National Consumer Protection Week, runs March 1-7, and Texans are encouraged to protect themselves from scammers by learning more about the tactics and tricks that scammers use to defraud people from their hard-earned dollars.
The Office of the Attorney General’s (OAG) website, which can be found at www.texasattorneygeneral.gov, provides numerous resources, newsletters, consumer alerts and news releases that contain common-sense tips about a variety of consumer issues. Recognizing that education is the first line of defense against consumer fraud, Attorney General Paxton noted that the OAG website will help Texans make well-informed financial decisions, protect themselves from identity thieves and avoid scams – particularly those that commonly arise during tax season.
“Every day, Texans lose money to scams and frauds. Part of what we do at the Attorney General’s Office is help protect consumers by spreading the word about the latest scams, and what to do if you are a victim,” said Attorney General Paxton. “A wide variety of important topics are addressed in the consumer protection section of our website – from guidance on giving wisely to a charitable organization to preventing identity theft as well as identifying common fraudulent schemes. The first line of defense against scammers and con artists is education.”
The OAG website provides timely resources to consumers who need help – including identity theft victims – and provides information to Texas businesses about topics of interest such as training for bank tellers to help them recognize schemes that exploit senior customers.
The site also gives Texans the opportunity to receive electronic consumer alerts and other notices that help warn them about emerging scams that can lead to financial harm. For example, OAG website visitors can find tips about the typical scams that emerge during the tax season – many of which share the common thread of impersonating the IRS as a lure to trick taxpayers into divulging their sensitive financial information. Consumer newsletters remind Texans to beware of unsolicited phone calls or emails from individuals claiming to be IRS agents and recognize them as bogus attempts to steal their personal information and money.