Stay Scam Free

Welcome to

Stay Scam Free

in Harris County:

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

Consumer scams are a concern in Harris County, with thousands of residents unknowingly falling victim to phishing scams, 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.

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.

Are you a Victim? Take Action

If you suspect you’ve been a victim of fraud, especially as it relates to false advertising (e.g., apartment rentals, second-hand car dealerships, etc.), mortgage and title fraud, pyramid and multi-level marketing schemes, deceptive service providers, and misleading warranties and insurance policies, please file a complaint with HCAO on our Report Consumer Fraud page.

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.

Let’s work together to protect Harris County.