A new local Consumer Fraud Task Force, organized by the Tri-State Better Business Bureau, had its first meeting on September 15, 2015. Attendees at the meeting represented the FTC, the Indiana Attorney General’s Office, the Vanderburgh County Prosecutor’s Office, Indiana State Police and Evansville Police Department. Several other organizations were invited but unable to attend. At the first meeting participants discussed various scams affecting members of our community. They agreed that the number one fraud occurring right now is the phony IRS collection scheme.

The task force plans to meet quarterly for the purpose of fighting consumer scams and fraud. “It’s a way to share information, tactics, data and figure out a way we can work together so we can help the people who live here,” said Steven Baker, director of the Federal Trade Commission’s Midwest region. The FTC is a government agency dedicated to fighting consumer fraud, deception, and unfair or non-competitive business practices.

The Task Force also discussed ideas on how best to warn that segment of our population that seems to be the most targeted by fraudsters, and they are working to initiate and implement ideas to inform area residents about these scams.

Baker, who is based in Chicago, said his office participates in similar task forces in St. Louis, Minneapolis and Chicago and said they are really valuable. He said that scammers have many ways to lure in victims and they operate everywhere — including Evansville.

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