All Consuming

It's National Consumer Protection Week! Arm yourself with Information

Blog Moderator — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 00:45:17 GMT

Consumer protection advocates across the country are celebrating National Consumer Protection Week this week—spotlighting information available to help people and their families protect themselves against scams, fraud and other financial problems.

Spoofers strike again

Public Affairs Unit — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 00:30:18 GMT

Today, the Attorney General’s Office learned people are receiving e-mails that appear to be from the AGO Webmaster or other “@atg.wa.gov” e-mail addresses with the following subject lines:
•   New Pick Coming! But First I need your help, details inside
•   Pick Of The Week
•   This Stock is another monster week ahead
•   DON’T MISS TODAY’S TRADING IDEA
•   Your Mind Blowing Monster Pick!
•   News Out & Must Read Inside.

Let us assure you. These are spoofs.

Free shred events starting again

Sarah Lane All Consuming Blog Moderator — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 18:54:03 GMT

Thankfully, the shred event season has begun and I won’t have to spend hours catching up on my shredding, and neither will you. We can bring our boxes to a free community shredding event to keep our personal information out of the hands of crooks. The first shred event of the season was last week, and events are scheduled through October. Check our calendar for dates and locations across Washington state.

Respecting Privacy. Safeguarding Data. Enabling Trust.

Sarah Lane All Consuming Blog Moderator — Mon, 28 Jan 2013 23:41:14 GMT

January 28 is Data Privacy Day. To mark the occasion, the Online Trust Alliance (OTA) announced a series of town hall meetings and the release of the OTA 2013 Data Protection & Breach Readiness Guide. Attorney General Bob Ferguson is the keynote for the Seattle event on January 30.

E-Receipts: Love them or hate them?

Sarah Lane All Consuming Blog Moderator — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 20:19:42 GMT

Like many of you, I was introduced to e-receipts during the frantic holiday shopping season. Frustrated and tired at the end of a long day, I was barely listening when the cashier asked me if I wanted a paper receipt, email receipt or both. Working at the AGO, I know better than to agree to something before looking into the details.

Stop sneaky Scrooges from sidelining your support

Public Affairs Unit — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 18:28:20 GMT

With the Sandy Hook Elementary tragedy fresh in our minds during the holiday season, many of us are seeking ways to share our blessings with those in need.

Nationwide Insurance data breach affects 20,000 Washingtonians

Dan Dan Sytman — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 20:32:23 GMT

On October 3, 2012, a portion of our computer network that is used by Nationwide Insurance and Allied Insurance was criminally intruded upon by an unidentified perpetrator.

The password is “pleasestealmyidentity”

Sarah Lane All Consuming Blog Moderator — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 22:23:24 GMT

Just in time for Halloween, here’s some scary news about people leaving themselves wide open to having their identities stolen, bank accounts breached and personal information posted for the whole world to see. FoxNews.com reports on the 25 worst passwords on the web.

Senior Assistant Attorney General David Huey recognized by WSBA

SES - ISD — Wed, 17 Oct 2012 18:31:42 GMT

Congratulations to Senior Assistant Attorney General David Huey, who last night received the Washington State Bar Association’s (WSBA) Angelo Petruss Award for Lawyers in Public Service.

Looking for some extra cash?

Public Affairs Unit — Tue, 07 Aug 2012 17:54:53 GMT

Tell us what's wrong with this job offer

Is that a legit credit card company calling, or just another scam?

Public Affairs Unit — Fri, 03 Aug 2012 18:55:22 GMT

Received annoying calls about your credit card interest rate? Along with being annoying, it might also be a scam.

Consumer alert: Businesses should be on the lookout for fake invoices

Public Affairs Unit — Thu, 02 Aug 2012 17:06:26 GMT

After receiving more than 500 complaints in the last 36 months, the Better Business Bureau this month issued a warning to businesses about misleading invoices sent by California-based US Telecom. The invoices have been sent to businesses in Eastern Washington, Northern Idaho, Montana and beyond.

Test your scam-awareness with this “urgent message from Sudan”

Public Affairs Unit — Wed, 01 Aug 2012 18:58:15 GMT

Yesterday I received the following email from daidou@tora-rd.com..

My lucky day?

