Consumer Advocate 

The New Year is well under way, but the top scams of 2010 still threaten unsuspecting consumers.

From fake checks to phony debt collectors, Ohio consumers reported dozens of scams to the Ohio Attorney General’s Office in 2010, and many of those scams continue to circulate in 2011.

Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine is proud to join government and nonprofit organizations across the country to celebrate National Consumer Protection Week, coming March 6-12, 2011.

National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW) is a coordinated campaign that encourages consumers nationwide to take full advantage of their consumer rights and to make better-informed decisions.

Tracking recalls can seem overwhelming, but left unchecked, defective products can cause serious injury or even death, especially to children.

For example, drawstrings on a child’s sweatshirt could cause strangulation, small parts of toys may pose a choking risk and recalled produce could cause food poisoning.

Understanding your consumer rights is important every week of the year, but during National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW), government and nonprofit organizations across the country gear up to provide a wealth of information on avoiding scams and making the most of your money.

In honor of NCPW 2011, the Ohio Attorney General’s Office is joining other government and nonprofit organizations to provide events and workshops throughout the state.

On Jan. 10, Mike DeWine took office as Ohio’s 50th attorney general.

In his inaugural remarks, Attorney General DeWine explained his top priority: to protect families. He said it is especially important to protect the most vulnerable among us.