It’s National Consumer Protection Week (March 2-8, 2025) and South Dakota’s Attorney General wants consumers to take time to protect their personal and financial information.
Attorney General Marty Jackley said his office’s Consumer Protection Division received 68,000 calls, inquiries and complaints from consumers who reported they were the victim of a scam during Fiscal Year 2024. Jackley said scammers are becoming more adept at using social media to intimidate consumers of all ages into giving them personal and financial information.
Consumers who believe they may have been a victim of any type of scam should contact the Attorney General’s Office’s Consumer Protection Division:
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by calling 1-800-300-1986
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by emailing consumerhelp@state.sd.us
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by going to their website, https://consumer.sd.gov
Jackley said by reporting what you’ve encountered, you may end up keeping someone else from getting scammed.
Other consumer protection tips from the Consumer Protection Division are:
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Do not give into high pressured sales tactics. Stop, take a moment and review any offer.
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Buying a gift card to pay someone? DON’T. It’s a scam.
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Always get any repair work, construction orders and other types of contracts in writing with expected cost estimates and deadlines.
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Don’t trust your caller ID. If you don’t know the number, DON’T answer the call. Hang up on robocalls.
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Don’t provide money or personal information via telephone or internet to an individual or organization that you don’t know or haven’t verified.
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Be cautious about “free” trial offers.
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Do not deposit a check and then wire money.
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Be wary of any caller who tells you not to tell anyone else about the call.
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Talk to someone you trust before you provide money or personal information to someone who contacts you.
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