Public Affairs Unit — Mon, 16 Jul 2012 16:40:20 GMT

A challenge: please count the number of things wrong with "Col. Smith's" email.

Rendezvous with a scam?

Public Affairs Unit — Wed, 11 Jul 2012 20:54:34 GMT

When it comes to love, the euphoric feeling of personal affection for another person, we all want it. We all deserve it. However, where you find it can be a little tricky. I’m not talking about the bar scene or bumping into someone at a coffee shop. I’m talking about online dating sites, which scammers have discovered in recent years.

Olympic College Students & Faculty Victims of ID Theft

Public Affairs Unit — Fri, 06 Jul 2012 19:37:07 GMT

According to the Kitsap Sun and Q13Fox, 16 students and employees at Olympic College reported that their credit cards had been compromised. The victims told college security officers that their credit card companies notified them of suspicious activity.

Survey says: shoppers can't fight their impulses

Attorney General Rob McKenna — Fri, 15 Jun 2012 18:53:34 GMT

Some people say looks are everything. Is that true? When it comes to shopping for food or clothing, a recent survey says – yes. A cool label or beautiful clothing display can influence what you buy. For example: When I’m looking for spaghetti sauce, I go into the grocery store thinking I’m going to buy “Hunt’s

Did you win the Summer Olympics Lottery?

Public Affairs Unit — Wed, 13 Jun 2012 21:20:34 GMT

Sorry, but you are not a winner. Click through to find out why..

What is the worst email scam you’ve received?

Sarah Lane All Consuming Blog Moderator — Fri, 08 Jun 2012 18:07:15 GMT

In honor of National Internet Safety Month, we are taking a moment to discuss some of the worst email scams we’ve seen recently. Some have poor spelling and grammar and others are just too good to be true, but they are all scams. Remember, when you receive one of these emails the best thing to do is delete it. Don’t open the attachments or click on any links. And please, whatever you do, don’t give out your personal information or wire money.

No place like home

Attorney General Rob McKenna — Mon, 14 May 2012 22:20:00 GMT

In 2008, Aileen Eriksen -- a Burbank, Wash. mother of six – wanted to maintain a stable home for her family. “Especially when you have kids, it’s important to know that they have a secure place that they can call home — to be able to say, ‘We’re going home now’ and know where that home is,” said Eriksen. But

Can you pass this test?

Public Affairs Unit — Mon, 14 May 2012 18:11:34 GMT

It's time to test your consumer protection knowledge. This quiz question relates to how to handle certain things that show up in your e-mail inbox.

Emergency! Don't fall for the 911 scam

Public Affairs Unit — Sat, 24 Mar 2012 01:05:20 GMT

Residents of Washington, Michigan, Pennsylvania and other states have reported receiving calls from someone requesting money for 9-1-1 services. The caller claims that residents must pay a fee to register their house in a 9-1-1 database so first responders can locate the home in an emergency...This is a scam.

Consumer alert: Don’t be carried away by “the Love Boat scam”

Public Affairs Unit — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 21:13:06 GMT

Consumer alert from the FBI?

Attorney General Rob McKenna — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 16:41:29 GMT

Too good not to share..

National Consumer Protection Week: Never commit to big home repair jobs the same day and always get multiple bids.

Public Affairs Unit — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 18:21:00 GMT

Imagine this situation: your kitchen sink is clogged and you need a plumber to fix it. You’ve never been in this situation and you’re not sure which company to call. You open the Yellow Pages and randomly pick a plumbing company...

National Consumer Protection Week Tip of the Day: Craigslist Rental Scammers

Public Affairs Unit — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 23:24:57 GMT

One of our Assistant Attorney Generals in Spokane is selling a house. She’s had people contact her saying they’ve rented her house through an offer on Craigslist. The unsuspecting parties submitted an application with financial identification information (which can be used to steal a person’s identity) and sent a security deposit by Western Union to a nice landlord working in Nigeria with homeless and disabled kids.

Oops! Scammer tries to rip off a scam investigator

Public Affairs Unit — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 18:16:59 GMT

One thing you hear often from us: a warning never, ever to wire money to strangers. Once you do so, the money is gone forever.

