What Consumer Protection Agencies Do

By Olivia Wathne, Esq. | Legally reviewed by Melissa Bender, Esq. | Last reviewed February 02, 2024

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Consumer protection laws and agencies help ensure fairness in the marketplace. There are several federal consumer protection agencies, such as:

  • The Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
  • The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)

State governments also have their own agencies to protect consumers. These agencies play a vital role in educating people about product safety. Both federal and state consumer protection agencies:

  • Inform people of their rights under consumer protection laws
  • Promote consumer education
  • Prevent unfair business practices
  • Investigate complaints and scams
  • Enforce consumer protection laws
  • Oversee licensing and regulation for professions like real estate brokers and insurance agents

The goal is to create a marketplace where consumers are well-informed and treated fairly.

Types of Consumer Protection Agencies

Consumer protection involves various government agencies with a specific focus on safeguarding consumer rights. For example:

These agencies uphold consumer rights at both federal and state levels. They also investigate companies suspected of trying to trick customers.

State Consumer Protection Agencies

Below, you'll find contact information for the consumer protection agency in your state.

State

Contact Information

Alabama

Consumer Affairs Section
Office of the Attorney General
500 Dexter Ave.
Montgomery, AL 36130
334-242-7335
Toll free: 1-800-392-5658 (AL)
Fax: 334-242-2433
www.ago.state.al.us

Alaska

Consumer Protection Unit
Office of the Attorney General
P.O. Box 110300
Juneau, AK 99811-0300
907-465-2133
Toll free: 1-888-576-2529
Fax: 907-465-2075
www.law.state.ak.us

Arizona

Consumer Protection and Advocacy Section
Office of the Attorney General
1275 West Washington St.
Phoenix, AZ 85007
Consumer Information and Complaints: 602-542-5025, 602-542-5763
Toll free: 1-800-352-8431 (AZ)
Fax: 602-542-4085
www.azag.gov

Arkansas

Consumer Protection Division
Office of the Attorney General
323 Center St., Suite 200
Little Rock, AR 72201
501-682-2007
Consumer Hotline: 501-682-2341; 1-800-482-8982 (Toll free)
Toll free: 1-800-482-8982 (Consumer Hotline)
TTY 501-682-6073; 1-800-482-8982 (Toll free)
Fax: 501-682-8118
E-mail: oag@arkansasag.gov
www.arkansasag.gov

California

California Department of Consumer Affairs
Consumer Information Division
1625 North Market Blvd., Suite N 112
Sacramento, CA 95834
916-445-1254
Toll free: 1-800-952-5210
TTY: 916-322-1700; 1-800-326-2297 (Toll Free)
E-mail: dca@dca.ca.gov
www.dca.ca.gov

Colorado

Colorado Office of the Attorney General
Consumer Protection Division
1525 Sherman St., 7th Floor
Denver, CO 80203
303-866-5079
Toll free: 1-800-222-4444
Fax: 303-866-4916
E-mail: stop.fraud@state.co.us
https://coag.gov/

Connecticut

Department of Consumer Protection
165 Capitol Ave.
Hartford, CT 06106-1630
860-713-6050
Toll free: 1-800-842-2649
TTY: 1-860-713-7240
Fax: 860-713-7239
E-mail: trade.practices@ct.gov
www.ct.gov/dcp

Delaware

Delaware Office of Attorney General
Delaware Department of Justice
Consumer Protection Division
Carvel State Office Building
820 North French St.
Wilmington, DE 19801
302-577-8600
Toll free: 1-800-220-5424
Fax: 302-577-6499
E-mail: www.attorneygeneral.delaware.gov

District of Columbia

Office of the Attorney General
Office of Consumer Protection
441 4th St NW, Suite 600 South
Washington, DC 20001
202-727-3400
Fax: 202-478-9296
www.oag.dc.gov

Florida

Florida Dept. of Agriculture and Consumer Services
Division of Consumer Services
Terry Lee Rhodes Building
2005 Apalachee Parkway
Tallahassee, FL 32399-6500
850-488-2221
Toll free: 1-800-435-7352 (FL)
Toll free: 1-800-352-9832 (en Espanol)
https://www.fdacs.gov/

Georgia

Georgia Department of Law - Consumer Protection Unit
2 Martin Luther King, Jr. Dr. SE, Suite 356
Atlanta, GA 30334-4600
404-651-8600
Toll free: 1-800-869-1123 (GA and Outside Atlanta)
Fax: 404-651-9018
consumer.georgia.gov

