AUBURN - Caveat emptor, let the buyer beware, is a phrase that still holds as true today as it did in ancient Rome.
Sam Tenney / The Citizen
Danny Barski, right, speaks with Tracy Burt, a consumer fraud representative from the state Attorney General's office at Auburn City Hall on Monday morning. Burt was sent to Auburn to answer questions and take complaints as part of Consumer Protection Week.
Danny Barski, right, speaks with Tracy Burt, a consumer fraud representative from the state Attorney General's office at Auburn City Hall on Monday morning. Burt was sent to Auburn to answer questions and take complaints as part of Consumer Protection Week.
It might even mean more today in the age of the Internet, credit cards and an ever increasing fear and awareness of issues such as identity fraud.
Since 1999, on a national level, the federal government has worked to address these issues with National Consumer Fraud Awareness week. On the state and local levels, representatives from Attorney General Andrew Cuomo's office, will be visiting towns and cities across New York to listen to the public's concerns.
On Monday afternoon, Tracy Burt, a consumer fraud representative based out of Syracuse, visited Auburn City Hall to hear concerns from area residents and distribute information addressing issues from Internet fraud to medical billing issues.
“We thought it would be good to be in Auburn,” said Joe Rossi, assistant director of intergovernmental affairs from Cuomo's Syracuse office. “No part of the state is being overlooked. The idea is to give people the chance to meet with someone face to face to talk about their concerns. We wanted someone to be in Auburn to give people in Cayuga County the chance to meet with someone a little closer to home.”
Numerous pamphlets and handouts were available addressing topics such as protecting your privacy, whether it be online or through the mail with things such as sweepstakes mailings that promise prizes or cash but require personal information like bank account numbers or credit card information to be eligible.
The literature warned to be cautious about these kinds of claims. The available information also addressed larger topics that affect many consumers. People should be cautious of unsolicited phone calls, high pressure sales people and rushed purchases or investments.
The literature said that consumers should read contracts thoroughly and to use common sense when entering into large purchases. Simply put, if it sounds too good to be true, than chances are, it is.
“The philosophy to keep in mind is for the buyer to beware,” Rossi said. “That is probably the biggest issue with consumer fraud.”
While there was a definite focus on what consumers should be cautious of, there was also an effort to provide information on what consumers could do to not only protect themselves, but also what they can do to pursue an issue when they believe they have fallen victim to consumer fraud.
Burt offered information directing visitors to the numerous offices available that deal with fraud of all types, from medical billing to lemon laws.
Auburn resident Danny Barski, who has been fighting to settle a medical billing claim, believed that having the opportunity to meet with someone face to face provided valuable information.
“It was very helpful,” Barski said. “There is a health helpline that I'm going to call, that is my next step. I think this has been very helpful in helping me try to find a way to resolve this.”
But perhaps most importantly, Rossi said these kinds of meetings not only provide consumers with information, but also provide the attorney general's office with invaluable input.
“There is no compliant that is too small,” Rossi said. “If it is a concern, the attorney general's office wants to hear about it and this provides us with a way to do that. We have gotten some of our biggest leads in case from things like this.”
To learn more
For more information on consumer fraud visit www.oag.state.nu.us or contact the Syracuse office at 448-4848.
Since 1999, on a national level, the federal government has worked to address these issues with National Consumer Fraud Awareness week. On the state and local levels, representatives from Attorney General Andrew Cuomo's office, will be visiting towns and cities across New York to listen to the public's concerns.
On Monday afternoon, Tracy Burt, a consumer fraud representative based out of Syracuse, visited Auburn City Hall to hear concerns from area residents and distribute information addressing issues from Internet fraud to medical billing issues.
“We thought it would be good to be in Auburn,” said Joe Rossi, assistant director of intergovernmental affairs from Cuomo's Syracuse office. “No part of the state is being overlooked. The idea is to give people the chance to meet with someone face to face to talk about their concerns. We wanted someone to be in Auburn to give people in Cayuga County the chance to meet with someone a little closer to home.”
Numerous pamphlets and handouts were available addressing topics such as protecting your privacy, whether it be online or through the mail with things such as sweepstakes mailings that promise prizes or cash but require personal information like bank account numbers or credit card information to be eligible.
The literature warned to be cautious about these kinds of claims. The available information also addressed larger topics that affect many consumers. People should be cautious of unsolicited phone calls, high pressure sales people and rushed purchases or investments.
The literature said that consumers should read contracts thoroughly and to use common sense when entering into large purchases. Simply put, if it sounds too good to be true, than chances are, it is.
“The philosophy to keep in mind is for the buyer to beware,” Rossi said. “That is probably the biggest issue with consumer fraud.”
While there was a definite focus on what consumers should be cautious of, there was also an effort to provide information on what consumers could do to not only protect themselves, but also what they can do to pursue an issue when they believe they have fallen victim to consumer fraud.
Burt offered information directing visitors to the numerous offices available that deal with fraud of all types, from medical billing to lemon laws.
Auburn resident Danny Barski, who has been fighting to settle a medical billing claim, believed that having the opportunity to meet with someone face to face provided valuable information.
“It was very helpful,” Barski said. “There is a health helpline that I'm going to call, that is my next step. I think this has been very helpful in helping me try to find a way to resolve this.”
But perhaps most importantly, Rossi said these kinds of meetings not only provide consumers with information, but also provide the attorney general's office with invaluable input.
“There is no compliant that is too small,” Rossi said. “If it is a concern, the attorney general's office wants to hear about it and this provides us with a way to do that. We have gotten some of our biggest leads in case from things like this.”
To learn more
For more information on consumer fraud visit www.oag.state.nu.us or contact the Syracuse office at 448-4848.
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