OFFICE OF

KANSAS ATTORNEY GENERAL

DEREK SCHMIDT

Attorney General Derek Schmidt

BEING A SMART CONSUMER

Jackie Williams, Assistant Attorney General – Consumer

Protection Division

Duties of the Attorney General: 50-628

Enforce the KCPA

Cooperate with federal, state, and local officials in enforcing comparable statutes

Report to the governor and legislature annually

Office of Kansas Attorney GeneralDerek Schmidt: Divisions

Criminal

Civil

Consumer Protection

LOGIC

Medicaid Fraud

Concealed Carry

Crime Victims Compensation Board

KBI

Tobacco

Protecting Kansas consumers from scams, telemarketing fraud and other deceptive practices is a priority for our office.

The Consumer Protection Division of the Attorney General’s Office exists to help Kansas residents whether they have suspicious charges on their phone bill or think they’ve been the victim of identity theft.

The Consumer Protection Division investigates scams and mediates and prosecutes violations of the Consumer Protection Act, Kansas False Claims Act, No-Call Act and others.

Consumer Protection and Antitrust Division Statistics

4,383 in 2013

4,550 in 2012

6,703 in 2011

$49,611,578 in 2013

$49,256,005 in 2012

$10,359,202 in 2011

Complaints Recoveries & Savings

Identity Theft: The Statistics

According to the Bureau of Justice 2013 Report:

An estimated 16.6 million people experienced at least once incident of identity theft in 2012

Financial losses due to personal identity theft total $24.7 billion per year

Identity Theft: The Statistics

According to the National Criminal Justice Reference Service:

The most common types of identity theft are government documents/benefits fraud, credit card fraud and phone or utility fraud.

Victims of identity theft/fraud spend an average of 9 hours resolving the issue

How Does Identity Theft Hurt Victims?

Denial of Medical Coverage

Tax Problems (Unreported Income – Stolen Tax Refund)

Garnishment of Wages

Lawsuits – Default Judgments

Arrests

Time and Expense

How Does Identity Theft Hurt Victims?

Direct Financial Loss

Denial of Credit (Mortgage-Car/Student Loans)

Denial of Employment

Denial of Housing

Denial of Public Benefits

Denial of Driver’s License

Old Fashioned Way

Lost or Stolen Wallets

Theft by: Family and Friends - Care Providers - Tax Preparers and Financial Advisors

Dumpster Diving

Stolen Mail

Buying it From Corrupt Employees

New High-Tech Identity Theft

Skimming (restaurants- gas stations)

Data Breaches

Phishing

Keystroke Loggers and Malicious Code

Peer to Peer File Sharing

Social Networking

Mobile Risks

Downloading of Apps

Use of Unsecure WiFi Hotspots

Unsecure Data Transfers and Storage

Lost or Stolen Smartphones

Improper Disposal of Old Phones

Two Types of ID Theft Law

K.S.A. § 21-6107 Identity Theft

Identity Fraud

Criminal Penalties

Sentencing Range

Aggravating Factors

Wayne Owen LawK.S.A. § 50-6,139

Kansas Consumer Protection Act

Civil Penalties

Private Remedies

Criminal Civil

Kansas Identity Theft Law: CriminalK.S.A. § 21-6107

What is identity theft?

The act of obtaining, possessing, transferring, using, selling or purchasing any personal identifying information, or document containing the same, that belongs to or was issued to another person; and

Intent to defraud that person, or anyone else, to receive a benefit; or misrepresent that person in order to subject that person to economic or bodily harm.

Personal Identifying InformationK.S.A. § 21-6107

Includes: name, birthdate,

address, phone number,

driver’s license number, social

security card or number, place

of employment, and financial

account numbers

What is Identity Fraud?K.S.A. § 21-6107

Using or supplying information the person knows to be false to obtain a document containing any personal identifying information; or

Altering, amending, counterfeiting, making, manufacturing or otherwise replicating any document containing personal information with intent to deceive

Criminal PenaltiesK.S.A. § 21-6107

Identity theft is a:

Severity level 8, nonperson felony; and

Severity level 5, nonperson felony if the monetary loss to the victim(s) is over $100,000

Identity fraud is a severity level 8, nonperson felony

Sentencing Range

Ignorance Is No DefenseK.S.A. § 21-6107(d)

It is not a defense that the person did not

know that the personal identifying information

belongs to another person or that the person

to whom the information belongs is

deceased.

Statute of Limitations

The statue of limitations for ID theft is five years. K.S.A. 21-5107(d).

Because identity theft can be “not a single act but a continuous course of criminal conduct,” the Court has held that the limitation period does not necessarily begin to run when the first offense is committed, but rather when the identity is last used to gain a benefit. State v. Meza, 38 Kan. App. 2d at 251.

