Fraud and Scam Prevention 4/26/2010
How to protect yourself against fraud
In virtually every type of purchase or financial transaction you make, there is always the chance that you may be doing business with someone who will not provide the product or service you expect for your money. Given the wide range of possibilities for fraud, your best protection is to be an informed, educated consumer. There are several organizations that offer information and guidance to consumers:
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) (http://www.ftc.gov/) enforces a variety of federal antitrust and consumer protection laws. The FTC works to eliminate acts or practices that are unfair or deceptive. In general, the Commission's efforts are directed toward stopping actions that threaten consumers' opportunities to exercise informed choice. The Commission has enforcement and administrative responsibilities under 46 federal laws. In addition to carrying out its statutory enforcement responsibilities, the FTC conducts consumer education programs.
The Federal Citizen Information Center (http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/) publishes the Consumer Action Handbook, which provides advice and consumer tips on car repair, purchase, and leasing, shopping from home, avoiding consumer and investment fraud, home improvement and financing, choosing and using credit cards wisely, and much more.
The Idaho Department of Consumer Protection (http://www2.state.id.us/ag/consumer/index.htm) offers information and guidance to Idaho Consumers, issues news releases about agency programs and enforcement actions.
The Better Business Bureau's Wise Giving Alliance, (http://www.bbb.org/us/charity/) keeps information on all registered charities.
The Better Business Bureau (BBB) (http://www.bbb.org/) is a business sponsored consumer protection agency which provides the public with information on businesses, handles complaints, functions as a mediator in disputes, monitors advertising for truth and honesty, and sponsors consumer education programs.