April is Financial Literacy Month: 32 state champion teams en route to Miami Beach for annual LifeSmarts championship, April 24-27 – National Consumers League

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April 7, 2010

Contact: 202-835-3323, media@nclnet.org

Washington, D.C. — Just in time for Financial Literacy Month, the National Consumers League (NCL) has announced the 32 state champion teams who have earned a spot at the 2010 National LifeSmarts Championship, which will take place this year in Miami Beach, Florida, April 24-27. LifeSmarts (www.lifesmarts.org) is NCL’s 16-year-old program that educates teens and tweens on real-world financial and consumer literacy issues.

LifeSmarts is a competitive educational program, in which teams of students begin online. Top-scorers progress to state competitions, and state champion teams meet each April to compete in the National LifeSmarts Championship. Last year’s state champion from Wisconsin’s Oconto High School will return this year to defend their national title. For a complete list of state champions, visit www.lifesmarts.org.

“We are so proud of this year’s state LifeSmarts champions, who have proven themselves to be the best and the brightest of the next generation of consumers,” said Sally Greenberg, NCL Executive Director. “LifeSmarts is a fun, fast, and educational program, and a great vehicle for educating young consumers. Our program goes in-depth on the issues kids—and adults–are facing now: making smart choices with financial resources, health care, environmental concerns, and how technology affects our lives.”

The 2010 National LifeSmarts Champion and other winning teams will walk away with prizes including scholarships and savings bonds. Also, for the first time this year, top students will receive new scholarships for demonstrating knowledge in specific program topic areas. The top eight placing teams are recognized with savings bonds and other prizes.

2010 NATIONAL LIFESMARTS CHAMPIONSHIP HEADED TO MIAMI BEACH

Consumer-savvy teens representing 32 states will compete at this year’s national event. Throughout the 2009-2010 program year, more than 22,000 teens competed online for a chance to represent their states at the 2010 National LifeSmarts Championship. Players answered more than 3 million consumer questions in the online competition.

EVENT INFO

April 24-27, 2010

Miami Beach Resort, 4833 Collins Ave., Miami Beach, FL 33140 (866-765-9090)

Final match: Tuesday, April 27, 10:45 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Eastern
Awards Ceremony: 12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. Eastern

WEBCAST AND WEB COVERAGE

Parents and teachers can follow the action at the official 2010 National LifeSmarts Championship blog (www.lifesmartsnationals.blogspot.com).

The semi-final and final competition matches will be streamed live at www.lifesmarts.org, starting at 9 am Eastern.

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About the National Consumers League and LifeSmarts

The National Consumers League, founded in 1899, is America’s pioneer consumer organization. Our mission is to protect and promote social and economic justice for consumers and workers in the United States and abroad. For more information, visit www.nclnet.org.

LifeSmarts is a program of the National Consumers League. State coordinators run the programs on a volunteer basis. For more information, visit: www.lifesmarts.org, email lifesmarts@nclnet.org , or call the National Consumers League’s communications department at 202-835-3323.

NCL thanks Western Union for underwriting LifeSmarts study aid – National Consumers League

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April 1, 2010

Contact: 202-835-3323, media@nclnet.org

Washington, DC – As LifeSmarts state champions are determined at local competitions across the country, the National Consumers League is gearing up for the 2010 National LifeSmarts Championship and has announced a new study aid for coaches and students prepping for nationals: the Question-of-the-Day Calendar. Covering a range of subjects from health and safety to personal finance and the environment, the LifeSmarts Question-of-the-Day Calendars are underwritten by major companies, government agencies, and organizations. The April calendar, featuring practice questions with an emphasis on consumer rights and responsibilities, was sponsored by Western Union.

Each month, the official LifeSmarts Web site (www.lifesmarts.org) will feature a calendar containing dozens of retired competition questions for use as a study aid. The LifeSmarts daily calendars provide one challenge question related to the monthly topic area for each school day.

