Stay Scam Free

County Attorney Stay Scam Free

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Protect Yourself Against Fraud

The Harris County Attorney’s Office is dedicated to safeguarding our community from consumer scams and fraud. Stay Scam Free is designed to educate, empower, and protect residents and their families from fraud.

Our office uses the Deceptive Trade Practices Act to investigate and file lawsuits against local businesses that unjustly set out to mislead consumers. Through knowledge sharing, outreach, and engagement, we are optimistic this initiative will aid in increasing consumer trust and safety.

Why We Introduced This Initiative

The Harris County Attorney’s Office is dedicated to protecting residents from consumer fraud. These scams are a concern in Harris County, with thousands of residents unknowingly falling victim to phishing, social media hoaxes, and other deceptive practices every year. These scams not only cause financial loss but also damage the trust and safety of our community members.

Are you a Victim? Take Action

Consumer Fraud

Consumer Fraud comes in various forms. From false advertising like apartment rentals and second-hand car dealerships, to mortgage and title fraud, pyramid and multi-level marketing schemes, deceptive service providers, and misleading warranties and insurance policies, we want to hear about it. 

Be cautious of deals that seem too good to be true, as they often are, and stay informed about common scams and fraud tactics to recognize and avoid potential threats. 

Price Gouging

It is illegal for a company to sell or lease fuel, food, medicine, lodging, building materials, construction tools, or other necessities at an exorbitant or excessive price during a state of emergency. Photographs and receipts are helpful to submit when answering the form. 

Additional important details to include when reporting price gouging are the date of item purchased, the business’ full address, and the price of the item purchased. 

File a Complaint

In addition to filing a complaint with HCAO, here are a few resources that may be helpful if you’ve been a victim of fraud. These resources provide guidance on how to report fraud to law enforcement, seek legal assistance and general aid, and further protect yourself.

If you have been the victim of a crime, please reach out to your local law enforcement agency, including the Houston Police Department or Harris County Sheriff’s Office.

For online/digital and phone scams:

For stolen deeds, fraudulent contractors, and more:

6 Practical Tips for Protecting Yourself Against Scams

  1. STOP, think, and verify before providing your personal information to a requestor.
  2. PROTECT your digital accounts by using multi-factor authentication.
  3. KEEP the software and security systems updated on your computer, phone, and other digital devices to guard against vulnerabilities.
  4. MONITOR your financial accounts and statements for unusual or unauthorized transactions as well as credit reports for unauthorized activity.
  5. REPORT any suspicious or unusual activities to the appropriate authorities.
  6. SUBSCRIBE to HCAO’s monthly newsletter as well as consumer alerts from the FTC.

Download Our Free Consumer Protection Guide

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Additional Resources for You

Reporting Consumer Protection Violations FAQ's

The Office of the Harris County Attorney will review your report, along with any information you submit with it. You should receive a confirmation email with an “HCAO” reference number. Your report will be used to observe and monitor business practices in Harris County and/or to investigate suspected unlawful conduct.
No. Unfortunately, the Office of the Harris County Attorney is prohibited by law from acting as your attorney, providing you legal advice, interpreting the law on your behalf, or otherwise giving you legal guidance.
No. The Office of the Harris County Attorney is prohibited by law from filing a lawsuit on your behalf. The Office can, however, file lawsuits on behalf of the State of Texas and Harris County. A lawsuit filed by our Office must be in the public interest.
No. The Office of the Harris County Attorney may only pursue civil remedies, not criminal prosecutions. Civil remedies may include injunctive relief (court orders requiring the business or individual to stop the unlawful conduct), civil penalties, or monetary damages.
Yes. Because the Office of the Harris County Attorney is subject to the Texas Public Information Act, consumer protection reports submitted to this Office are generally considered open records. This means that if our Office receives a request for a consumer protection report, the portion of the report not containing confidential information would likely be provided to the requestor.
If the Office of the Harris County Attorney conducts an investigation or files a lawsuit concerning a matter reported to our office, the Office may contact you for more information needed for the investigation or lawsuit.
The primary consumer protection law enforced by the Office of the Harris County Attorney is the Deceptive Trade Practices-Consumer Protection Act (the “DTPA”), which can be found in Chapter 17 of the Texas Business and Commerce Code. Under this statute, the Office can file civil lawsuits against businesses or individuals that engage in a business practice that is unlawful under the statute, if the lawsuit would be in the public interest.
If the business is legitimate, you can attempt to resolve your issue by asking to speak with management or the owner. If the business refuses to resolve your issue, you can file a complaint with one or more consumer protection agencies or organizations, such as the Federal Trade Commission or the Better Business Bureau. If you believe you have been the victim of a scam that involves a crime, you can report the matter to a law enforcement agency, for example the Houston Police Department or Harris County Sheriff’s Office. If you want to pursue an individual civil case under the DTPA or other law, you should consult with a private attorney.

The Office of the Harris County Attorney provides several resources, including a Consumer Protection Guide and Helpful Contacts for Consumers.

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