Hawaii

Office of Consumer Protection
Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs
345 Kekuanaoa St., Room 12
Hilo, HI 96720-4388
808-933-0910
Fax: 808-933-8845
www.hawaii.gov/dcca

Idaho

Idaho Attorney General's Office
Consumer Protection Division
954 W. Jefferson, 2nd Floor
P.O. Box 83720
Boise, ID 83720-0010
208-334-2424
Toll free: 1-800-432-3545 (ID)
Fax: 208-334-4151
https://www.ag.idaho.gov/

Illinois

Illinois Office of the Attorney General - Carbondale
Consumer Fraud Bureau
1001 East Main St.
Carbondale, IL 62901
618-529-6400
Toll free: 1-800-243-0607 (Hotline)
TTY: 1-877-675-9339 (Toll free IL)
Fax: 618-529-6416
E-mail: ag_consumer@atg.state.il.us
www.illinoisattorneygeneral.gov

Indiana

Office of Attorney General
Consumer Protection Division
302 West Washington St., 5th floor
Indianapolis, IN 46204
317-232-6330
Toll free: 1-800-382-5516 (Consumer Hotline)
Fax: 317-233-4393
www.indianaconsumer.com

Iowa

Office of the Iowa Attorney General
Consumer Protection Division
1305 East Walnut St.
Des Moines, IA 50319
515-281-5926
Toll free: 1-888-777-4590 (IA)
Fax: 515-281-6771
E-mail: consumer protection@ag.state.ia.us
https://www.iowaattorneygeneral.gov/

Kansas

Office of Kansas Attorney
Consumer Protection & Antitrust Division
120 SW 10th St., Suite 430
Topeka, KS 66612-1597
785-296-3751
Toll free: 1-800-432-2310 (KS)
TTY: 785-291-3767
Fax: 785-291-3699
E-mail: cprotect@ksag.org
www.ksag.org

Kentucky

Kentucky Office of the Attorney General
Consumer Protection Division
1024 Capital Center Dr.
Frankfort, KY 40601
502-696-5389
Toll free: 1-888-432-9257 (KY)
Fax: 502-573-7151
E-mail: consumer.protection@ag.ky.gov

www.ag.ky.gov/

Louisiana

Office of Attorney General
Consumer Protection Section
PO Box 94005
Baton Rouge, LA 70804-9005
225-326-6465
Toll free: 1-800-351-4889
Fax: 225-326-6499
E-mail: ConsumerInfo@ag.state.la.us
www.ag.state.la.us

Maine

Bureau of Consumer Credit Protection
35 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333-0035
207-624-8527
Toll free: 1-800-332-8529 (ME)
TTY: 1-888-577-6690 (Toll free)
Fax: 207-582-7699
www.credit.maine.gov

Maryland

Maryland Office of Attorney General
Consumer Protection Division
200 Saint Paul Place
Baltimore, MD 21202-2021
410-528-8662 (Consumer Complaints)
410-576-6550 (Consumer Information)
410-528-1840 (Health Advocacy Unit)
Toll free: 1-888-743-0023
Toll free: 1-877-261-8807 (Health Advocacy Unit)
TTY: 410-576-6372 (MD)
Fax: 410-576-7040
E-mail: consumer@oag.state.md.us
www.oag.state.md.us/consumer

Massachusetts

Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation
10 Park Plaza, Suite 5170
Boston, MA 02116
617-973-8700 (General Information)
617-973-8787 (Consumer Hotline)
Toll free: 1-888-283-3757 (MA)
TTY: 1-800-720-3480
Fax: 617-973-8799
E-mail: consumer@state.ma.us
www.mass.gov/Consumer

Michigan

Office of Attorney General
Consumer Protection Division
PO Box 30213
Lansing, MI 48909
517-373-1140
Toll free: 1-877-765-8388
Fax: 517-241-3771
www.michigan.gov/ag

Minnesota

Office of the Attorney General
Consumer Services Division
1400 Bremer Tower
445 Minnesota St.
St. Paul, MN 55101
651-296-3353
Toll free: 1-800-657-3787
TTY: 651-297-7206; 1-800-366-4812 (Toll free)
Fax: 651-282-2155
www.ag.state.mn.us