“Teachers and coaches may use the calendar questions to spur class discussion by asking one question per day, developing a mini-quiz given weekly, or running a simulated LifeSmarts competition,” said LifeSmarts Program Director Lisa Hertzberg. “We are grateful for Western Union’s support in making this resource available to students and coaches, especially those who will spend the next several weeks doing some last-minute cramming for the 2010 National LifeSmarts Championship in Miami.”

LifeSmarts–the ultimate consumer challenge–is an educational opportunity that develops the consumer and marketplace knowledge and skills of teenagers in a fun way and rewards them for this knowledge. The program complements the curriculum already in place in high schools and can be used as an activity for classes, groups, clubs, and community organizations. LifeSmarts, run as a game-show style competition, is open to all teens in the U.S. in high school and middle school.

LifeSmarts topics have been chosen to encourage and reward knowledge in the areas that matter most to consumers and workers in today’s marketplace: personal finance; health and safety; the environment; technology; and consumer rights and responsibilities.

In LifeSmarts, teams of four to five teens, coached by an adult participant, compete in district and state matches with the state winners going to the national competition to vie for the national LifeSmarts title. The National Consumers League will host the 16thannual LifeSmarts National Competition in Miami Beach, Florida from April 24-27, 2010.

The National Consumers League appreciates the financial support that makes LifeSmarts possible, which allows us to provide this program at no charge to teens and adult coaches. Our sponsors — community-minded businesses, associations, labor unions, government agencies, other organizations and individuals — understand the benefits of providing meaningful consumer education for young adults.

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About the National Consumers League and LifeSmarts

The National Consumers League, founded in 1899, is America’s pioneer consumer organization. Our mission is to protect and promote social and economic justice for consumers and workers in the United States and abroad. For more information, visit www.nclnet.org.

LifeSmarts is a program of the National Consumers League. State coordinators run the programs on a volunteer basis. For more information, visit: www.lifesmarts.org, email lifesmarts@nclnet.org, or call the National Consumers League’s communications department at 202-835-3323.

Health care win for consumers: NCL applauds House passage of reform bill – National Consumers League

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March 21, 2010

Contact: (202) 835-3323, media@nclnet.org

The National Consumers League, the nation’s oldest consumer group, applauds the United States House of Representatives and President Obama for the passage of historic health care reform legislation. As President Obama has stated, this bill is “the single most important step that we have taken on health care since Medicare” was created in 1965.

For decades NCL has advocated that our country’s health care system is in need of reform, and this legislation marks a long overdue step forward toward a higher quality system that is more patient-centered and cost-effective.

“We recognize that reforming our health care system is no easy task,” said Sally Greenberg, NCL Executive Director, “and we support lawmakers who put ensuring quality health care for all Americans ahead of politics today.”

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About the National Consumers League

Founded in 1899, the National Consumers League is America’s pioneer consumer organization. Its mission is to protect and promote social and economic justice for consumers and workers in the United States and abroad. NCL is a private, nonprofit membership organization. For more information, visit www.nclnet.org.

NCL grooming a new generation of savvy consumers during NCPW and year-round – National Consumers League

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March 7, 2010

Contact: (202) 835-3323, media@nclnet.org

Washington, DC – With the focus of this year’s National Consumer Protection Week (March 7-13) highlighting consumer education for every age – from grade school to retirement – the National Consumers League is reminding consumers, especially the youngest ones, that it pays to be “LifeSmart.” NCL, an official partner of NCPW, along with federal government agencies and other consumer organizations, runs LifeSmarts (www.lifesmarts.org), a national program for high school and middle school youth that tests students in grades 7-12 with questions about real-life marketplace issues ranging from personal finance, health and safety, the environment, technology, and consumer rights and responsibilities. So far in this 2009-2010 season, the program has recorded the highest numbers ever in its 16-year history.

