National Consumer Protection Week.

The Regulatory Commission of Alaska’s Consumer Protection & Information Section joins the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and other agencies in encouraging Alaskans to be on guard against various fraud and scams during National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW), March 6 to March 12, 2022.  The FTC protects consumers and competition by preventing anticompetitive, deceptive, and unfair business practices through law enforcement, advocacy, and education without unduly burdening legitimate business activity. According to a recent FTC report, Alaska ranked the 10th highest (out of 50 states) in Fraud and other Reports. Alaska also ranked 46th in Identity Theft Reports.

According to the FTC, the top ten reported scam categories for Alaska are as follows:

Imposter Scams 38%,         
Identity Theft 10%,               
Online Shopping and Negative Reviews 7%,
Prizes, Sweepstakes and Lotteries 5%,
Credit Bureaus, Information Furnishers and Report Users 5%,
Banks and Lenders 3%,
Internet Services 3%,
Privacy, Data Security, and Cyber Threats 2%,
Business and Job Opportunities 2%,
Healthcare 2%

You may visit the FTC's website for more information on fraud detection and prevention. You may also visit local resources offered below:

Alaska Department of Law:  The Consumer Protection Unit of the Attorney General’s Office investigates unfair or deceptive business practices and files legal actions on behalf of the State of Alaska to stop such practices.  The Consumer Protection Unit also engages in informal mediation of consumer complaints, educates the public about consumer issues, proposes legislation and regulations regarding trade and business practices, enforces antitrust laws, and registers telemarketers, charitable organizations, paid solicitors, and sellers of business opportunities.  See News & Alerts.

Alaska Division of Banking and Securities:  The division regulates state depository and non-depository financial institutions, administers and enforces Alaska’s financial services laws, and provides information to consumers, investors, entrepreneurs, and the financial services industry.  The division includes three sections that administer 12 statutory programs.  In addition to licensing, examination, and enforcement duties, division staff answer inquiries, investigate and resolve complaints, and contribute to education and outreach activities. 

Alaska Medicare Information Office: The Medicare Information Office provides tips on how to spot and report Medicare errors, waste, and fraud.  Staff also offers classes and one-on-one counseling to Medicare beneficiaries and their families.  

Better Business Bureau: The Better Business Bureau (BBB) recently released a report on how scams are being perpetrated, who is being targeted, and which scams have the greatest impact. Check out BBB's Scam Tracker Risk Report. 

UTILITY RELATED SCAMS

Great Deal on Your Cable?  Could be a Trick. The Better Business Bureau is getting reports of scammers impersonating cable company representatives. Con artists claim to offer a great deal on your service, but it’s really a way to trick unsuspecting customers into shelling out hundreds of dollars for nothing.

Refund Ruse.  Scammers will claim you overpaid on your utility bill and will request personal bank account information to refund your money.

Vacate Your Home.  Scammers will request you leave your home for them to install meters or other equipment, leaving your property vacant and susceptible to easy break-ins.

Power Restoration Fee.  In the aftermath of severe storms, scammers will offer to restore your power more quickly for a fee.

Online Bill Pay and Text.  Unexpected emails or texts containing mock links to online bills.  If you click on the link, it can make your mobile device or desktop computer vulnerable to viruses.  Scammers use malware to steal personal information, send spam, and commit fraud.

Social media posts are telling customers that a charity will pay for their utility bills if the customer makes a partial payment by money transfer.  To learn more information refer to United Utilities against Scams (UUAS).

Homeowners and businesses should also be on their guard from imposters claiming to be representatives from the RCA.  While the RCA regulates public utilities in Alaska, the RCA does not - and will never - collect utility payments from customers.  Contact your utility company at the phone number shown on your utility bill if you suspect a fraudulent phone call, text, email, or mail. Additional information, such as consumer fact sheets are available on the RCA website of www.rca.alaska.gov.



Date Issued: 3/3/2022