National Consumer Protection Week
February 4 - 10, 2007

National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW) highlights consumer protection and education efforts around the country. NCPW 2007– Read Up and Reach Out: Be an Informed Consumer – encourages people across the nation to take advantage of the wealth of information that can enhance confidence in the marketplace. Consumer information can help people recognize a rip-off, smell a scam, or find a fraud.

Fraudulent promotions seek to exploit people’s financial fantasies, needs, and general optimism. But informed consumers are better able to see through frauds and deceptions, whether they take the form of questionable claims in an ad, ‘breathless’ offers that come in the mail or email, or schemes that sound like sure-fire successes. Perhaps more important, informed consumers know where to go for information about their rights, and how and where to complain.

AARP
Tips and practical information on the AARP’s website show you how to be a wise consumer.

Better Business Bureaus (BBBs) are nonprofit organizations supported primarily by local business members. The focus of BBB activities is to promote an ethical marketplace by encouraging honest advertising and selling practices, and by providing alternative dispute resolution.

Federal Citizen Information Center
The Federal Citizen Information Center serves as a trusted one-stop source for answers to questions about consumer problems and government services.

Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
Onguardonline.gov provides practical tips from the federal government and the technology industry to help you be on guard against Internet fraud, secure your computer, and protect your personal information.

The National Consumers League
The National Consumers League, founded in 1899, is America 's oldest consumer organization. Its mission is to protect and promote social and economic justice for consumers and workers in the United States and abroad. NCL offers educational materials on a wide variety of subjects.

Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC)
The OCC's Customer Assistance Group (CAG) is ready to help customers of national banks with questions or complaints they have about their financial institution. CAG's toll-free lines are open Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., Central Time. You can reach one of OCC's Customer Assistance Specialists by calling 1-800-613-6743.

United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS)
Links to all of USPIS' consumer publications.