Kansas Consumer Protection Act

K.S.A. 50-623, et seq.

Deceptive Business Practices

Unconscionable Acts

Identity Theft & Security Breaches

No Call Act

The Wayne Owen LawK.S.A. § 50-6,139

Identity theft or fraud, as defined by K.S.A. § 21-6107 is an unconscionable act or practice in violation of the Kansas Consumer Protection Act (KCPA).

Violation of this law shall subject the perpetrator to the remedies and penalties in the KCPA.

Under this law, proof of a consumer transaction is not required.

Civil PenaltiesK.S.A. § 50-636

The Attorney General can bring action for up to $10,000 for each violation of the KCPA.

Any supplier who willfully violates the terms of any court order issued pursuant to the KCPA shall pay a civil penalty up to $20,000 per violation.

The Attorney General can also sue for and collect reasonable expenses and investigation fees.

Private RemediesK.S.A. § 50-634

A consumer who has been the victim of a KCPA violation may bring action to:

Obtain declaratory judgment

Get a restraining order against a supplier who has violated, is violating or is likely to violate the act

Recover damages

Preventing ID Theft

Common Sense

Go to www.InYourCornerKansas.org

Overpayment and Fake Check Scams

In this scam, fraudsters target consumers buying or selling a product.

They “accidentally” send you a check for more than they owe you. They ask you to deposit the check into your account and wire them the difference.

By the time the original check turns out to be a fake and bounces, the fraudster is long gone and the victim is left on the hook for the fraudulent check.

The Grandparent Scam

Scammers make up a fake emergency and pretend they’re you (I’ve been arrested, I’m in the hospital).

They then target your friends and family for help and money.

Don’t believe everything you hear! Make sure to verify the emergency situation before you give any money.

You’re Hired: Employment Scams

These scams start with an offer that’s too good to be true- work from home, earn thousands of dollars next week, etc.

Beware of anyone who insists on only interviewing you over the phone, who wants you to wire money for start up supplies or asks you to fill out an online form with personal information like your social security number or bank information.

Phishing Scams

“Phishing” is when you get an email telling you that you’ve won a contest or that a company needs to verify your personal information. The emails can look very real.

However, once you click the link it downloads a virus to your computer to get your personal information.

Legitimate companies will not ask you to verify your information this way.

You’ve Won! Sweepstakes and Lottery Scams

These scammers call people and tell them they’ve won the lottery, sweepstakes or a large monetary prize.

But there’s a catch: they ask the victim to wire them money for “processing fees” or taxes.

By the time the victim realizes they didn’t win anything, the scammer and their money are long gone.

Home Improvement Scams

These scammers will leave your home in a worse condition than they found it.

Beware of roofers, pavers and other contractors who come to your door promising a good deal to repair your home.

Before paying any money or having any work done, make sure the contractor is in compliance with all state and local laws.

Check our website for more information on making sure you’re dealing with a reputable contractor.

Tax Refund Scam

In 2013, the IRS issued $4 billion in fraudulent tax refunds.

Criminals are using people’s personal information to file a fraudulent tax return and pocket the money.

What to look for:

Never give out your social security or birth date over the phone or internet

Be wary from correspondence from someone claiming to be from the IRS. The IRS will never ask for personal information via email or phone

Arrest Warrant or Deportation Scam

With this scam, fraudsters pretending to be law enforcement or the IRS call, email or send a letter to people trying to convince them that unless they pay a fee, they will be arrested or deported.

At least two Kansas residents have been targeted by this kind of scam; one Sedgwick County resident lost $9,000.

Don’t be fooled; law enforcement would never serve a valid warrant over the phone or by email. Neither law enforcement or the IRS would ever ask for bank account numbers or personal information over the phone.

Too Good to Be True: Sales Scams

If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is!

Don’t be fooled by high pressure scare tactics, “free” items, prices that seem too low or “limited time offers.”

Scammers use the internet, phone and mail to talk people into buying bogus products by promising them to lose weight quickly, look 10 years younger, get rid of debt, etc.

Who Gets Scammed?

While anyone can find themselves as the victim of a scam or fraud, there are certain things that make a victim more attractive to scammers1:

Consumers who are easily persuaded

Consumers who don’t take preventive actions to protect themselves from fraud

Consumers who expose themselves to many sales situations

How You Can Protect Yourself

Trust your judgment. If something seems off, or like it’s too good to be true, it probably is.

Always protect your personal information.

Use preventative measures like the Do Not Call List, check references for businesses before hiring them and use the resources on our website when researching a company or opportunity.

Be skeptical. Do your own research before you sign up for anything or make a payment.

Questions/Comments?

Consumer Protection Division

120 SW Tenth Avenue, Fourth Floor

Topeka, KS 66612-1597

(785) 296-3751

Jackie Williams

jackie.williams@ag.ks.org

Thank You