It’s National Consumer Protection Week in Washington, with the Attorney General’s Office highlighting the importance of being a smart consumer. With scams and fraud attempts increasing, Washingtonians can participate in in-person and virtual events designed to help protect against deceptive practices.
According to the Washington State Office of the Attorney General website, Attorney General Nick Brown emphasized the importance of the week’s initiatives, saying, "There are sophisticated ways companies and individuals try to deceive and steal from Washingtonians. Our consumer protection events will give people the tools and knowledge to empowered and protect themselves."
The Consumer Protection Division is funded not by taxpayer dollars but by the money recovered from businesses that break consumer protection laws. These funds support the division’s efforts, which include billion-dollar recoveries in the opioid crisis, stopping a grocery merger that would harm competition, and securing millions in refunds for consumers affected by price-fixing in chicken and tuna.
The Wing Luke Civil Rights Division has also had successes, including a $1.5 million settlement against Allianz for insurance discrimination and restitution from Greenridge Farming for farmworker harassment, as noted in the AG’s press release. Additionally, the AG’s Consumer Resource Center handles thousands of calls each year, recovering over $10 million through informal dispute resolution.
Events during this week include information tables in local libraries and virtual presentations on topics such as manufactured housing disputes. Hybrid events will cover topics like credit management and smart shopping for used cars. The full schedule of events is available for those interested in learning more about fraud prevention and securing online transactions.
