Our nation’s military families face unique challenges, such as frequent deployments and relocations, that make them particularly vulnerable to scam artists. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) reported over 62,000 consumer complaints from veterans, military families and service men and women in 2012 alone. To assist America’s military families and veterans avoid scams, Attorney General George Jepsen is joining with the FTC, consumer protection organizations and other private sector groups in the second annual Military Consumer Protection Day on Wednesday, July 16.

Military Consumer Protection Day is a collaborative initiative that aims to protect and inform service members, military families and veterans about consumer protection issues. State Attorneys General, along with the Federal Trade Commission, have joined to provide free resources and tips to better inform the military community about fraud, scams and managing finances.

"I'm pleased to join other state attorneys general and the Federal Trade Commission to promote the second annual Military Consumer Protection Day," said Attorney General Jepsen. "Our veterans and military families protect us both at home and abroad. We owe it to them to keep them safe and informed when it comes to helping to manage their families' finances, dodging deceptive scams and avoiding potentially fraudulent practices."

Connecticut’s Office of the Attorney General stands ready to assist with a group of Assistant Attorneys General, many of whom are current or former members of the armed forces, with specialized knowledge in areas of the law that can impact veterans and service members. These attorneys can help by providing guidance and constituent assistance.

The Office of the Attorney General can also assist with information concerning payday loans, financing overcharges, and protections under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) and the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Relief Act (USERRA).

By becoming informed and taking simple steps, veterans and their families can help ensure their personal information is protected from fraudsters. Attorney General Jepsen encourages our veterans and service members to use tips such as shredding papers that contain personal information such as account numbers, especially when relocating. Service members should also guard their passwords and PINs to things such as online banking, leave Social Security cards at home rather than carrying them and never give out personal information over the phone if the call does not sound like it is from a legitimate government entity or bank. Be vigilant and always remember: If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Those with complaints or questions can reach the Office of the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Department by calling (860) 808-5400 or submitting complaints online at via our website at www.ct.gov/AG.

To learn more about how to protect yourself or your family at this year’s Military Consumer Protection Day, join the town hall/Twitter chat at 2:00 p.m. EST, July 16. Be a part of the conversation and learn more about identity theft and credit-related issues. Submit questions using the hashtag #MCPD2014. Visit Military Consumer to learn more about the ongoing campaign, subscribe to the blog, and more.

While the Office of the Attorney General cannot directly provide legal representation to service members and veterans, the office will work to connect members and veterans with resources and professionals that can meet their specific needs, including the Connecticut Bar Association, the Connecticut Veteran's Legal Center and various Judge Advocate General Offices. .

Please visit military.ncpw.gov for free consumer resources, tip sheets and advice from national consumer protection advocates for service members, veterans and their families.