Attorney General Chris Carr is recognizing March 5-11, 2023, as National Consumer Protection Week by highlighting the efforts of Georgia’s Consumer Protection Division and sharing important tips on how to avoid scams.
“Our Consumer Protection Division continues to produce exceptional results on behalf of their fellow Georgians, with more than 170,000 people assisted last year alone,” said Carr. “We are working each day to protect consumers from scams and dishonest business practices, and we stand ready to assist all those in need of guidance. During National Consumer Protection Week, we encourage Georgians to take advantage of the many resources we offer so you can ensure your personal and financial information is kept safe.”
Enforcement Efforts
The Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division receives hundreds of consumer complaints a month and investigates those businesses that demonstrate a pattern or practice of unlawful behavior.
In 2022, the Consumer Protection Division helped 171,548 people and was responsible for obtaining more than $143 million for consumers through several efforts, including legal settlements, mediation, and administration of the Georgia Lemon Law.
From the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2022, to date, settlements with the Attorney General’s Office resulted in payments to the State Treasury in the amount of $21,294,663. Additional information can be found here.
Consumer Education
The Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division continues to engage in consumer education and outreach efforts.
This includes the distribution of two consumer-dedicated guides:
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The Georgia Consumer Protection Guide for Older Adults includes an array of topics of importance to seniors, such as scams, identity theft, credit and debt, reverse mortgages, charitable giving, home repairs, funerals, advance directives, long-term care, elder abuse and more. The guide is available in English, Spanish and Korean. Download your free copy
Read the full article here
