Consumer Law

Feds, states crack down on foreclosure rescue and loan mod scams

Posted on April 06, 2009
The Obama administration today announced a new coordinated effort across federal and state agencies and the private sector to target mortgage loan modification fraud and foreclosure rescue scams ...

Financial Literacy Month

Posted on April 03, 2009
Gov. Gregoire has declared April as Financial Literacy Month.

Wachovia fined $500,000 for auction rate securities misrepresentations

Posted on April 03, 2009
Wachovia will pay a $50 million penalty buy back auction rate securities from investors under a settlement announced this week. ... Investors may be eligible for a buy back ...

Tax breaks for job-hunting costs

Posted on April 02, 2009
If you're one of the many unlucky folks out of a job, this might help relieve some of the sting. You can deduct many job-hunting expenses ...

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Seattle parking biz overcharged

Posted on April 02, 2009
KOMO TV reported today that Republic Parking in Seattle owes refunds to thousands of customers. According to the story, the company blames a computer glitch for causing 12,000 old transactions to be processed again ...

Hot urban legends! Pass it on.

Posted on April 01, 2009
Have you heard the warning about criminals who use business cards soaked in a potent street drug to incapacitate their victims? Or that carrying an iPod or cell phone can make lightning strike injuries more severe? In cyberland, every day is April Fool's Day, with hoaxes like these being widely circulated by e-mail...

Quote-worthy: AGO experts in the news

Posted on April 01, 2009
In case you missed these news stories, we're sharing them...

The look and sound of a scam

Posted on March 31, 2009
What do scams actually look and sound like? NPR recently aired a series of stories on foreclosure scams, phishing and credit repair ploys. ...

Phony Publishers Clearing House letters say you've won

Posted on March 31, 2009
If you receive a letter from Publishers Clearinghouse saying you've won $1 million, don't quit your job. The Better Business Bureau says phony letters like this one are arriving in mailboxes across the country.

Loan modification scams claim more victims

Posted on March 27, 2009
Two national news reports show the devastating effects of loan modification scams. ...

Dude, don't wait on that Dell refund!

Posted on March 26, 2009
If you bought a Dell computer sometime in the past four years and had a problem with financing, technical support, warranty repairs or cashing in a rebate, you may have some money coming. But if you want it, act now, because the April 13 deadline to submit claims is fast approaching...

Hang up on phone scams: new ones making the rounds

Posted on March 26, 2009
More phone scams being reported ...

Phony terrorist attacks = real computer attacks

Posted on March 26, 2009
There's been an explosion of new scams lately, but this one takes the exposion idea literally. ...

All Consuming blog moderator hits the radio waves

Posted on March 25, 2009
I'm not a morning person. But I'll be up early Thursday to talk about the latest consumer scams on Seattle's Ztwins radio stations.

DISH Network sued for skirting telemarketing laws

Posted on March 25, 2009
The feds are suing satellite TV giant DISH Network for ringing consumers whose numbers are on the Do Not Call list and for using robocalls ...

Economic scams boom in recession

Posted on March 25, 2009
The worst economic downturn in generations has created a perfect storm of financial shocks: evaporating investments, foreclosures and job losses. To add insult to injury, a new generation of thieves increasingly targets the dwindling bank balances of struggling Washington residents...

Unhealthy care: Filing a complaint about a doctor

Posted on March 24, 2009
Doctors, nurses and dentists play an important role in our health and safety. ... By reporting possible violations, you can play an important role in protecting the people of Washington. ...

Door-to-door magazine seller offering 'fresh start' isn't a charity

Posted on March 23, 2009
If a young person knocks on your door and says they're selling magazines for a charity, wait before reaching for your pocketbook. Fresh Start Opportunities claims that money from the subscriptions will be used to help young people get a ?fresh start on life,? but the company isn?t a registered charity...

Spring break scam: Impersonators pose as students in trouble

Posted on March 23, 2009
... Scammers pull information about the students off their online social networking sites, such as Facebook, to accumulate accurate and detailed information about the students? spring break travels. They then call the parents or grandparents and ask for money to cover bail or other emergencies ...

KCTS financial crisis series

Posted on March 23, 2009
KCTS 9, the largest public TV station in the Pacific Northwest,  recently produced three, one-hour specials to help Washington residents deal with the local effects of the financial crisis ? focusing on unemployment, housing and personal finance. ...

Phone scammers posing as Department of Revenue

Posted on March 20, 2009
Scammers posing as employees of the state Department of Revenue are calling Washington businesses. Businesses have received robocalls saying that Department of Revenue has been trying to reach them about their taxes, DOR warned. ...

Free tax help during Super Saturday

Posted on March 19, 2009
The Internal Revenue Service and scores of its community partners will open their doors this Saturday, March 21, to help people who need free tax preparation, a question answered or a payment schedule arranged.

Taking charge in tough times -- free seminars

Posted on March 19, 2009
Sign-up now to attend a free ?Taking Charge in Tough Times? event and learn how to outsmart investment fraud, stay safer online, guard your identity, protect your retirement savings, cut costs and save money. ...

Witty commercials tout the only free credit report site

Posted on March 19, 2009
The Federal Trade Commission hopes to outwit The Martin Agency's catchy FreeCreditReport.com commercials with its own pithy ads touting www.annualcreditreport.com. (View videos)

Are identity theft prevention services worth the cost?

Posted on March 19, 2009
We?re often asked whether identity theft protection services are worth the cost. While the Attorney General?s Office neither endorses nor condemns such programs, we are concerned that some charge for work you can do yourself. ...

Are ID theft protection services worth the cost?

Posted on March 19, 2009
We?re often asked whether identity theft protection services are worth the cost. While the Attorney General?s Office neither endorses nor condemns such programs, we are concerned that some charge for work you can do yourself. ...

Foreclosure rescue bill update on way to Governor

Posted on March 17, 2009
The Attorney General?s Office worked with a bipartisan coalition in 2008 to pass legislation to help protect financially strapped homeowners from equity skimming and foreclosure rescue scams. A bill passed by the Legislature today updates last year?s foreclosure rescue law to make sure that any homeowner who wants to sell their home rather than face foreclosure is able to find a real estate agent...

Consumer protection bill hearings next week

Posted on March 13, 2009
A number of Attorney General Rob McKenna?s legislative priorities have survived the March 12 deadline to move out of the legislative house of origin and are scheduled for public hearings next week. These include several bills to safeguard consumers.

Buyer beware at liquidation sales

Posted on March 12, 2009
KING 5 interviewed me for a story about liquidation sales.

Be wary of offers to reduce your debt

Posted on March 12, 2009
Last week, I answered a call during KHQ?s Help Center from a man who paid $2,000 to a company that promised to help lower his debt. The business reportedly claimed to have a ?secret method that the government doesn?t want you to know about.? While a come-on like that should make you roll your eyes, some other businesses that are more subtle in their approach are just as worthless...

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