NAAG Urges FTC to Create Robust Rule Outlawing Impersonation Scams
The National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG) sent a letter signed by 49 attorneys general in response to a request for comments by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) on a federal rule to combat impersonation scams. The letter raises concerns about the plethora of impersonation scams targeting consumers and the current lack of a national rule…
How Scammers and Marketers Use Psychology to Persuade Consumers
In celebration of 2021 National Consumer Protection Week, the NAAG Consumer Protection Committee and NAGTRI Center for Consumer Protection host a dialogue with experts in the field of consumer psychology and consumer advertising. They discuss how consumers make decisions and how scammers and marketers use psychology to persuade consumers.
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Work Smarter, Not Harder: Using Data in Charity Enforcement
Access to information and analysis of data can enable regulators to target enforcement efforts effectively for increased impact. Learn about the kinds of data available, and how it can be used in a major enforcement initiative or in an existing investigation. Hear about some interesting state enforcement efforts using data from state enforcement officials and…
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Charity Regulation and Oversight of 501(c)(4) Social Welfare Organizations
State attorneys general and other charity regulators have clear authority and responsibility for the oversight of charitable organizations. Usually, these organizations are recognized as tax exempt by the IRS under IRC Sec. 501(c)(3). But what about social welfare organizations that are tax exempt under 501(c)(4)? This webinar addresses the following: What are 501(c)(4) organizations and…
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Federal Consumer Protection News: January 2022
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB or “Bureau”) announced an initiative to reduce so-called “junk fees” charged by banks and other financial institutions. Noting that credit card late fees and bank charges for overdraft and non-sufficient funds fees cost consumers nearly $30 billion in 2019, the Bureau published a request for…
Attorney General Consumer Protection News: January 2022
Multistate Actions Led by California Attorney General Rob Bonta, Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul, Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey, and Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro, a bipartisan coalition of 39 attorneys general obtained a $1.85 billion settlement with student loan servicer Navient. Under the settlement, Navient will make a total of $95 million in restitution…
Consumer Chief of the Month: Shennan Kavanagh, Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office
I joined the Consumer Protection Division (CPD) at the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office (MA AGO) in October of 2015 after 12 years in private practice litigating consumer finance class actions. My entire legal career has been devoted to consumer protection. It is an area of law that, in my experience, provides boundless opportunities to serve…
Communities of Color, Fraud, and Consumer Protection Agencies
In recent months, both the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (“CFPB”) produced reports on the connection between minority populations and consumer issues.1 Each report came to the same conclusion: unfair and deceptive practices have unique and disproportionate impacts on communities of color. These findings suggest that more needs to be…
Bipartisan Coalition of Attorneys General Urge FDA to Preserve State Regulation of Over-the-Counter Hearing Aids
Washington, D.C. — The National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG) is urging the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to preserve states’ authority to enforce their consumer protection laws in connection to the sale of over-the-counter hearing aids. The FDA is currently considering a proposal that, for the first time, would allow a new category…
NAAG Responds to FDA’s Comment Request on New Over-The-Counter Hearing Aid Rules
In response to a request for comments from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regarding new rules regulating over-the-counter hearing aids, NAAG submitted comments encouraging the FDA to take the below steps to ensure that states maintain a role as regulators in this emerging market: The FDA should define preemption terms in a way that…
