National Consumer Protection Week: Beware of Scammers | Video

Van Tieu | 3/5/2013

The number of potential scams are only limited by a crook`s imagination. Unless you`re constantly suspicious, you could become a victim. Agencies across the nation are participating in Consumer Protection week, including North Dakota`s Attorney General, who shares some of the top scams in the state.

Almost everywhere you look, there seems to be a deal that sounds too good to be true.

"There`s the work at home operation. There`s the notification you won a foreign lottery," said Attorney General Stenehjem.

And the list goes on.

"Your bank account is about to be locked and they ask you to provide information on what your account information is," he continues. "Shoddy workmen coming up and taking money, promising to get work done. Taking down payments and taking entire payements and never doing anything to complete the actual work."

In North Dakota, unlicensed contract work is one of the top complaints sent to the Attorney General`s office, especially with the building boom, and rebuilding after the 2011 flood.

"These are the perfect times for con artists to come in. they know people are in a hurry," says Stenehjem.

North Dakotans also frequently complain of do not call list violators. The Attorney General has already filed more than 200 complaints.

"Never give out information to somebody who calls you on the telephone," warns Stenehjem.

Identity theft is another common scam in the state, but scammers don`t necessarily need the most personal information to hack your life.

Stenehjem says that a person`s mother`s maiden name is a common password, and piece of information [scammers] want.

With so much personal information on the web, it doesn`t take much for someone to piece together the puzzle to steal your identity.

"That`s the downside of all this technology, but the upside is that consumers also have the tools to prevent themselves from getting cheated.

"When consumers have questions on any of these kinds of scams, issues that come up, they should never hesitate to call my office for any advice they might need, whether they`re about to become a victim or not, or whether they should be more careful." says Stenejhem.

For more consumer protection resources, call the Attorney General`s office, or visit www.ncpw.gov.

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