What better time than National Consumer Protection Week for consumers to learn ways to manage their money wisely, protect themselves from scams, and be smart about credit,” said Lisa Hertzberg, program director of LifeSmarts. “We encourage consumers of all ages to visit the official NCPW Web site—and to log on to www.lifesmarts.org to get involved in LifeSmarts.”

The LifeSmarts competition begins online at the state level, where young consumers form teams and compete for spots at state championships across the country. State champions will go on to attend the National LifeSmarts competition in Miami, April 24-27.

“The current marketplace is a challenge for adult consumers,” said NCL Executive Director Sally Greenberg. “But at younger and younger ages, children are having an influence on how their families spend money.  Our LifeSmarts program, and the many resources offered by NCPW partners this year, recognize that we need to start educating our consumers when they are young. NCL is delighted to be a part of the official NCPW Steering Committee.”

During NCPW, consumer advocates join with federal, state, and local government agencies to devote a week to raising awareness about today’s consumers’ issues. This year’s efforts include free online resources, which can help consumers protect their privacy, manage money and debt, avoid identity theft, understand credit and mortgages, and steer clear of frauds and scams.

To learn more about the LifeSmarts program, contact Hertzberg at the National Consumers League at (202) 835-3323 or lisah@nclnet.org or visit www.lifesmarts.org.

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About the National Consumers League

Founded in 1899, the National Consumers League is America’s pioneer consumer organization. Its mission is to protect and promote social and economic justice for consumers and workers in the United States and abroad. NCL is a private, nonprofit membership organization. For more information, visit www.nclnet.org.

NCL applauds I.M.P. and Ticketfly agreement to reduce service fees – National Consumers League

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February 19, 2010

Contact: (202) 835-3323, media@nclnet.org

Washington, DC – The National Consumers League (NCL) today applauded the announcement by I.M.P. and Ticketfly that their agreement to offer primary ticketing services at the Merriweather Post Pavillion amphitheatre in Columbia, Maryland with result in up to 30 percent lower service fees on tickets.

NCL, the nation’s oldest consumer organization, has made the reduction in service fees a primary goal of its efforts to promote affordability and transparency for consumers in the live event marketplace. “At a time when consolidation in the industry leaves little hope for consumer benefit, it is encouraging to see independent venues and ticketing services working together to lower these service fees,” said NCL Executive Director Sally Greenberg. “Consumers are rightfully fed up with outrageously expensive fees that are all too often tacked on to the face value of a ticket. We are happy to see that I.M.P. and Ticketfly agree with the vast majority of consumers who think that being charged extra to print out a ticket on their own printer with their own ink is inexcusable.”

NCL and I.M.P. chairman Seth Hurwitz recently worked together with other consumer, antitrust, and industry groups to oppose the Ticketmaster-Live Nation merger. Despite a huge outpouring of consumer opposition, the U.S. Department of Justice ultimately approved that merger with conditions.

“If the DOJ is not going to stand in the way of the new live event industry colossus, consumers will increasingly look to creative arrangements between independent actors like I.M.P. and Ticketfly to put a check on the seemingly unstoppable increase in ticket prices,” said Greenberg.

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About the National Consumers League

Founded in 1899, the National Consumers League is America’s pioneer consumer organization. Its mission is to protect and promote social and economic justice for consumers and workers in the United States and abroad. NCL is a private, nonprofit membership organization. For more information, visit www.nclnet.org.

NCL’s Fraud Center: recession-linked scams on the rise in 2009 – National Consumers League

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February 16, 2010

Contact: (202) 835-3323, media@nclnet.org

Washington, DC — The recession is helping at least some people prosper despite tough economic times – scammers preying on consumers who are looking for ways to earn money. The National Consumers League’s (NCL) annual Top Ten Scams report, released today, found that while fake check schemes continued to be the most frequently-reported scams, frauds targeting consumers hard hit by the down economy soared in 2009. The report, which is compiled from consumer complaints submitted to NCL’s Fraud Center, examined trends in Internet and telemarketing fraud in 2009.

