Consumer Chief of the Month, Sean P. Neafsey, New Jersey Attorney General’s Office
I joined the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs in April 2020 (at the start of the pandemic) after practicing law for nearly a decade in New Jersey and New York. I currently serve as the Acting Director of the division. From the moment I arrived, the division has worked tirelessly to help our professional…
How the State Center Supports the Antitrust and Consumer Protection Efforts of the Attorney General Community
Originally published on Jan. 20, 2022 As former attorneys general from Colorado and Indiana, we are proud to serve on the board of the Center for State Enforcement of Antitrust and Consumer Protection Laws, Inc. (State Center). This organization was first formed in early 2004 by a dedicated group of former state deputy attorneys general…
49 Attorneys General Urge Federal Trade Commission to Create Robust Rule Outlawing Impersonation Scams
Washington, D.C. — The National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG) is calling on the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to adopt a national rule to target impersonation scams. A comment letter from 49 attorneys general raises concerns about the plethora of impersonation scams targeting consumers and the current lack of a national rule to outlaw these fraudulent…
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…
