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TOPEKA – (March 2, 2026) – In observance of National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW), March 1–7, 2026, Kansas Attorney General Kobach is joining consumer advocates nationwide to educate and empower citizens to recognize, report, and avoid scams and deceptive business practices.
Scammers are evolving their tactics to utilize artificial intelligence, deep fakes, and sophisticated phishing techniques. Attorney General Kobach is urging the community to remain vigilant. U.S. consumers reported billions in fraud losses last year. Accordingly, consumer protection week serves as a crucial reminder to be aware and practice smart consumer habits.
“Scammers are getting more sophisticated every day, but there are basic steps we can all take to spot fraud and protect ourselves,” Kobach said.
“Consumer protection is an important function of an attorney general’s office, and this week is a great opportunity to learn about the latest scam trends and share tips with family and friends,” said Joseph Sciarrotta, Chief Deputy Attorney General, said.
The Attorney General’s Public Protection Division resolved 4,039 consumer complaints, filed 3,952 new ones, and secured $3,241,320 in settlements for Kansas in 2025. Their efforts protect Kansans from fraud and scams. In his first three years in office, Attorney General Kobach has held businesses large and small to account.
Scams to watch for:
- Imposter Scams: Callers posing as government agents or bank fraud departments claiming your account is compromised.
- Job Scams: Fake job solicitations promising high pay for little work designed to steal personal information or money.
- -Investment & Romance Scams: Long-term groomingscams, like “pig butchering” where scammers build trust online before luring victims into, often times, fake cryptocurrency investments.
- Online Shopping & Subscription Traps: Deceptive websites offer “free trials” that become difficult to cancel and lead to unauthorized recurring monthly charges.
Protect yourself:
- Stop and Think. If a call, text, or email pressures you to act immediately, it’s a scam. Legitimate organizations will not threaten you on the spot.
- Verify the Source. Never trust caller ID or an incoming text or email alone. Hang up on the caller and contact the company or agency directly using a number you look up yourself, not the one provided in the message. Do the same for an email or text. Go to the legitimate website on your own initiative to verify the inquiry, never click a link in an email or text.
- Use Secure Payment Methods. Never pay with gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency. Legitimate government or business organizations will not request payment by gift cards, wire transfer, or crypto. Never pay for “free” gifts, prizes, or services either.
- Guard your Personal Information. Do not share sensitive information like Social Security numbers or bank information in response to an unexpected request.
If you suspect a scam or have been targeted, you can contact the Office of the Attorney General, Consumer Protection section at [email protected] or (800) 432-3699. Complaints may also be filed online at www.ag.ks.gov.
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