercials their cooking school in Tuscany where they send their chefs to ?learn the secrets of Italian cooking." ...

New Washington driver license will help thwart identity theft

Posted on April 29, 2010
There?s a new Washington driver?s license on the way to help protect you from identity theft.

Stingy fundraiser can no longer solicit in Washington

Posted on April 23, 2010
A for-profit fundraiser that solicited donations for the Jaycees and other charities (including some fake ones) will close shop under a settlement with the Washington Attorney General?s Office.

Bakeries whipped by wedding cake scams

Posted on April 15, 2010
Local bakeries are being targeted by a foreign crook placing orders for fancy wedding cakes.

Free iPad for beta testers?

Posted on April 07, 2010
In yet another too-good-to-true deal, scammers are advertising free iPads for consumers who sign up to be product testers.

Beware of health insurance scams

Posted on April 07, 2010
Congress passes health care reform and days later, scammers start peddling phony health insurance policies.

The 2010 census is taking a picture. Keep your eyes open!

Posted on March 30, 2010
By now we have all seen the attention-grabbing U.S. census commercials that first aired during the last Super Bowl.  ... While in the commercials they?re absurdly trying to plan how to literally capture all 300 million Americans on film, the idea is essentially what the census is ? taking a snapshot of America...

Computer spyware poses as meeting reminder

Posted on March 24, 2010
Dawn Pirkel sent an e-mail last message Wednesday, reminding me to RSVP for a conference. However, there was no conference and the sender?s real intent seemed to be to infect my computer with spyware. ...

Tax season brings industrial shredders!

Posted on March 16, 2010
In an effort to determine whether it?s worth taking the standard state sales tax exemption or itemizing my purchases, I?m digging my way through a chaotic pile of papers. Which brings me to the point of this post: Thank goodness that it?s shred season!

Should you co-sign a credit card for your student?

Posted on March 11, 2010
As a teen, my mom instructed me in how to apply for my first credit card.  ... Today?s students may find it more difficult to start building a credit history. So what happens if your kid can?t get a card? Should you co-sign?

LifeLock barred from claiming it can prevent identity theft

Posted on March 09, 2010
... A group of 34 state attorneys general joined the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) today in announcing an agreement with LifeLock, under which the Tempe, Ariz.-based company will pay $11 million in restitution to consumers. ...

Social network posts say more than you think

Posted on March 09, 2010
For millions across the globe, the idiosyncratic practice of updating one?s status on Facebook or Twitter has become a ubiquitous component of everyday life. ... Updates about our whereabouts seem like fairly innocuous tidbits about our lives. But their crux is the same across the board: You?re announcing, ?I?m not home...

UTC releases 2009 consumer complaint rankings

Posted on March 08, 2010
Coinciding with the start of Consumer Protection Week, March 7-13, the state Utilities and Transportation Commission (UTC) released statistics regarding consumer complaints for 2009. Energy companies moved to the top of the inauspicious list, replacing telecommunications.

Web sites makes it easy to check whether businesses are registered

Posted on March 08, 2010
The Department of Revenue is touting its Web site, www.suspectfraud.com, as part of a campaign to help prevent consumer fraud and give people an easy way to check if a business is registered and paying taxes.

High price of rent-to-own

Posted on March 01, 2010
The rent-to-own business is booming. We settled our case with Rent-a-Center, accused of unusually aggressive collection tactics. Washington?s settlement makes it clear that harassment won't be tolerated and  makes it easier for customers to know exactly how much they?ll pay for furniture and TVs they take home...

Toyota offers assistance to car owners in need of recall repairs

Posted on February 26, 2010
This just in: Toyota has agreed to provide free pickup and return of recalled cars, as well as free rental cars or taxi fare, for car owners across the nation.

Interview with a scammer

Posted on February 25, 2010
A British blogger?s three-part series about an interview with a self-identified reformed scammer is worth a few minutes of your time to read. The writer was contacted by phone by an anonymous, 23-year-old man from Nigeria who claimed he served two years behind bars for advance-fee fraud and phishing.

Raising the red flag on mail thieves

Posted on February 23, 2010
We?re raising a red flag about your red flag ? you know, the one on your mailbox that tells the carrier there?s something to pick up. It?s also a great way to signal a thief.

Are you smarter than these students? Test your LifeSmarts

Posted on February 22, 2010
Today, high school students from Cheney, Kittitas, Lake Stevens and Selah competed for the title of Washington State Champion in the national LifeSmarts competition and the chance to advance to the finals in Miami.

Feds fight job scammers

Posted on February 19, 2010
If you?re unemployed, the last thing you need is to be scammed while trying to find work.  But cons posing as employers are ripping off job-seekers throughout the country. The feds are fighting back and you can, too ...

Countrywide settlement money to help homeowners

Posted on February 16, 2010
Attorney General Rob McKenna offered hope for Washington homeowners struggling to make their mortgage payments, as well as hundreds who already their homes. Our state?s $1.8 million share from a settlement concerning the unfair lending practices of Countrywide Financial will be used to help them.

Identity fraud up in 2009, report shows

Posted on February 16, 2010
The number of identity fraud victims in the U.S. climbed for the second consecutive year to more than 11 million adults, according to the latest report from Javelin Strategy & Research.

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