Consumer Issues

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• The Fake Check/Sweepstakes Scam

  An unsolicited and official-looking check arrives in your mailbox. Before you cash that check, learn more about this common scam with these Quick Tips.

• The Imposter Scams

  A prerecorded phone call tells you that you that you owe tax money and will be arrested, prosecuted or face other legal action if you do not immediately send funds. Before you act, read these Quick Tips to avoid falling victim to this pervasive, nationwide scam.

• The “Grandparents” Scam

  Seniors are so often the targets of family emergency scams that they’ve earned the nickname, “the grandparents scam.” Before you send money, take a deep breath and do some quick checking to make sure you don’t fall victim.

• Identity Theft

  These days, you can never be too careful when it comes to protecting your identity. Help protect your identity, and learn where to turn if you've fallen victim to an identity thief, with these Quick Tips.

• Phishing

  “Phishing" is the fraudulent attempt by individuals to obtain personally identifiable information from the public at large by sending millions of emails randomly to anyone with an email address. Learn how to avoid phishing scams with these Quick Tips.

• Going Shopping on the Internet?

  Going shopping on the Internet? Here are a few Quick Tips to keep in mind.

• Consumer Education Brochures from the National Consumer Law Center

  The NCLC's free, downloadable brochures offer basic information for consumers on the most critical consumer issues, including predatory lending, debt collection, credit reports, lemon laws, bankruptcy, foreclosure, payday loans, predatory mortgage loans, credit card debt, living trust scams, telemarketing fraud, refinancing, loss of utility services and other issues.

• Public Interest Research Group

  U.S. PIRG is an advocate for the public interest. When consumers are cheated, or our natural environment is threatened, or the voices of ordinary citizens are drowned out by special interest lobbyists, U.S. PIRG speaks up and takes action.

• Social Security Fraud

  Tips on how to avoid being scammed by fraudsters who falsely claim to be Social Security employees.

• Connecticut Department of Banking Cyberfraud Site

  Protect Yourself Against CyberFraud

• Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

  Congress established the CFPB to protect consumers by carrying out federal consumer financial laws.

• Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection

  The Department of Consumer Protection's mission is to ensure a fair and equitable marketplace, safe products and services for consumers in the industries that we license, regulate and enforce.

• Consumer Product Safety Commission

  The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of serious injury or death from more than 15,000 types of consumer products.

• Federal Trade Commission

  The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) works to ensure that the nation’s markets are vigorous, efficient and free of restrictions that harm consumers.

• CTLawHelp.org: Self-Help Guides for Consumers

  A project of the Connecticut Network for Legal Aid, this page offers easy-to-understand information about issues affecting consumers including bankruptcy, collection and repossession, credit practices and reports, security deposits, small claims court, and more.