“Consumers are looking for ways to supplement their income or learn new skills,” said NCL Executive Director Sally Greenberg. “Unfortunately, fraudsters know this all too well and they target vulnerable consumers with business opportunity or scholarship-related scams.”

Fake check scams—in which fraudsters lure in their victims with phony mystery shopper jobs or sweepstakes “winnings,” asking their victims to cash realistic-looking checks and wire a portion of the proceeds back to the scammer before the check bounces—continued to be the most frequently-reported scam to NCL’s Fraud Center, making up 42 percent of all complaints. Internet merchandise scams, fake sweepstakes, phishing, and Nigerian money offers remaining unchanged as second through fourth most-reported scams, respectively. Business opportunity scams and scholarships and educational grant scams, which were not top ten in 2008, became the sixth and tenth most-reported scam in 2009, respectively.

“This year, we saw a spike in complaints related to bogus business opportunities and scholarship grants,” said John Breyault, vice president of public policy, telecommunications and fraud at the League. Clearly, scammers know how the economic environment is affecting consumers, and they are profiting from it.

In a typical business opportunity scam, the victim is promised unrealistic or “guaranteed” profits in return for a significant up-front investment in a business – such as magazine stands, vending machines, or Internet kiosks. Though the profits almost never materialize, the victim still loses their initial fee and the scammer disappears.  In a scholarship or educational grant scam, the victim pays a fee to the scammer in return for promises of a “guaranteed” scholarship award or generous financial aid package, which never come to fruition.

“It is especially heinous that scammers would seek to capitalize on the weak job market to make a buck off economically vulnerable consumers,” said Breyault. “Scammers offering bogus scholarships prey on people’s efforts to improve their education level or skills, efforts aimed at making themselves more marketable in a tough economy. With state and local consumer protection budgets cut to the bone by the recession, it’s even more important for consumers to stay vigilant to avoid falling victims to these frauds.”

A second notable trend in the NCL report was the link between age and vulnerability to fraud. In 2009, consumers in the top age groups—56-65 and those over 65—made up a larger portion of fraud reports than in the previous year, increasing by about 2 percent versus 2008.

“Older consumers may not be as quick to check out a company’s bogus claims on the Internet, where a lot of these scams are exposed,” said Breyault. “We urge relatives and caregivers to pay special attention to older family members who suddenly start exhibiting the signs of having fallen victim to a fraudster.” These signs include a sudden inability to pay monthly bills, unusually heavy volumes of junk mail or telemarketing calls, or a reluctance to discuss repeated large payments to “a friend.“ Consumers concerned that an elderly friend or relative is a fraud victim should contact their local consumer protection office or state attorney general.

For more information on NCL’s 2009 Top Ten Scams report, click here.

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About the National Consumers League

Founded in 1899, the National Consumers League is America’s pioneer consumer organization. Its mission is to protect and promote social and economic justice for consumers and workers in the United States and abroad. NCL is a private, nonprofit membership organization. For more information, visit www.nclnet.org.

NCL thanks CARFAX for underwriting LifeSmarts study aid – National Consumers League

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February 1, 2010

Contact: 202-835-3323, media@nclnet.org

Washington, DC – As LifeSmarts state programs heat up across the country, the National Consumers League has announced a new study aid for coaches and students prepping for competition: the Question-of-the-Day Calendar. Covering a range of subjects from health and safety to personal finance and the environment, the LifeSmarts Question-of-the-Day Calendars are underwritten by major companies, government agencies, and organizations. The February calendar, featuring practice questions with an emphasis on personal finance, was sponsored by CARFAX.

Each month, the official LifeSmarts Web site (www.lifesmarts.org) will feature a calendar containing dozens of retired competition questions for use as a study aid. The LifeSmarts daily calendars provide one challenge question related to the monthly topic area for each school day.

