Ohio Attorney General Blog RSS

Introducing a new tool to stay ahead of scams

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Information is power, and it is a critical edge that scam artists have over their victims.

If you get an “official” check in the mail, is it a windfall, or an invitation to identify theft? Will the promise of a financial lifeline you hear on the radio or television help you avoid foreclosure, or will it cost you your home and future financial security?

Cordray: How we can work together to protect consumers

Thu, 04 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

On March 4, Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray held the first-ever Ohio Consumer Protection Summit. In his keynote – the video is available below -- Cordray offered support for the creation of a Consumer Financial Protection Agency at the federal level to protect consumers from dangerous financial products.

Cordray also introduced the scam alert widget, a new tool that will offer up-to-the-minute updates on various scams in the marketplace.

2010 Census: real vs. fake

Fri, 26 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Starting in March, census forms will be delivered by mail to every residence in the United States. By participating in the 2010 Census, you will help Ohio get needed resources and federal funding for projects like new roads, schools and hospitals.

While it is very important to participate in the 2010 Census, it is also important to distinguish the real census takers from the fake.

Scammers target unemployed

Fri, 26 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Job hunters are still having trouble finding jobs in today’s economy and, unfortunately, scammers still are finding ways to exploit them.

One consumer reported a job scam in which he received a $2,330 check and instructions to make purchases with local merchants. He was told to deposit the check, then wire transfer $1,800 to Canada. In exchange, he could keep $400 as his “salary”.

Beware of 879 Area Code

Fri, 26 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Scammers are using Jamaican area code phone numbers to call consumers and try to trick them into sending money in order to claim a “prize.” In just two weeks, Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray’s office has received ten complaints about phony sweepstakes calls from area code 876.

One scammer pretended to be the Ohio Attorney General’s Office and told the consumer he had won $2 million--but first he had to send $499 by wire transfer in order to get the prize.

Frequently asked questions

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

This issue’s questions:

How long should e-mail records be kept?
Should all e-mails be kept for the same amount of time?
What if we get a request for all e-mails sent and received by an employee?

Exemption of security and infrastructure records

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

R.C. 149.433 provides that a record kept by a public office that falls under its definitions of a security record or infrastructure record is not a public record subject to mandatory release.

A “security” record includes:

Any record that contains information directly used for protecting or maintaining the security of a public office against attack, interference, or sabotage.

Statutory damages - A remedy for public records act violations

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

The Public Records Act authorizes the award of statutory damages in a public records mandamus action for a violation of R.C. 149.43(B). In order to qualify for this monetary award, the person requesting the records must have delivered a proper request, in writing, by either hand delivery or certified mail, and the violation must have caused actual “lost use” of the requested records. If statutory damages are awarded, the court may reduce or eliminate the award under certain circumstances.

Public records and "the right to privacy"

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

When someone learns that records containing their personal information are being released by a government agency, often the reaction is something like this: “You can’t give that out–I have a constitutional right to privacy!” While the reaction is natural, the right to privacy found in the U.S. Constitution is actually a limited and poorly defined protection for personal records in the hands of government. As one authority noted, “Perhaps the most striking thing about the right to privacy is that nobody seems to have any very clear idea what it is."

Get free financial resources during National Consumer Protection Week, March 7-13

Mon, 22 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Mark your calendars! National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW) is March 7-13, when consumer advocates will travel throughout Ohio to help you and your family make the most of your money.

Report a scam: it's easier than ever

Mon, 22 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Have you received a suspicious e-mail, a fishy phone call or an unexpected check in the mail? Let us know about it.

Using our new “report a scam” tool, you can quickly and easily submit information any time you suspect a scam. The information you provide will be used to help the Attorney General’s Office track trends and alert the public about emerging scams.

The ugly truth behind refund anticipation loans

Mon, 22 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

If you’ve seen ads for “fast cash refunds” or “instant tax refunds” you may think these are products to help you get your tax refund early this year. In reality, they are short-term, high-cost loans called refund anticipation loans (RALs).

RALs are secured by a consumer’s expected tax refund, and they’re often a bad deal for consumers. Filing fees, tax preparation fees and interest may eat up about 25% of a consumer’s tax refund.

Helping consumers resolve complaints

Mon, 22 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

A 94-year-old Medina County consumer thought she was just purchasing hearing aids. In reality, she was also applying for a credit card.

After learning about the credit card, she was slapped with an $8,000 bill for the hearing aids. The company said she couldn’t return the hearing aids, even though Ohio’s Hearing Aid Returns Act gives consumers 30 days to cancel this type of purchase.

Why credit cards just got better for consumers

Thu, 18 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

New credit card protections take effect Feb. 22, and to help you understand the key changes, we have outlined what credit cards were like before the new law (the Credit CARD Act) and how they’re different now.

Rate increases

BEFORE THE CARD ACT: Credit card companies could increase your interest rate at any time for any reason.

File your taxes for free

Thu, 18 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Tax season is well underway, and if you haven’t filed your taxes yet, consider using government programs to file your federal and state tax returns for free.

For your federal taxes, you can use the IRS’s Free File program. In general, if your adjusted gross income was $57,000 or less in 2009, you can get free federal income tax preparation and electronic filing from a private tax preparation company through this program. If you qualify, the IRS will connect you to an approved company through its Web site, www.irs.gov.

Applying for Crime Victims Compensation

Thu, 04 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

If you are a victim of crime, the aftershocks can be felt for a while. The Ohio Crime Victims Compensation Program is one resource that can help victims recover.