Mississippi

Consumer Protection Division
Attorney General's Office
PO Box 22947
Jackson, MS 39225-2947
601-359-4230
Toll free: 1-800-281-4418 (MS)
Fax: 601-359-4231
www.ago.state.ms.us

Missouri

Missouri Attorney General's Office
Consumer Protection Unit
PO Box 899
Jefferson City, MO 65102
573-751-3321
Toll free: 1-800-392-8222 (Hotline)
Fax: 573-751-7948
E-mail: consumer@ago.mo.gov
www.ago.mo.gov

Montana

Montana Office of Consumer Protection
2225 11th Avenue
PO Box 200151
Helena, MT 59620-0151
406-444-4500
Toll free: 1-800-481-6896
Fax: 406-444-9680
E-mail: contactocp@mt.gov
www.doj.mt.gov/consumer

Nebraska

Office of the Attorney General
Consumer Protection Division
2115 State Capitol
PO Box 98920
Lincoln, NE 68509
402-471-2682
Toll free: 1-800-727-6432 (NE); 1-888-850-7555 (NE - Spanish)
Fax: 402-471-0006
https://protectthegoodlife.nebraska.gov/

Nevada

Bureau of Consumer Protection
Office of the Attorney General
Carson City, NV
www.fightfraud.nv.gov

New Hampshire

Office of the Attorney General
Consumer Protection and Antitrust Bureau
33 Capitol St.
Concord, NH 03301
603-271-3641
Toll free: 1-888-468-4454 (Consumer Protection Hotline)
TTY: 1-800-735-2964 (New Hampshire Only)
Fax: 603-223-6202
www.doj.nh.gov/consumer

New Jersey

Department of Law and Public Safety
Division of Consumer Affairs
PO Box 45025
Newark, NJ 07101
973-504-6200
Toll free: 1-800-242-5846 (NJ)
TTY: 973-504-6588
Fax: 973-648-3538
E-mail: askconsumeraffairs@lps.state.nj.us
www.njconsumeraffairs.gov

New Mexico

Office of Attorney General
Consumer Protection Division
PO Drawer 1508
Santa Fe, NM 87504-1508
505-827-6060
Toll free: 1-800-678-1508
Fax: 505-827-5826
www.nmag.gov

New York

Office of the Attorney General - Albany Office
Bureau of Consumer Frauds and Protection
State Capitol
Albany, NY 12224-0341
518-474-5481
518-474-7330
Toll free: 1-800-771-7755 (NY)
TTY: 1-800-788-9898 (Toll free)
Fax: 518-474-3618
https://ag.ny.gov

North Carolina

Consumer Protection Division
Office of the Attorney General
9001 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-9001
919-716-6000
Toll free: 1-877-566-7226 (NC)
Fax: 919-716-6050
www.ncdoj.gov

North Dakota

Office of the Attorney General
Consumer Protection and Antitrust Division
4205 State St.
P.O. Box 1054
Bismarck, ND 58502-1054
701-328-3404
Toll free: 1-800-472-2600
TTY: 1-800-366-6888 (Toll free)
Fax: 701-328-5568
E-mail: ndag@nd.gov
www.ag.nd.gov

Ohio

Consumer Protection Section
Attorney General's Office
30 East Broad St., 14h Floor
Columbus, OH 43215-3400
614-466-4320
Toll free: 1-800-282-0515
Fax: 614-728-7583
www.ohioattorneygeneral.gov

Oklahoma

Consumer Protection Unit
Oklahoma Attorney General
313 NE 21st Street
Oklahoma City, OK 73105
405-521-3921
Fax: 405-522-0085
www.oag.ok.gov

Oregon

Financial Fraud/Consumer Protection Section
Department of Justice
1162 Court St., NE
Salem, OR 97301-4096
503-378-4320 (Salem)
503-229-5576 (Portland)
503-947-4333
Toll free: 1-877-877-9392 (OR)
TTY: 1-800-735-2900
Fax: 503-378-5017
www.doj.state.or.us

Pennsylvania

Bureau of Consumer Protection
Office of Attorney General
16th Floor, Strawberry Square
Harrisburg, PA 17120
717-787-3391
Toll free: 1-800-441-2555 (PA)
Toll free: 1-888-520-6680 (Home Improvement)
Toll free: 1-866-623-2137 (PA - Elder Abuse)
E-mail: consumer.hotline@doj.state.or.us
Fax: 717-787-8242
www.attorneygeneral.gov

