Current AGO News
Below are current news releases and consumer alerts issued by the Attorney General's Office. The RSS feed may be obtained here.
Nixon reminds southwest Missourians to watch for con artists when hiring for storm damage repairs
May 13, 2008 - Attorney General Jay Nixon wants residents of southwest Missouri to watch out for scams as they begin to recover from the devastation of the weekend tornado. Nixon says thieves often target hard—hit areas claiming to offer home—repair and other services. He says the con artists usually go door—to—door, offering quick services to consumers in urgent need of repairs, whether it’s a new roof, windows, siding or other work.
Nixon seeking thousands of dollars in consumer restitution in lawsuit against Springfield roofer
May 9, 2008 - A Springfield man whose shoddy work in installing roofing and siding caused thousands of dollars in damages to consumers’ homes and then failed to honor warranties to redo the substandard work is facing a lawsuit filed by Attorney General Jay Nixon. Nixon filed the lawsuit against David Harlow, who did business as Harlow Roofing and Siding, on Wednesday (May 7) in Greene County Circuit Court, seeking injunctive relief, restitution for consumers and civil penalties.
Facebook reaches nationwide agreement with Nixon, 49 other AGs to help protect children from online predators
May 8, 2008 - The popular social networking site Facebook will initiate significant new safeguards and continue existing ones to help protect children from online predators, under an agreement announced today by Attorney General Jay Nixon and the Attorneys General from 48 other states and the District of Columbia.
Nixon warns of misleading solicitations that appear to come from consumers’ banks
May 7, 2008 - Attorney General Jay Nixon says Missourians are receiving letters in the mail offering mortgage insurance, refinancing and other services. He says while many of those solicitations are designed to look like they come from a consumer’s mortgage lender, they actually come from a separate, unrelated company.
Nixon urges Kansas City—area residents to watch for scams after high winds cause widespread damage
May 2, 2008 - Attorney General Jay Nixon is warning residents of the Kansas City metropolitan area who are dealing with damage from high winds on May 1—2 to watch out for con artists.
Nixon obtains court order to stop Texas—based Web site from selling personal information of Missourians
May 1, 2008 - A Web site that permits anyone with a credit card to purchase detailed personal information about consumers – including Social Security numbers – has been prohibited from selling such information about Missourians or allowing consumers to search its database using Missourians’ Social Security numbers under a temporary restraining order obtained by Attorney General Jay Nixon. Jackson County Circuit Judge Sandra Midkiff signed the order today against A1Peoplesearch, LLC of Granbury, Texas, which does business as www.a1peoplesearch.com.
Nixon invites consumers to fight ID theft, shred unneeded documents at St. Louis Galleria this Saturday
April 30, 2008 - St. Louis—area residents will have an opportunity to fight identity theft by shredding their unneeded confidential documents free of charge this Saturday, May 3. Attorney General Jay Nixon invites consumers to participate in the annual Shred Day at the St. Louis Galleria in Brentwood between 8 a.m. and noon.
Nixon obtains order against California Internet business that put unauthorized charges on consumers’ phone bills
April 29, 2008 - A San Francisco—based Internet business that placed unauthorized charges on the telephone bills of Missouri consumers must cease the practice, issue refunds to all consumers who submit valid complaints within one year, and pay $10,000 in costs and penalties under a consent judgment and permanent injunction obtained by Attorney General Jay Nixon. The court order against INC21 and GlobalYP.net was filed today in Cole County Circuit Court.
Nixon warns Missouri seniors not to fall for the “grandparents scam“
April 29, 2008 - Attorney General Jay Nixon says a central Missouri man was almost conned out of $8,000 this week by someone claiming to be his grandson. The man was prepared to wire the money to the caller, but he was warned by an employee at the wire transfer office that it could be a scam.
Web site operators who misrepresented that they run a tax—exempt charity to help military veterans to pay $21,851 in judgment won by Nixon
April 28, 2008 - A Independence organization will permanently stop representing that it operates a tax—exempt charity to help military veterans and its operators will jointly pay $21,851 in restitution, costs and penalties under a court order obtained today by Attorney General Jay Nixon. The court order against RCT Development Association and its operators Chris Ann McPherson, Russell Rose and Timothy Divers, who operated the organization Helping Our Heroes, was filed today in Jackson County Circuit Court.
Local public officials invited to free conference on Ethics in Government, sponsored by Attorney General’s Office
April 28, 2008 - Attorney General Jay Nixon is encouraging public officials from across Missouri to attend a one—day conference on Ethics in Government in Jefferson City on July 10. The seminar is being offered at no charge by Nixon’s office. Almost 400 public officials attended the last ethics conference Nixon held in January 2007.
St. Louis home repairman who defrauded homeowners sentenced to four years on charge prosecuted by Nixon
April 25, 2008 - A St. Louis County man who defrauded homeowners in the sale and installation of hardwood and tile flooring and carpeting was sentenced today to four years in prison. Robert Ciralsky (DOB – 10/9/65), owner of Tile Town, also paid the last of the $15,000 in restitution to his five victims in the case today, after which Circuit Judge John Ross suspended his prison sentence and placed him on five years probation.
Nixon sues Texas—based Web site to stop venue from selling the personal information of Missouri consumers
April 23, 2008 - Attorney General Jay Nixon is seeking to shut down a Web site that permits anyone with a credit card to purchase detailed personal information about Missouri consumers – including Social Security numbers – and have its operator fined a significant sum for each violation of state consumer protection laws. Nixon today filed a lawsuit in Jackson County Circuit Court against A1 Peoplesearch, LLC of Granbury, TX, which does business as www.a1peoplesearch.com.
Attorney General’s Office part of tonight’s Internet Safety Night, with Lange Middle School in Columbia hosting national event by videoconference
April 23, 2008 - Internet Safety Night, with Columbia as the national videoconference host; 37 remote sites in Missouri and five remote sites in Arkansas, New York, Pennsylvania and Virginia also will be participating.
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Inquiries from consumers should be directed to consumer@ago.mo.gov or 1-800-392-8222 (from within Missouri) or 573-751-3321 (outside Missouri).
All media inquiries should be directed to Press Secretary John Fougere.
E-mail Phone: 573-751-8844 Fax: 573-751-5818