OLYMPIA – Eighty-two percent of young adult drivers (16-24) have read a text message while driving, according to a national survey conducted by the Ad Council. In an effort to educate young drivers about the dangers of texting while driving, Washington State Attorney General Rob McKenna, other State Attorneys General and Consumer Protection agencies, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Ad Council are launching a new public service advertising campaign. The campaign includes TV, radio, outdoor and digital PSAs.

Urges homeowners to use non-profit, approved housing counselors instead

SEATTLE - Attorney General Rob McKenna today reminded homeowners needing assistance to avoid companies selling “foreclosure rescue,” “securitization audits” and other home loan modification schemes. 

OLYMPIA – Attorney General Rob McKenna announced today that Washington state has reached a settlement with pharmaceutical manufacturer Pfizer, Inc., concluding a government investigation into allegations that the company engaged in illegal off-label marketing schemes to promote the sales of its urology drug Detrol for uses that were not approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). 

Joins multistate coalition urging FCC to ban unauthorized charges on telephone bills, write stronger regulations on phone and wireless services

OLYMPIA – A Spokane County Jury on Oct. 21 found Melody Wright guilty of one count of First Degree Theft, and ten counts of Medicaid False Statements for obtaining Medicaid payments while not providing the contracted hours of service to her mother, a Medicaid recipient. As a result of her fraudulent billings, Wright received $13,092 to which she was not entitled.

The Washington State Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU) prosecution team consisted of Assistant Attorney General Dannette Allen, Legal Assistant Margo Loree and Investigators Larry Carlier and Amy Rose.

OLYMPIA…La ley estatal de Washington protege a los consumidores ante el fraude relacionado con los servicios de inmigración. La recientemente promulgada ley de Prevención de Fraude en Servicios de Inmigración (RCW 19.154) prohíbe a las personas que no tengan autorización del gobierno federal o que no sean abogados de aconsejar a las personas en un asunto de inmigración.  Esta nueva ley entra en vigor el 20 de octubre de 2011.

State law goes into effect this week to protect immigrants against immigration scams

OLYMPIA…A new Washington state law, protecting consumers from immigration-related fraud, went into effect Thursday, Oct. 20.

The recently enacted Immigration Services Fraud Prevention Act, requested by the Attorney General’s Office, prohibits anyone from engaging in the unauthorized practice of law in an immigration matter, unless that person is a licensed attorney or is otherwise authorized to provide legal services under federal immigration law.

OLYMPIA – A United States District Court judge ruled today that there is no reason to shield from public view petitions from a 2009 ballot measure on domestic partnerships.

SEATTLE – Washington State Attorney General Rob McKenna today warned consumers about a text-message trap to capture financial information and drain credit card and bank accounts. Such text message scams are called “smishing.”

“If you don’t wish to be smished, ignore text messages that look like they’re coming from your bank or credit card,” McKenna said. “Flip over your credit or ATM card and call the number on the back. If there’s a problem with your account, that’s the best way to find out.”

McKenna says Americans deserve a timely answer on requirement to buy federally-approved insurance

OLYMPIA – Attorney General Rob McKenna today reiterated his position on the 26-state lawsuit challenging the federal health care reform law passed in 2010.