Attorney General’s Office has Spanish-Language Consumer Protection Brochures Available for Distribution

PIERRE, S.D.- Attorney General Larry Long announced today that his office has received consumer protection brochures designed to combat scams that target Latino communities. Printed in Spanish, the brochures are the product of a cooperative effort of Attorney General Offices nationwide.

The idea for the brochures was developed by a group of Attorney General Public Information Officers working through the National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG). The funding was obtained through a consumer protection grant fund established in a 1997 settlement between the State of Massachusetts and Sears-Roebuck. This "Sears Fund" grant financed the production and distribution of 300,000 of these brochures nationwide.

Entitled "Fraud in Your Home," "Fraud in Your Wallet" and "Fraud in Your Car," each of the three contain general information for consumers. The focus is on commonly reported scams, including home repair, telecommunications fraud and auto sales. In addition, the brochures focus on scams that specifically target Latinos, such as the sale of fraudulent international driver’s licenses.

The brochures are being distributed to 41 states, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia. As part of the same grant, NAAG is developing additional educational material to be made available through the Internet in coming months. Since 1998, the Sears Fund has issued more than $2 million in grants. A total of $5 million has been set aside for the fund.

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