Works to prevent fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices in the marketplace. Provides information to help consumers avoid them.

United States Federal Trade Commission | United States Federal Trade Commission

Programs that enforce the laws that protect the consumer from deceit or fraud in the marketplace by requiring that the parties to a transaction reveal all facts which are essential to an intelligent assessment of that transaction and to providing informed consent.

Consumer Disclosure Laws

Programs that provide a hotline, website or other mechanisms that consumers can use to report the activities of telephone and Internet scammers and other con artists who attempt to persuade older adults, individuals who live alone, disaster victims and other vulnerable people to part with their savings. Common scams include fraudulent prize offers, "free" travel packages that have hidden costs or which never materialize, "get rich quick" investments that turn out to be worthless, tax debt/refund scams, phony charities with names that are similar to well-known organizations and schemes involving promises to recover an individual's money following their victimization by another scam. Reports may be filed by consumer fraud victims or by people who have information about individuals they know to be perpetrating these types of scams.

Consumer Fraud Reporting

Programs that utilize a wide variety of informational materials and techniques to increase the public's awareness of their rights and responsibilities as consumers of goods and services. The services may include information concerning federal and state consumer protection laws and regulatory agencies; advice regarding comparison shopping, use of consumer reports and buying guides, and other practices that help consumers make informed decisions and avoid problems before they occur; and education regarding the steps that need to be taken to resolve problems with unfair credit practices, defective products, shoddy repairs or workmanship or incompetent services.

Consumer Education

The principal executive divisions of the federal government of the United States, headed by a secretary who is a member of the President's cabinet, the agencies within them and the independent establishments and corporations that fall outside the cabinet structure.

Federal Government Agencies/Departments

Consumer protection offices that are part of federal, state, county or city governments which receive, investigate and resolve through direct action or referral to law enforcement or regulatory agencies, consumer complaints that are a result of transactions in the marketplace.  Most government consumer affairs offices also publish and disseminate a large selection of consumer education materials, initiate studies to improve standards of conduct for businesses and consumers, and analyze and recommend changes in consumer protection legislation.