Attorneys General bear unique responsibilities in protecting consumers from misinformation, scams, and negligence. Your state's attorney general is available to assist in resolving disputes against businesses. AGs work with consumers, the business community, and federal regulators such as the U.S. Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission to ensure that consumers are treated fairly.

The National State Attorneys General Program is a valuable resource on the subject of AGs' role in protecting consumers. The Program, in conjunction with individual offices of attorneys general and the State Center, has held a number of regional consumer protection meetings at a number of AG offices around the country. These meetings bring together attorneys general and their consumer protection staffs from various states in order to share strategies and work together to establish best practices in their efforts.

CLS Professor Discusses Financial Fraud at AG Summit in Charlotte (April 12, 2011)

Columbia Law School Associate Professor Robert Jackson spoke at the annual National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG) Presidential Initiative Summit focusing on financial fraud prevention. In his presentation to the Charlotte, North Carolina conference, Prof. Jackson focused on the implications of dwindling consumer credit ratings during the economic recovery period. "The extent to which consumers participate in the economic recovery will depend crucially upon their credit score—presenting a consumer-protection enforcement challenge for federal and state officials," Jackson said, specifically calling for attorneys general and state regulators to increase their role in preventing credit score related abuse.

View Prof. Jackson's PowerPoint Presentation