Tips for Protecting Useful Consumer Your Identity Protection

Here are some basic tips that Contact Information consumers can follow to help protect their identity: West Virginia

• Always keep your personal Attorney General Consumer Protection information secure! Consumer Protection Know the Facts You • Never share your personal Hotline information, including date of birth, 1-800-368-8808 Need to Protect Yourself address, bank account, credit card or www.wvago.gov Social Security numbers.

• Shred any sensitive financial Better Business Bureau documents and paperwork that 304-345-7502 contain personal information before www.bbb.org throwing away. Annual Credit Report • Regularly monitor financial accounts 1-877-322-8228 and billing statements for suspicious activity. www.annualcreditreport.com • Review your credit report for any National “Do Not Call” Consumer Protection questionable changes. Registry Hotline • Remember that any offer that seems 1-888-382-1222 too good to be true typically is. www.DoNotCall.gov 1-800-368-8808 If you believe you have been a victim From the Office of the of identity theft or a scam, contact the Federal Trade Commission Attorney General’s Office’s Consumer 1-877-382-4357 West Virginia Attorney General Protection Hotline at 1-800-368-8808. www.ftc.gov Message from the Office The Consumer How to File a of the Attorney General Protection Division Consumer Complaint

The West Virginia Attorney General’s The Consumer Protection Division 1) Call our Consumer Protection Hotline Office is charged with representing the regularly provides assistance regarding at 1-800-368-8808 or visit our State of West Virginia by enforcing state consumer protection laws and website at www.wvago.gov to obtain a the West Virginia Consumer Credit has developed compliance templates complaint form. and Protection Act, which is contained that explain areas of our laws in an within Chapter 46A of the West Virginia understandable manner. 2) Complete all pages of the Consumer Code. Complaint form. The Consumer Protection Division also To that end, the Attorney General’s investigates consumer complaints received 3) Provide copies of any relevant Consumer Protection Division works pursuant to the West Virginia Consumer documents. to protect West Virginia consumers and Credit and Protection Act. citizens against consumer related fraud 4) Return or mail the completed In many instances, the Consumer complaint form and copies of your on many levels as well as focusing on fair, Protection Division is able to successfully papers to: safe business practices for individuals and mediate complaints between consumers and companies doing business in the State of businesses. If mediation is unsuccessful, Office of the West Virginia West Virginia. the Attorney General’s Office determines Attorney General whether further legal action is needed to Consumer Protection Division Education is critical to protecting enforce compliance with West Virginia law. P.O. Box 1789 yourself from consumer fraud. That’s Charleston, WV 25326-1789 why the Office of the Attorney When necessary, we may take legal action General is pleased to provide these tips in an effort to halt illegal activities and and resources to assist constituents, obtain refunds of money wrongfully taken consumers and businesses alike. from consumers.