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Consumer Protection Information
Congresswoman Kelly is committed to ensuring that federal regulations protect consumers throughout the Hudson Valley. This page contains guidance and helpful resources to help constituents better protect themselves from consumer fraud and scams.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) works to protect consumers from fraud, deception, and unfair business practices. The FTC provides extensive information about how you can protect yourself and your family from such crimes as identity theft, senior citizen scams, child internet scams, and scholarship scams. Consumers can contact the FTC for free information on a wide variety of issues and to report complaints.
For more information, call toll-free at 1-877-FTC-HELP or visit www.ftc.gov.
Identity Theft
One of the newest forms of consumer fraud is identity theft: a serious crime with severe consequences. Identity theft occurs when someone uses your personal information, such as your name, Social Security number, credit card number, or other identifying information to commit fraud or other crimes.
For more information about how to protect yourself from identity theft:
If you suspect that you have been a victim of identity theft, file a complaint with the FTC by contacting the FTC's Identity Theft Hotline by telephone: 1-877-ID-THEFT (438-4338); online: Report an Identity Theft Complaint ; or by mail:
Identity Theft Clearinghouse
Federal Trade Commission
600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20580
Senior Citizens
Senior citizens are increasingly the victims of Internet fraud, telemarketing scams, mail and sweepstakes fraud, investment schemes, identity theft, and other financial crimes that drain senior citizens of their assests. The Federal Trade Commission reports that nearly 1 in 4 victims of Internet fraud were over the age of 60 in 2002.
For more information about how senior citizens can protect themselves from scams and fraud:
Children's Issues
Children are at high risk to be affected by fraudulent behavior, particularly when using the Internet. Recently, children have been lured into Internet scams that can affect their families and jepordize their futures.
For more information about how to better protect children from scams and fraud:
Scholarship Scams
With college tuition bills increasing, students and their families are looking for creative ways to finance a college education. Unfortunately, in their efforts to pay the bills, many of them are falling prey to scholarship and financial aid scams.
According to the Federal Trade Commission, unscrupulous companies guarantee or promise scholarships, grants or fantastic financial aid packages. One family paid $179 for a guaranteed scholarship of at least $1,000 to help pay for their son's college tuition. Instead, they received a list of 27 scholarships for which they could apply, some with deadlines that had long past. The same list was available for free in his high school library.
For more information about how students can protect themselves from scholarship scams:
Do Not Call Registry
The National Do Not Call Registry is open for business, putting consumers in charge of the telemarketing calls they get at home. The federal government created the national registry to make it easier and more efficient for you to stop getting telemarketing calls you don’t want.
You can register online at www.donotcall.gov or call toll-free 1-888-382-1222 from the number you wish to register. Registration is free.
For more information about the Do Not Call Registry:
Additional Consumer Protection Resources
Automobile Fraud: www.ftc.gov/autos
Chain Mail: www.ftc.gov/chainmail
Diet and Fitness Fraud: www.ftc.gov/dietfit
FDA Information for Consumers: ww.fda.gov/opacom/morecons.html
Health Fraud: www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/edcams/cureall/index.html
Online Security: www.ftc.gov/infosecurity |
