If it sometimes feels like there are scams all around us, well, there are. That’s why the Orange County Consumer Fraud Unit works to shut down scams, give consumers a better way to report and recover from identity theft, and expose and stop misleading business practices. According to the 2015 FTC Consumer Sentinel Data Report, which is the national consumer database for complaints, Florida ranks number 1 for fraud and number 3 for ID theft. The Orlando-Orange County metro area comes in at number 32 for Fraud and number 22 in ID Theft in the nation.
“Florida overall has a large number of transients and Central Florida is particularly transient, which makes the environment perfect for scam artists to prosper,” said Orange County Consumer Fraud Office Administrator Carlos Morales. “Millions of tourists come to our region every year, and predators see this as a golden opportunity. Families on vacation tend to let their guards down because they are here to have fun.”
The Orange County Consumer Fraud Unit offers services to residents and visitors, as long as it happened in Orange County during the past two years. Victims can file directly with the offices if they need assistance. According to Orange County officials, the Fraud Unit will attempt to mediate the complaint, refer those complaints that need to be referred to another agency, issue a citation in case of unlicensed contracting and non-consent towing violations or file criminal cases with the office of the State Attorney.
The Top 10 Complaint Categories for the Orange County Consumer Fraud Unit in 2015 were:
- Real Estate (Time Shares)
- Merchandise Sales
- Home Improvement
- Consumer Services
- Advance Fees
- Auto Sales
- Travel Service
- Car Rental Agencies
- Towing
- Landlord / Tenant Mobile Home
A prime example of a recent case involving consumer fraud locally was a complaint filed by the Bradfordt Park Homeowners Association (HOA) in Orlando, which paid a total of $1,828.54 for the construction of its community bulletin board to a local sign and marketing company. Within the contracted price, there was a $495 fee for “permits and acquisition” that in fact was not done by the company. After filing an online construction complaint with the Consumer Fraud Unit, the HOA was able to secure $495 in restitution.
“I didn’t know who to reach out to, but I felt that Orange County needed to know what happened, and that’s when I found out about the Consumer Fraud Unit,” said Pauline Smith, former president of the Bradfordt Park HOA. “We just wanted what we felt was right and just, and Orange County did a great job of mediating and getting the job done. We felt they really had our back throughout the entire process.”
Morales added that the Internet has added more opportunities for fraud. Fancy websites and compelling offers on Craigslist may easily entice people into a trap. The good news is that Morales’ office is here to help local consumers who are victims of fraud.
“There are many ways to get conned in today’s day and age, so you have to be vigilant when entering into any type of contract or service agreement with others,” Morales said.
While the Consumer Fraud Unit cannot provide specific information regarding the history of a business, its closed files are public records and available for anyone to review. And while consumer information and potential options available for many situations can be offered, the office is prohibited from providing legal advice, representing consumers in legal actions, forcing or ordering a business to provide a specific resolution, and working worthless check cases.
The best way to file a complaint is to submit a complaint form along with any supporting documents. Forms are available online on Orange County’s Consumer Protection webpage. Other resources on the website include additional consumer tips for specific types of fraud, consumer tips on natural disasters, Florida Motor Vehicle repair, identity theft, towing information and a privacy fact sheet. The site also features a comprehensive list of local, state and federal websites associated with consumer protection.
The Consumer Fraud Unit has the latest information on scams and fraudulent schemes. To help educate the community, unit investigators are willing to come to meetings or events to educate groups on the latest consumer fraud issues. During these free educational sessions, citizens will learn about identify theft, telemarketing fraud, work-at-home schemes, Internet fraud and much more.
“Con artists are sharp, believable and creative, and they want your money now,” said Morales. “If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.”
Morales offered these general tips to help everyone avoid consumer fraud:
- Know that work-from-home schemes are almost always scams.
- Avoid “pay today” pressure tactics.
- Get specifics.
- Call the hotel to confirm payment if accommodations are included.
- Ask about the refund policy before you buy.
- Read a contract before signing, and when in doubt, have someone you trust review it.
“Our goal is to help those who live in or visit Orange County to learn to recognize fraud and avoid becoming victims,” Morales said. “We can provide the information and guidance residents and visitors need and deserve.”