“Teachers and coaches may use the calendar questions to spur class discussion by asking one question per day, developing a mini-quiz given weekly, or running a simulated LifeSmarts competition,” said LifeSmarts Program Director Lisa Hertzberg. “We are grateful for CARFAX’s support in making this resource available to students and coaches as they prepare for their state competitions, vying for a chance to compete at the 2010 National LifeSmarts Championship in Miami this spring.”

LifeSmarts–the ultimate consumer challenge–is an educational opportunity that develops the consumer and marketplace knowledge and skills of teenagers in a fun way and rewards them for this knowledge. The program complements the curriculum already in place in high schools and can be used as an activity for classes, groups, clubs, and community organizations. LifeSmarts, run as a game-show style competition, is open to all teens in the U.S. in high school and middle school.

LifeSmarts topics have been chosen to encourage and reward knowledge in the areas that matter most to consumers and workers in today’s marketplace: personal finance; health and safety; the environment; technology; and consumer rights and responsibilities.

In LifeSmarts, teams of four to five teens, coached by an adult participant, compete in district and state matches with the state winners going to the national competition to vie for the national LifeSmarts title. The National Consumers League will host the 16th annual LifeSmarts National Competition in Miami Beach, Florida from April 24-27, 2010

The National Consumers League appreciates the financial support that makes LifeSmarts possible, which allows us to provide this program at no charge to teens and adult coaches. Our sponsors — community-minded businesses, associations, labor unions, government agencies, other organizations and individuals — understand the benefits of providing meaningful consumer education for young adults.

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About the National Consumers League and LifeSmarts

The National Consumers League, founded in 1899, is America’s pioneer consumer organization. Our mission is to protect and promote social and economic justice for consumers and workers in the United States and abroad. For more information, visit www.nclnet.org.

LifeSmarts is a program of the National Consumers League. State coordinators run the programs on a volunteer basis. For more information, visit: www.lifesmarts.org, email lifesmarts@nclnet.org, or call the National Consumers League’s communications department at 202-835-3323.

TicketDisaster.org coalition members react to DOJ settlement in Ticketmaster-Live Nation merger – National Consumers League

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January 25, 2010

Contact: John Breyault, NCL (202) 207-2819, johnb@nclnet.org or
Shannon Flaherty, National Association of Ticket Brokers, (202) 347-6762, sflaherty@theheraldgroup.com

Washington, DC — The TicketDisaster.org coalition today released the following statement in response to the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) decision to allow the Ticketmaster-Live Nation merger to proceed:

”The DOJ has asked consumers, independent promoters, ticket brokers, artists, and venue owners to take a very large leap of faith – that the conditions imposed on the merger will improve competition and ultimately lead to greater choice and lower prices,” said Sally Greenberg, executive director of the National Consumers League, a founding member of the TicketDisaster.org coalition. “While we appreciate the efforts of the DOJ to extract meaningful concessions from the parties, we remain concerned that these two companies, with a history of anti-consumer behavior, will abide only by the letter, and not the spirit of the settlement agreement. It is therefore critically important that the DOJ hold the merged company’s feet to the fire to ensure that the settlement will have its intended effect. The consumer groups, venue owners, promoters, and ticket broker members of our coalition will remain vigilant to ensure that DOJ fulfills this watchdog function.”

The settlement leaves several important issues unresolved, we believe. Notably, the secondary ticketing issue remains unsettled. Ticketmaster has signaled that it intends to use questionable “innovations” such as paperless ticketing to extend its monopoly power over the secondary market. We believe that this may constitute an unfair and deceptive trade practice. We therefore urge the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to maintain a watchful eye and ensure that consumers continue to benefit from a robust secondary market.

“While today’s decision is not the strongest in terms of protecting consumers, competition, and choice in the industry, it is all the more reason why consumers should continue to stand up and voice their concerns with this live entertainment monopoly,” said Gary Adler, counsel to the National Association of Ticket Brokers. “The fight is not over. Our efforts to protect the rights of the consumer by exposing Ticketmaster’s anti-consumer activities, including the use of paperless ticketing and excessive fees, are still priority number one.”

