Attorney General Bob McDonnell highlighted the numerous consumer education resources available through his office Wednesday. The announcement was made as part of “National Consumer Protection Week.” In addition, McDonnell unveiled a new section of his office's website dedicated to mortgage foreclosure tips.
“Education is the first line of defense for consumers who want to manage their money wisely and protect themselves from fraud,” says McDonnell. “We encourage all consumers to take advantage of the resources that our Office features to help them master the financial facts of life.”
McDonnell specifically noted the new mortgage foreclosure education initiative, which he says will help anyone having trouble keeping up with mortgage payments by providing important and helpful information. For a direct link to this section of the site, see the links provided below this text.
In the consumer section of the site, also linked below, consumers can get information on:
- Mortgage foreclosure prevention tips.
- The new “Virginia Consumer Guide.”
- Top 10 scams reported to the Attorney General, with summaries and pointers.
- The Attorney General’s “consumer alert of the month,” a column that runs in dozens of media outlets across Virginia, with a complete online archive.
- Frequently-Asked Questions and advice for filing complaints.
- The Attorney General’s Office’s resources for identity theft, Medicaid fraud, Spam/technology crimes, senior citizen assistance, and more.
Consumers without Internet access can contact the Attorney General’s consumer hotline toll-free by phone at 800-451-1525 to obtain copies of any of the consumer education materials listed above.
McDonnell says, “Consumer protection is an important statutory duty of the Office of the Attorney General, and our staff can help. In an age of increased consumer scams, we all must continue to be educated and vigilant.”