National Consumer Protection Week Tip of the Day: Grandparents still being scammed

Public Affairs Unit — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 23:21:50 GMT

By now we hope you’ve heard about the Grandparent Scam. But did you know that the scheme continues to drain money from unwitting victims’ bank accounts? It does so by becoming deviously more sophisticated. A new twist involves a supposed grandchild or other relative who’s been arrested overseas and begs you not rat him out to his parents. He can’t talk long because a “police officer” picks up the phone and demands bail money be wired immediately.

National Consumer Protection Week Tip of the Day: You may already (not) be a winner

Public Affairs Unit — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 23:24:19 GMT

Congratulations! You may receive a certified check for up to $400,000 in cash! That's right, lump sum and tax-free! Hundreds of people win every week using our secret system! You can win too!

National Consumer Protection Week Tip of the Day

Attorney General Rob McKenna — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 23:27:02 GMT

Today is the first weekday of National Consumer Protection Week. As part of this week’s event focusing on consumer education, we’ll post a daily consumer tip. Today’s tip has to do with buying a vehicle.

Washington State Attorney General investigations into window sellers catch the eye of federal regulators

Public Affairs Unit — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 18:45:27 GMT

Last week the Federal Trade Commission announced that five companies selling replacement windows in several states will have to stop making exaggerated, unsupported energy efficiency claims about their products – including how much money consumers could save on heating and cooling bills.

How to avoid becoming a victim of tax-related ID theft & scams

Sarah Lane All Consuming Blog Moderator — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 19:47:37 GMT

I hear it from my husband all the time when I shred paperwork containing personal information, “You are so paranoid.” Well, we are living in a time when identity theft is so prevalent. Now, tax-related identity theft is increasing.

Data Privacy Day: Promoting privacy awareness and best practices

Sarah Lane All Consuming Blog Moderator — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 01:05:31 GMT

January 28 is Data Privacy Day, an international event promoting awareness of how personal information is collected, stored and shared – and how that information may be better protected. Attorney General Rob McKenna and King County Prosecutor Dan Satterberg, who are Co-Chairs of Washington’s Law Enforcement Group against Identity Theft (LEGIT), are taking this opportunity to ask businesses to reinforce their work to protect consumer data.

Help! My tree has fallen and it can’t get up.

Sarah Lane All Consuming Blog Moderator — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 23:37:47 GMT

The storm has passed and now we begin the process of assessing the damage and cleaning up the mess. At my home in Olympia, we had more than 15 inches of snow, which combined with thick ice brought down numerous branches and two entire trees. Thankfully the trees didn’t fall on our house or cars, but we can’t just leave them lying in the yard. Like many of you, we need to hire someone to help. But how do we make sure we hire the right help and not a greedy dishonest scammer?

Scammers posing as grandkids in need continue to prey on compassion of elderly

Sarah Lane All Consuming Blog Moderator — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 23:21:57 GMT

We have been warning seniors about “grandparent scams” since 2008, but grandparents continue to wire money to these imposters because it’s hard to say no when Johnny calls desperate for money to help him out of a bad situation.

New Year’s resolution: Don’t get scammed while getting fit

Sarah Lane All Consuming Blog Moderator — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 18:50:12 GMT

My New Year’s resolution for 2012 is to make healthier decisions; that means eating better, exercising more and taking the stairs instead of the elevator. I know I’m in good company since many Americans also choose resolutions about health and wellness. In our noble efforts to improve our physical health, we need to be sure to guard our financial health as well.

Consumer Safety Tips to Guard against Online Counterfeiting and Piracy

Public Affairs Unit — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 18:37:43 GMT

Today, many consumers aren’t “shopping ‘til they drop.” Rather, they’re clicking on online deals until they get carpal tunnel syndrome. Beyond the tingling, weakness and finger or hand-muscle damage that comes with the syndrome, there are other dangers, too.

Be a smart and safe shopper

Sarah Lane All Consuming Blog Moderator — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 00:18:09 GMT

Shopping during the holiday season can be exhilarating if you find a treasured item for a bargain price, but it can also be a nightmare if the gift never arrives, you’re mugged on the way to the car or your bank account is drained by a phishing scam. Here are a few tips and resources to help keep you, your purchases and your finances safe.