“Though I have not had the opportunity to review it yet fully, it seems the Department of Justice has dictated in the merger agreement that Live Nation and Ticketmaster may not engage in anticompetitive behavior on any level going forward. If that is true, it will be a better world for everyone. It all comes down to whether the DOJ will indeed be the watchdog they claim they will be. The department seems to understand the issues, our concerns, and the fears the entertainment industry holds about Live Nation’s and Ticketmaster’s predatory and anticompetitive behavior. This puts Live Nation Entertainment under a microscope, a place we wished Ticketmaster and Live Nation were under a long time ago,” said Seth Hurwitz, chairman of I.M.P., which owns the 9:30 Club, operates Merriweather Post Pavilion, and is the producer of Virgin Mobile Festival in the U.S., representing independent concert promoters and venue owners.

“The dominant market power of the newly-merged Live Nation Entertainment will require both the DOJ and FTC to commit to a vigorous oversight capacity, including additional enforcement actions where necessary,” said David Balto, former FTC policy director and counsel to the consumer and industry groups. “It will be incumbent upon enforcement authorities to listen to the voices of millions of consumers who attend live events to ensure that they, not the merged company, are the ultimately beneficiaries of this agreement.”

For more information, please visit www.TicketDisaster.org.

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About TicketDisaster.org

TicketDisaster.org is a coalition of public interest groups, ticket brokers, and independent venue owners and promoters united in opposition to the proposed Ticketmaster-Live Nation merger. Coalition members include the American Antitrust Institute, Consumer Action, Consumer Federation of America, I.M.P. Productions Chairman Seth Hurwitz (representing independent venue owners), the National Association of Ticket Brokers, the National Consumers League and the U.S. Public Interest Research Group (USPIRG).

NCL hails federal court support for keeping food suit in DC – National Consumers League

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January 22, 2010

Contact: Carol McKay, (412) 408-3688, media@nclnet.org

Washington, DC – The National Consumers League (“NCL”) is hailing as “a win for consumers,” a remand decision handed down on January 15, 2010 by United States District Judge Henry H. Kennedy, Jr. Judge Kennedy granted the League’s motion to remand its case against General Mills, Inc. back to the District of Columbia Superior Court.

The NCL filed this case as a “private attorney general” on behalf of the “General Public of the District of Columbia” under DC’s Consumer Protection and Procedures Act (“CPPA”). The complaint alleges that General Mills made improper claims that Cheerios has a drug-like benefit in reducing cholesterol in people who consume it. Indeed, on May 5, 2009, in response to a September 17, 2008 letter from the NCL, the United States Food and Drug Administration informed General Mills that it found that General Mills had committed “serious violations of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act” and that its Cheerios product was “misbranded” because “it bears unauthorized health claims in its label.”

The NCL commenced its case in DC Superior Court on August 20, 2009. In October, General Mills filed a “Notice of Removal”, thereby causing the transfer of the NCL’s case to federal court. General Mills argued that the case should be treated as a class action under the Class Action Fairness Act. In response, NCL filed an Emergency Motion to Remand. On January 15, Judge Kennedy ruled in NCL’s favor, stating that the federal court had neither subject matter jurisdiction nor Article III standing, as the NCL’s claim arises from “alleged harm to the general public rather than to the League itself.”

As Judge Kennedy noted, “Challenging conduct like General Mills’ alleged mislabeling is the very purpose of consumer advocacy organizations. As such, General Mills’ alleged conduct does not hamper NCL’s advocacy effort; if anything it gives NCL an opportunity to carry out its mission.” Judge Kennedy further found that the CPPA should be “construed and applied liberally to promote its purpose” to deter and remedy improper trade practices, and that, as such, “CPPA claims brought on behalf of the general public as here . . . need not comply with” class action rules.

