Consumer Protection Not Just for A Week

This week is the 16^th annual National Consumer Protection Week.  Actually,  every week should be Consumer Protection Week.  And why not?  We read or hear about massive security breaches that expose our personal information to unpalatable use.  We may be drawn into scams, lured by advertising claims that are too good to be true, that leave us deep in debt, and then we wonder what we can do to protect ourselves.  Educating ourselves is one way.  At the National Consumer Protection Week site, federal, state and local agencies and organizations come together as partners to bring to consumers, as the FTC Consumer Protection Bureau’s director puts it, “practical and timely information to help you recognize and report scams, manage debt, use technology wisely, evaluate products and services, fight identity theft and see the truth behind advertising claims.”  Take a look and learn.

And this being tax season, the California Franchise Tax Board warns taxpayers to be careful of scammers.  Here is the FTB’s Top 12 Tax Scams.

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