Everett mover ordered to cease operations, pay fine

Sarah Lane All Consuming Blog Moderator — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 00:34:14 GMT

Today the Utilities and Transportation Commission ordered Everett-based residential moving company A & R Moving to cease and desist. The mover was also fined $10,000 for refusing to obtain a permit to legally operate a residential moving company within Washington state.

Protect Your ID Week: Shred to Protect

Sarah Lane All Consuming Blog Moderator — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 17:02:30 GMT

A great way to help protect your identity is to shred anything that contains sensitive personal information, including account numbers, birth dates, passwords or PINs, signatures, or Social Security numbers.

Protect Your ID Week: Child Identity Theft

Sarah Lane All Consuming Blog Moderator — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 17:36:35 GMT

Children, as well as adults, are at risk of being victims of identity theft. It is a growing problem that can go on undetected longer and is harder to recover from. Unlike adults, who should be checking their bank and credit card statements and credit reports regularly, children often don’t know they have become a victim until they grow up and are denied a student loan or credit card. By then, the damage has been done and can be extensive.

Protect Your ID Week: What to do if you’re a victim of ID theft

Sarah Lane All Consuming Blog Moderator — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 17:32:20 GMT

As a victim of identity theft or fraud, you should take the following steps as soon as possible.

Report the crime to the police or sheriff's office.
Place a fraud alert and/or security freeze on your credit reports.
Report the crime to your bank, creditors and credit reporting agencies.
Ask businesses to provide info about transactions made in your name.
Contact the Federal Trade Commission’s Identity Theft Hotline 1-877-IDTHEFT.

Tips to avoid becoming a victim of identity theft

Sarah Lane All Consuming Blog Moderator — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 18:11:09 GMT

You can reduce your likelihood of becoming an identity theft victim, as well as cut down on unwanted sales pitches, by following these guidelines.

It’s National Protect Your Identity Week

Sarah Lane All Consuming Blog Moderator — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 17:54:58 GMT

I will be sharing tips all week on how to guard against identity theft and what to do if you are a victim of identity theft. Identity theft is one of the fastest growing consumer scams in America. It’s difficult to know exactly how many victims exist, but the numbers are staggering. A nationwide survey by Javelin Research estimates that 8.1 million adult Americans were victims of identity fraud in 2010. Identity theft topped the FTC's list of consumer complaints again in 2010, accounting for 19 percent of the 6.1 million complaints.

Reebok will atone with refunds for deceptive advertising of EasyTone shoes

Sarah Lane All Consuming Blog Moderator — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 23:07:41 GMT

According to the Federal Trade Commission complaint, Reebok made unsupported claims in advertisements that walking in its EasyTone shoes and running in its RunTone running shoes strengthen and tone key leg and buttock muscles more than regular shoes.

Beware, anyone can fall victim to a skimming scam

Sarah Lane All Consuming Blog Moderator — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 23:28:03 GMT

We have warned you before about skimming scams, and how hard it is to detect the small bits of plastic on ATMs. Anyone can fall victim and not realize it until after the thieves have racked up large purchases using the stolen card information. This is includes our state’s top law enforcer, U.S. Attorney Jenny Durkan.

DOJ files antitrust suit to block the AT&T and T-Mobile merger

Sarah Lane All Consuming Blog Moderator — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 19:15:26 GMT

At the end of today’s Backpage.com news conference, Attorney General Rob McKenna spoke about the civil antitrust lawsuit filed by the US Department of Justice to block AT&T Inc.’s proposed acquisition of T-Mobile USA Inc.

My first order of business: Clean out the backlog of comments

Sarah Lane All Consuming Blog Moderator — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 22:49:06 GMT

Hello All Consuming blog readers. I am your new Blog Moderator, Sarah Lane. As you know, Kristin Alexander has left the office to pursue her theatrical dreams. So, I will be taking over as the main contributor to the blog and the comment reviewer.

Kristin Alexander takes her curtain call

Kristin Alexander All Consuming Blog Moderator — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 17:26:25 GMT

As she departs her job to pursue a dream, All Consuming blog moderator Kristin Alexander touts a career in public service.

California authorities sue law firms for mortgage fraud

Kristin Alexander All Consuming Blog Moderator — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 20:07:43 GMT

California authorities sued multiple lawyers and others last week for allegedly taking millions of dollars from homeowners in states including Washington who were promised mortgage relief.