National Consumer Protection Weeks: advice from Attorney General and BBB

For National Consumer Protection Week, the Better Business Bureau and the State Attorney General's Office offer the following tips for avoiding trouble as consumers:

• Thoroughly research businesses or organizations before shopping with them or donating money. Start at the Better Business Bureau. 

• Keep antivirus software up-to-date and surf the Internet with caution.

• Shred all physical copies of important documents when they are no longer needed. Review BBB’s Records Retention Schedule for tips, and find community shred events on the AGO’s webpage.

• Do not give out personal information, such as Social Security numbers and bank account numbers, to strangers who make contact by phone, Internet or mail.

• Finally, if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

If you believe you have been scammed, file a complaint with the AGO and BBB.