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ST. LOUIS RECORD

Friday, March 29, 2024

MISSOURI ATTORNEY GENERAL: Attorney General Schmitt, Governor Parson Kick Off Consumer Protection Week in Missouri

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Missouri Attorney General issued the following announcement on March 2.

Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt and Governor Mike Parson announced the start Consumer Protection Week in Missouri, a week dedicated to raising awareness about scams and fraud facing consumers and bringing attention to efforts to prevent, investigate, and prosecute scams and fraud. National Consumer Protection Week, which is put on by the Federal Trade Commission, occurs nationwide from March 1 to March 7. Thanks to a gubernatorial proclamation from Governor Parson, March 1 to 7 is now designated as Missouri Consumer Protection Week.

Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt and Governor Mike Parson announced the start Consumer Protection Week in Missouri, a week dedicated to raising awareness about scams and fraud facing consumers and bringing attention to efforts to prevent, investigate, and prosecute scams and fraud. National Consumer Protection Week, which is put on by the Federal Trade Commission, occurs nationwide from March 1 to March 7. Thanks to a gubernatorial proclamation from Governor Parson, March 1 to 7 is now designated as Missouri Consumer Protection Week.

“One of my most important duties as Attorney General is to protect all six million Missourians from consumer fraud. The Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Section works tirelessly every single day to inform consumers of potential scams, mediate complaints between consumers and businesses, and investigate and prosecute bad actors. Last year, the Consumer Protection Section obtained $12,101,837.59 in restitution for Missouri consumers – a huge accomplishment for this office,” said Attorney General Schmitt. “Governor Parson’s proclamation will make March 1 through 7 Missouri Consumer Protection Week, a week to not only alert consumers to potential scams and fraud but also to acknowledge the incredible work being done by the Attorney General’s Office, the Governor’s Office, and state and federal agencies to protect the people they serve.”

“We appreciate the efforts of Attorney General Eric Schmitt and the Consumer Protection Section to move Missouri toward a more fair, open, and honest marketplace,” Governor Mike Parson said. “Consumer fraud is a serious issue, and we are committed to putting an end to scammers and protecting our citizens’ privacy. I am happy to officially designate March 1 through March 7 as Consumer Protection Week in the State of Missouri to recognize the great work of the Attorney General’s Office and bring awareness to the threat of scams and fraud in the marketplace.”

For Consumer Protection Week, the Attorney General’s Office will put out a variety of social media videos and graphics cautioning consumers on a multitude of scams and acknowledging the work done by the office. Additionally, the office will host several senior safety events which will be announced later in the week. Missourians should check back in on the Attorney General’s Twitter and Facebook throughout the week, as well as ftc.gov and the National Association of Attorney’s General consumer website: www.consumerresources.org/.

The Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Section exists to protect all six million Missourians by rooting out, investigating, and litigating in a wide variety of consumer protection areas, including contractor fraud, sweepstakes fraud, No-Call List violations, telemarketing fraud, charity fraud, data privacy violations, local businesses or individuals selling fraudulent products or failing to deliver promised products or services, large scale cross-jurisdictional fraud networks, massive multi-state investigations, and more.

Consumer fraud can range from $1,000 stolen from an elderly couple to redo their driveway to large scale fraudulent operations pulling in tens of millions a year.

In 2019, the Consumer Protection Section obtained $16,157,536.04 in settlements and judgments and $12,101,837.59 in restitution for Missouri consumers.

In addition to talented lawyers, the Consumer Protection Section also has hotline operators who take consumer complaints, consumer advocates who work to mediate complaints, and investigators who investigate businesses and individuals.

Attorney General Schmitt has also recently launched the Safe Citizens Initiative, which works to aid the state’s most vulnerable, elderly, and disabled in consumer protection issues.

Original source can be found here.

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