“We are gratified that Judge Kennedy recognized the value groups like the National Consumers League bring in representing the interests of the public in fighting false and deceptive advertising,” said Sally Greenberg, NCL Executive Director.

The NCL’s case against General Mills is now able to move forward – as NCL had asked — in the District of Columbia’s Superior Court.

NCL is represented by Donald Enright and Karen Marcus of Finkelstein Thompson LLP, a Washington DC-based firm.

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About the National Consumers League

Founded in 1899, the National Consumers League is America’s pioneer consumer organization. Its mission is to protect and promote social and economic justice for consumers and workers in the United States and abroad. NCL is a private, nonprofit membership organization. For more information, visit www.nclnet.org.

Consumer group issues alert to generous regarding disaster scams – National Consumers League

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January 20, 2010

Haitian Earthquake Expected to Cause Uptick in Reports of Donations to Fraudulent Charity Schemes to National Consumers League’s Fraud Center

Contact: Carol McKay, (412) 408-3688, media@nclnet.org

WASHINGTON, DC—Over the years, opportunistic con artists have exploited both natural disasters and terrorist attacks to bilk generous consumers attempting to make financial contributions to rescue efforts, warns the National Consumers League. The recent devastating earthquake in Haiti will likely be no exception.

NCL, the nation’s oldest consumer advocacy organization, collects consumers’ complaints of telemarketing and Internet fraud through NCL’s Fraud Center (www.fraud.org), and anticipates it will soon receive reports of hurricane-related scams. “In the days following a natural disaster, we begin to hear from consumers about crooks’ attempt to take advantage of tragic events for their personal gain,” said John Breyault, Director of NCL’s Fraud Center.

After the September 11th terrorist attacks, as well after Hurricane Katrina, NCL’s Fraud Center received reports of a variety of scams tailored by con artists to capitalize on the rescue efforts. Scams typically involve con artists sending out emails purporting to come from a known and respected charity such as the Red Cross or Oxfam International.  Victims are then directed to a fake Web site made to look like a legitimate charity’s site, where they are asked to hand over personal information or to donate via wire transfer, PayPal, or a credit or bank account.  The scammer then makes off with the donation, and no funds are sent to support actual disaster relief.

“The continued tragedy of fraud perpetrated in the wake of such disasters is that charity scams not only rob the donors,” said Sally Greenberg, NCL Executive Director. “They divert contributions from legitimate charities, who are in great need for money and goods to assist those who need it most.”

  • NCL warns consumers to be especially wary of emails from strangers. While many legitimate companies, organizations, and individuals are using the Internet to mobilize help for disaster victims and share information about the latest developments, crooks may use email or social networking sites such as Facebook or Twitter to reach a wide audience of potential victims.

“Be cautious about any solicitation that mentions the disaster. Consumers interested in giving to the relief effort should give to charities they know and trust,” said Breyault. “If someone claims to be collecting money that will go to charities, ask which ones and check with them directly to make sure it’s true.”

The FBI has also issued warnings about unsolicited emails or messages from social networking sites asking for donations and claiming to represent a quake victim or a government or charity official and asks for donations. Also, the agency says, do not click on any links within those emails or on attached files labeled photos or video because they may contain viruses.

  • Consumers can confirm that charities are properly registered by contacting their state charities regulators, which are listed in the state government pages of their telephone books. Information about charities is also available from the Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance, 703-276-0100, www.give.org. Consumers can also check out charities at GuideStar (https://www.guidestar.org/), and Charity Navigator (https://www.charitynavigator.org/), both of which contain links to legitimate charities working on the relief effort.
  • Consumers can report disaster-related telemarketing or Internet fraud to NCL’s Fraud Center at the online complaint form on www.fraud.org.

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About the National Consumers League

Founded in 1899, the National Consumers League is America’s pioneer consumer organization. Its mission is to protect and promote social and economic justice for consumers and workers in the United States and abroad. NCL is a private, nonprofit membership organization. For more information, visit www.nclnet.org.