Attorney General Josh Stein actively works to safeguard new york customers from scams and frauds. Stein and their Consumer Protection Division have assisted thousands and thousands of customers like you have more than $100 million of the cash back, and also have helped win $250 million in cost savings in your energy rates.
Exactly How We Help Consumers
We want to help if you’ve been tricked or scammed.
Attorney General Josh Stein’s Consumer Protection specialists protect North Carolina customers. We fight unjust company methods like frauds and frauds. We’ve assisted hundreds of tens of thousands of customers as if you have more than $100 million of one’s cash back, and now have helped win $250 million in cost savings in your energy prices.
File a problem
You are able to file a problem with us and we’ll work to eliminate it. We answer 20,000 customer complaints every year. We can enforce the law on behalf of all North Carolina consumers if we find a pattern of illegal business practices. In a private legal case, we may be able to help if you didn’t get what you paid for or were tricked into a bad deal while we can’t represent you.
Get Guidelines
We should allow you to avoid problems from the start. Watch the video taking a stand, Fighting back once again to find out about frauds and scams. Before you file a problem, read our customer information. We explain the law and present consumers tips about many subjects, like how exactly to stop telemarketing telephone calls, get a reasonable loan or obtain a new vehicle.
Top Consumer Guidelines
- Say no to high-pressure product sales pitches. In the event that offer is just today that is good disappear.
- Constantly browse contracts very carefully them, and make sure all written documents match what you’ve been promised before you sign. Never ever sign a document that you don’t understand or which includes blanks to later be filled in.
- Be aware whenever giving an answer to telemarketers, door-to-door vendors, and email or text pitches. As opposed to giving an answer to unsolicited provides, determine where and when you wish to buy.
- You do not have to make a purchase or spend taxes, charges or other expenses ahead of time to win an award. Anyone who demands an upfront charge for an award is wanting to scam you.
- Never ever give away your Social Security quantity, credit card or banking account quantity or other private information to anybody you don’t understand who contacts you.
- Be skeptical of upfront costs. New york legislation causes it to be illegal to gather advance costs for a few kinds of work, such as for example foreclosure help and financial obligation settlement assistance. If an advance re payment is needed for any other types of deals, make use of a credit card whenever possible. Thus giving you some security if for example the order does arrive or the n’t work is not finished.
- Sell to businesses you understand or that can come recommended by those you trust. Take a look at businesses with all the Attorney General’s Office at 1-877-5-NO-SCAM or your Better that is local Business before generally making major acquisitions.
- Join the usually do not Call registry to lessen undesirable telemarketing phone phone calls. To join up, phone 1-888-382-1222 through the quantity you intend to www.donotcall.gov register or check out. As soon as you’re regarding the list, report Do No Call violators towards the Attorney General’s workplace.
- Check always your credit file frequently. You’re entitled to at least one free credit file per year from each credit bureau that is nationwide. To get into your free credit reports, visit www.annualcreditreport.com or call 1-877-322-8228.
- If an offer appears too good to be real, it probably is.
Consumer Alerts & Columns
Read our alerts to discover more on the newest frauds, or register with have our alerts delivered to you by e-mail. You can get advice on how to prevent problems that are common Attorney General Stein’s consumer columns.
Identification Theft
Moms and dads are now able to obtain A protected consumer security freeze to shield kids against identification thieves.
Adult customers will get a free safety freeze to help keep thieves from with your credit plus a totally free credit file each year.
We can help you get started fixing the damage if you’re a victim of identity theft.
Telemarketing
Registering for the usually do not Call Registry provides you with the proper to determine who calls you in the home.
If you’ve joined record but nonetheless get phone calls from telemarketers, write to us. We’ve taken action against a large number of organizations, for unlawful telemarketing, winning a lot more than $1 million from violators. Some telemarketers are criminals off to take your cash. Stein’s customer protection team shuts down telemarketing fraudulence bands and helps victims manage to get thier cash back whenever possible.
Mortgage Loans
Purchasing a property has become the most purchase that is important ever make. We investigate and prosecute mortgage fraudulence and supply suggestions about avoiding loans that are unfair. We’re additionally helping North Carolinians prevent unnecessary home foreclosures.
View our consumer protection video taking a stand, battling returning to find out about how to prevent scams.
Avoid Consumer Scams
Scammers are often picking out brand new tricks and twists to steal your hard-earned cash.
To guard your self from consumer frauds and frauds, keep in mind:
- Never ever share your Social Security quantity, bank credit or account card information with somebody you don’t understand who calls you or email messages you.
- Walk away from high-pressure vendors whom inform you that you need to come to a decision straight away.
- Don’t sign any contract or any other documents and soon you’ve had the opportunity to read and comprehend it.
- Never ever spend cash upfront to obtain that loan or win a lottery or sweepstakes.
- Don’t react to letters or e-mails how to message someone on marriagemindedpeoplemeet that request you to help transfer money in your bank account or cable money from the country.
- Don’t money checks you can get into the mail along side a letter or call that tells you you’ve won a prize that is unexpected. The checks are many most likely fake.
- Check always a company out with Attorney General Josh Stein’s customer Protection Division at 1-877-5-NO-SCAM before you will do business together with them.
It is possible to figure out how to prevent the latest frauds and scams by reading our customer alerts and columns. It is possible to register with have alerts emailed to you personally.
You can even view our customer protection video and learn to register an issue if you’re the target of a fraud or deal that is bad.
E mail us for Assistance
In the event that you think you’ve been the victim of a fraud, or if you wish to learn how to be described as a smarter customer, call Attorney General Josh Stein’s consumer hotline toll complimentary within North Carolina at 1-877-5-NO-SCAM or (919) 716-6000. You’ll be able to register a customer complaint on line.