Rhode Island

Consumer Protection Unit
Department of Attorney General
150 South Main St.
Providence, RI 02903
401-274-4400
TTY: 401-453-0410
Fax: 401-222-5110
E-mail: contactus@riag.ri.gov
www.riag.state.ri.us

South Carolina

South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs
3600 Forest Drive, 3rd floor
PO Box 5757
Columbia, SC 29250-5757
803-734-4200
Toll free: 1-800-922-1594 (SC)
TTY: 1-877-734-4215 (Toll free)
Fax: 803-734-4286
E-mail: scdca@scconsumer.gov
www.scconsumer.gov

South Dakota

Consumer Affairs
Office of the Attorney General
1302 E. Hwy 14, Suite 3
Pierre, SD 57501-8503
605-773-4400
Toll free: 1-800-300-1986 (SD)
TTY: 605-773-6585
Fax: 605-773-7163
E-mail: consumerhelp@state.sd.us
www.state.sd.us/atg

Tennessee

Department of Commerce and Insurance
Division of Consumer Affairs
500 James Robertson Pkwy., 5th Floor
Nashville, TN 37243-0600
615-741-4737
Toll free: 1-800-342-8385 (TN)
Fax: 615-532-4994
E-mail: consumer.affairs@tn.gov
www.tn.gov/consumer

Texas

Office of the Attorney General
Consumer Protection Department
PO Box 12548
Austin, TX 78711-2548
512-463-2100
Toll free: 1-800-621-0508
Fax: 512-473-8301
www.oag.state.tx.us

Utah

Utah Department of Commerce
Division of Consumer Protection
160 East 300 South
PO Box 146704
Salt Lake City, UT 84114-6704
801-530-6601
Fax: 801-530-6001
E-mail: consumerprotection@utah.gov
https://dcp.utah.gov/

Vermont

Consumer Assistance Program
Office of the Attorney General
206 Morrill Hall, UVM
Burlington, VT 05405
802-656-3183
Toll free: 1-800-649-2424 (VT)
Fax: 802-656-1423
E-mail: consumercomplaint@atg.state.vt.us
ttps://ago.vermont.gov/

Virginia

Antitrust and Consumer Litigation Section
Office of the Attorney General
900 East Main St.
Richmond, VA 23219
804-786-2116
Toll free: 1-800-451-1525
Fax: 804-786-0122
E-mail: mail@oag.state.va.us
http://oag.state.va.us/

Washington

Office of the Attorney General
800 Fifth Avenue, Suite 2000
Seattle, WA 98104
206-464-6684
Toll free: 1-800-551-4636 (WA)
TTY: 1-800-833-6384
Fax: 206-389-2801
www.atg.wa.gov

West Virginia

Consumer Protection Division
Office of the Attorney General
PO Box 1789
Charleston, WV 25326-1789
304-558-8986
Toll free: 1-800-368-8808 (WV)
Fax: 304-558-0184
E-mail: consumer@wvago.gov
www.wvago.gov

Wisconsin

Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection
PO Box 8911
2811 Agriculture Dr.
Madison, WI 53708-8911
608-224-4976
Toll free: 1-800-422-7128 (WI)
TTY: 608-224-5058
Fax: 608-224-4939
E-mail: hotline@datcp.state.wi.us
https://datcp.wi.gov/

Wyoming

Consumer Protection Unit
Office of the Attorney General
123 State Capitol
200 W. 24th Street
Cheyenne, WY 82002
307-777-7874
Toll free: 1-800-438-5799
Fax: 307-777-7956
attorneygeneral.state.wy.us

Types of Consumer Protection Cases

Consumer protection cases involve a range of issues aimed at safeguarding individuals from unfair or deceptive practices in the marketplace. These cases include:

Consumer protection also extends to financial matters, addressing issues like deceptive lending practices, unfair debt collection, and breaches of privacy related to consumer information. From ensuring product safety to preventing financial exploitation, consumer protection cases span various sectors.

Consumer Resources and Legal Help

It's important to know how consumer protection agencies can help you in the marketplace. Check out FindLaw's Consumer Protection section to learn more. If you ever feel treated unfairly, reach out to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), Federal Trade Commission (FTC), or your state's consumer protection office for support. Consider talking to a consumer protection lawyer if you need more guidance. Your actions matter in making sure the marketplace is fair, so take a step to protect your rights as a consumer.

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