consumer news

Ads proclaiming "Government Vehicle Disposal" and "The Repo Joe Sale" are designed to steer buyers to special used car sales events under the pretense they're getting a special deal. But the Washington Attorney General's Office says these promotions frequently violate consumer law. "We're laying...

Spring is finally here, meaning a lot of people are yearning for a quick getaway, and students are planning spring break or graduation trips. So it's wise to remember travel scams cost consumers $12 billion annually, according to the National Association of Attorneys General, and the Better...

More than two million poisonings are reported each year to the 61 nationwide Poison Control Centers, and almost all happen in the home -- with children under six most often the victims of non-fatal incidents. Most poisonings happen when parents or caregivers are home but not paying attention, the...

A Eugene, Ore., law firm that garnered dozens of complaints about its debt collection practices has been shut down as part of a settlement agreement with the Oregon Department of Justice. "At a time when many Oregonians are struggling to manage their debt, the Department of Justice is committed to...

A high-tech fake identification mill in Utah has been dismantled by a special team of the Utah Attorney General's office. Agents of the SECURE Strike Force seized equipment used to make a wide variety of identity cards from different states and countries. They confiscated computers, printers,...

Consumers were convinced they were making a safe real-estate investment and that they would receive an annual return of 14% to 16%. What happened instead is that the salesman made millions, while consumers lost their savings. The Utah Attorney General's Office and the U.S. Department of Commerce...

A new consumer product safety information database is up and running where consumers can share information with others about product injuries or failures that could have resulted in injuries. Consumers can visit SaferProducts.gov to submit reports and search for safety information on products they...

Love the Animals, a charity that solicited funds on the Internet, including via social network Facebook, has been sued for misusing funds. A lawsuit against Love the Animals, operated by Anthony M. Marasia, alleges Marasia put all funds donated to the company into his personal bank account, failed...

Quik Cash, one of the nation's largest payday lenders with 550 locations across the country, has agreed to pay up to $170,000 in restitution to consumers who were victims of consumer fraud. Under a settlement agreement, Quik Cash will pay restitution to consumers who had judgment for loans...

It looks legitimate: You get a letter from your bank saying that it's sold your mortgage to another company. So you begin making payments to the new address in the letter. But, it turns out, it's yet another mortgage fraud. Two Nevada men have been arrested operating businesses designed to steal...