News / Alerts

Attorney General Chris Carr is joining a group of federal, state and local government agencies and national consumer advocacy organizations in recognizing National Consumer Protection Week, February 28-March 6, 2021.

With so many people relying on the internet for teleworking and online learning, scammers are doubling down on tech support scams in an effort to steal people’s personal and financial information. Scammers may call their victims posing as a representative from Microsoft, Dell or other tech support. In another version of the scam, victims get a pop-up window on their computer, saying that a virus has been detected on their device and instructs the person to call a phone number right away to unfreeze their computer and have the virus removed... 

As tax season is approaching, a number of Georgians are discovering that they may be the victims of unemployment insurance fraud. Consumers claim they received 1099-G forms from the Department of Labor indicating that they owe taxes on unemployment compensation they received in 2020. The only problem is, the benefits actually went to identity thieves who used the consumers’ names and Social Security numbers to file phony unemployment claims and collect the benefit money.

Many singles looking for romance have turned to online dating sites, especially now that the pandemic has led many to make socializing a virtual-only activity. Unfortunately, scammers are taking advantage of the situation by perpetrating romance scams, and they have been largely successful. In fact, even before the pandemic hit, tens of thousands of people were falling victim to these online scams each year.

ATLANTA, GA – Attorney General Chris Carr today warned Georgians that scammers have been trying to exploit the vaccine rollout by calling, texting or emailing consumers asking for payment for the promise of getting the vaccine, scheduling an appointment or getting on the waiting list. 

“Sadly, during this time of heightened emotions, scammers are once again trying to make a buck by capitalizing on people’s health concerns,” says Attorney General Carr. “It is critically important that Georgians remember that the Covid-19 vaccine is free for everyone, and there is no registration fee.”

ATLANTA, GA – Attorney General Chris Carr has joined a coalition of attorneys general from 47 states, the District of Columbia and five U.S. territories in a $573 million settlement with one of the world’s largest consulting firms, McKinsey & Company, resolving investigations into the company’s role in working for opioid companies, helping those companies promote their drugs, and profiting from the opioid epidemic.

With tax season approaching, Attorney General Chris Carr is encouraging Georgia taxpayers to protect themselves from tax-related scams and tax identity theft.

As part of Identity Theft Protection Week, Attorney General Chris Carr is warning Georgians who have received their COVID vaccine not to share the news by posting their COVID vaccine card to their social media apps as doing so could lead to identity theft.

Attorney General Chris Carr is warning older Georgians and disabled adults, along with their families and caretakers, to be on the lookout for signs of financial exploitation, especially with regard to the recent issuance of federal stimulus checks.  

Attorney General Chris Carr today announced that locksmith company King David Business Services, LLC and its owner, Asher Uziel, (collectively “King David”), have entered into a settlement requiring them to pay $250,000 in civil penalties plus restitution to consumers who complained to the Attorney General, to resolve allegations that the company engaged in unfair and deceptive practices by, among other things, misrepresenting themselves as local businesses, misrepresenting their prices and misrepresenting the time within which the company would arrive to perform requested locksmith services.

Attorney General Chris Carr today announced that the Georgia Attorney General’s office has entered into a Consent Judgment with Voyageurs International Ltd. (“Voyageurs”) and its owner, Gilford Mahaffy, to resolve allegations that the company unlawfully retained a $1,900 cancelation fee from numerous high school music students and their families who had prepaid for a trip to Europe that was subsequently unilaterally canceled by the company due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Consent Judgment, which was filed with the Court on December 29, 2020, requires Voyageurs to pay $231,560.00 in restitution to the Attorney General’s Office to be disbursed in its entirety to the affected Georgia consumers. 

Attorney General Chris Carr is urging seniors, and those that care for them, to stay informed on how to recognize and avoid some common scams. While these schemes can and do happen to people of all ages, the perpetrators often target older adults.

ATLANTA, GA – Although many of us will be forgoing our normal holiday plans this season, con artists will, unfortunately, not be taking this year off. With retail sales forecast to increase over 2019 and an ever-growing number of consumers relying on e-commerce to fulfill the family wish list, Attorney General Chris Carr is cautioning consumers to ensure they spend wisely by heeding the following tips from the Consumer Protection Division:

This week is Utility Scam Awareness Week, and Attorney General Chris Carr is warning consumers and businesses that scammers are exploiting the fact that utilities are essential services to con people out of their money. Fraudsters will call or come to your home or business claiming that your account is past due and threaten to shut off your service unless you pay immediately – typically via a prepaid card, gift card or wire transfer.

Attorney General Chris Carr is warning consumers about scam artists posing as government officials, law enforcement, or utility providers in an attempt to trick consumers into paying large sums of money.