The program, administered by Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray’s office, helps to offset some of the expenses that come up when dealing with the aftermath of a crime. The fund may compensate eligible victims and/or survivors up to $50,000.

Supporting small businesses in a tough economy

Tue, 02 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

By Richard Cordray, Ohio Attorney General

Ohio’s economy is made up of small business and at its heart are those entrepreneurs who set about to make a difference, to make their mark and to do it their way. From the auto repair shop in Cleveland to the software engineering firm in Toledo to the daycare center in Cincinnati, Ohio’s small businesses are the driving force behind Ohio’s economy.

Don't let scammers take advantage of your generosity

Fri, 29 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Reports of the devastation in Haiti has brought upon a generous wave of giving by Americans. More than $130 million has been donated so far and about $25 million of that was given by a new way of donating — texting. Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray discussed the ways to make sure that your donation is legitimate and does not cost you more in this week’s segment of Cordray’s Consumer Solutions on WSYX-TV in Columbus.

Ohioans are fed up

Wed, 27 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT

By Richard Cordray, Ohio Attorney General

It is clear that Ohioans are fed up with companies not fulfilling promises and providing shoddy service. Last year, consumers reported to my office a record number of complaints about how they were treated in the marketplace. This year’s total – 30,259 – is a 20 percent increase from 2008, when the office received 25,247 such complaints.

The numbers prove that Ohioans are sick and tired of being nickel-and-dimed by those who try to deceive them or who fail to follow through on their promises.

Gift card 101

Tue, 26 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Still have unused holiday gift cards? Follow these gift card tips:

Spend gift cards quickly. The longer you wait to redeem your gift card the greater the risk that the card will expire, or become lost or stolen. Also, if a company goes out of business, unredeemed gift cards may no longer be of any value.
Look for exclusions and limitations. Understand any restrictions on where, how or when you can use the card. For example, some gift cards can only be used at certain store locations.
Look for fees. Determine what fees, if any, apply to the gift card, including those that apply after the sale and reduce the value of the card. Be aware that bank-issued gift cards may carry fees and restrictions.
Know your rights. Under Ohio law, most retail gift cards cannot expire or be assessed fees within 2 years of the date they were issued. Generally, if a gift card does not have an expiration date, it’s valid until you use it.
Report unfair practices. If you have a problem redeeming your gift cards or if you think you’ve been treated unfairly, file a complaint with Attorney General Cordray’s office online or by calling (800) 282-0515.

Consumer complaints hit record high in 2009

Tue, 26 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Consumer complaints filed with Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray’s office reached a historical high in 2009 with 30,259 complaints—a 20 percent increase from 2008.

Attorney General Cordray noted that the year was extremely challenging financially for many Ohioans and that Ohio consumers simply have no tolerance for companies that fail to deliver promises and services.

The year’s top 10 complaint categories were:

Motorized vehicles (auto sales, services and repairs)
Collections, credit reporting and financial services (wrong information on credit reports, credit repair services, collection calls for debts not owed)
Household goods and property improvement

Free tax preparation, tax credits available to eligible consumers

Tue, 26 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT

If you earn low to moderate income, you may be eligible for free tax preparation services and a federal tax benefit called the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC).

The EITC is a federal program that lets employees who work for low to moderate wages get a larger tax refund. The amount of money you can receive through EITC is based on your annual taxable income and the number of children in your household.

A Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (or “VITA”) program can help you determine your eligibility and fill out the forms. With VITA, certified volunteers prepare returns at no cost for taxpayers of low to moderate income (generally $49,000 and below). To find a VITA site near you, call the IRS at (800) 906-9887.

Top ten consumer resolutions

Tue, 26 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT

If you’re having trouble sticking to your New Year’s resolutions, try some of ours. We put together the top ten consumer resolutions for 2010:

1. Check your free credit report from www.annualcreditreport.com. This is the only site that’s federally guaranteed to provide your free credit report, so watch out for look-a-like “free credit report” sites that will charge you for the service.

2. Avoid refund anticipation loans. These may be advertised as “instant tax refunds” or “fast cash refunds” but usually they’re high-cost, short-term loans that may cost consumers up to 25 percent of their refund.

"Instant tax refunds" could cost you

Fri, 22 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT

It is finally tax refund season. While you may be in a hurry to get your refund check, some of the advertised “fast” tax refund products are a rip-off. Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray explains on this week’s segment of “Cordray’s Consumer Solutions” on WSYX-TV in Columbus.

Many tax preparation companies, payday lenders and even car dealers offer “fast cash refunds.” These “fast cash refunds” are based on the amount of your anticipated refund check. But while you get quick cash, chances are that you will actually be signing up for a high interest loan.

AG's Medicaid Fraud Unit helps arrest doctor, office manager indicted on charges of health care fraud

Thu, 21 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Ohio Attorney General Cordray's Health Care Fraud Unit teamed with FBI and HHS agents to arrest Dr. Charles C. Njoku, 60, of Powell, and Veronica Scott-Guiler, 41, of Orient earlier this week.

From the FBI:

The indictment alleges that between 2005 and March, 2009, Njoku and Scott-Guiler billed the programs for office visits and tests that were not delivered as billed, including office visits billed to the program while Njoku was out of the country. The indictment also alleges that Njoku gave Scott-Guiler pre-signed prescription pads and allowed her to write and issue prescriptions to patients for narcotics and other medications while he was out of the country. And that Njoku allowed Scott-Guiler to see patients at his office then claiming that he had seen the patients when he submitted bills to the programs.