For Immediate
Release:
March 4, 2022
Consumer
Affairs marks Consumer Protection Week
Seeks to educate residents about fraud, scams and theft
FREEHOLD, NJ – The
Monmouth County Division of Consumer Affairs is joining with federal, state, and
local government agencies and national organizations to celebrate National
Consumer Protection Week (NCPW), from March 6 through March 12.
“Every year during National
Consumer Protection Week we encourage our residents and businesses to educate
themselves more about frauds and scams, and to learn about their consumer
rights,” said Commissioner Lillian G. Burry, liaison to the Division of
Consumer Affairs. “The Monmouth County Division of Consumer Affairs is
available for both residents and businesses and offers free educational services
and programs to help protect against consumer fraud.”
The County reminds
residents to stop and think before responding to computer inquiries, phone
calls and texts, and to never give out personal information such as a social security
number, banking statements or credit card information.
The Division of
Consumer Affairs offers these additional tips:
- Only do businesses with reputable companies – Make sure you trust
the business and it is an established organization with a credible reputation.
- Do not share your primary email address in online submissions –
Submitting your email address could result in spam. If you do not want your
primary email account flooded with unwanted messages, consider opening an
additional email account for use online.
- Avoid submitting credit card information online.
- If you must shop online, devote one credit card to those purchases –
Keep a minimum credit line on the account to limit the number of charges an
attacker can accumulate if your card is compromised.
- Avoid using debit cards for online purchases - Credit cards usually
offer some protection against identity theft and may limit the monetary
amount you will be responsible for paying. Debit cards, however, do not
offer that protection.
- Avoid allowing a website to remember your password. If your password
is stored, your profile and any account information you have provided on
that site are readily available for an attacker to gain access to your
computer.
Consumer Affairs is
a law enforcement agency and the civil arm of the State Attorney General’s
Office. It is created and funded by the Monmouth County Board of County
Commissioners and protects against consumer fraud and dishonest business
practices by enforcing the state Consumer Fraud Act and many other regulations.
Additional information
about cyber scams and consumer affairs programs can be found on the County
website www.visitmonmouth.com, by
calling 732-431-7900 or emailing consumeraffairs@co.monmouth.nj.us.
The office is open weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
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