South Dakota Consumer Protection Division Joins Broad Coalition to Sponsor 11th Annual National Consumer Protection Week
PIERRE, S.D.- The South Dakota Consumer Protection Division has joined a group of federal, state, and local government agencies and national consumer organizations launching the 11th annual National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW), March 1-7. NCPW 2009 – Nuts and Bolts: Tools for Today’s Economy – highlights consumer education efforts across the nation. Information can help people get the most for their money, whether they are trying to stretch their paychecks, find a quick fix for a spotty credit history, or tell the difference between a real deal and a potentially fraudulent product or service.
According to the Federal Trade Commission, scam artists, fraudsters and four flushers follow the headlines, and are likely to be using the economic downturn to take advantage of consumers who may be underwater financially. The NCPW website has tools people can use to recognize a ripoff, sniff out a scam, and make smart choices for today’s market.
Partner organizations have tips on a wide range of topics, from how to get a free credit report to how to spot a telemarketing scam, from how to deal with debt to how to deter and detect identity theft, from how to avoid home and auto repair scams to how to file a consumer complaint with the appropriate authorities.
National organizers of this year’s NCPW include AARP, the Comptroller of the Currency, the Consumer Federation of America, the Council of Better Business Bureaus, the Federal Citizen’s Information Center, the Federal Communications Commission, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Federal Trade Commission, the National Association of Attorneys General, the National Association of Consumer Agency Administrators, the National Consumers League, the U.S. Department of the Treasury, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the U.S. Postal Service.
For more information about NCPW, visit www.consumer.gov/ncpw or contact the South Dakota Consumer Protection Division at 1-800-300-1986.
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