why would someone from the attorney general's office come to your door

Attorneys general commence investigations for a wide variety of reasons. Perhaps they are seeking information about, or are investigating, your industry generally. Perhaps they are seeking information about a third-party with whom you do business.

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Why should I contact the Attorney General’s office?

Mar 15, 2013 · Attorneys general commence investigations for a wide variety of reasons. Perhaps they are seeking information about, or are investigating, your industry generally. Perhaps they are seeking information about a third-party with whom you do business.

Why would an Attorneys General commence an investigation?

Emergency Scams. Sometimes called Grandparent Scams, these scams involve calls or emails from someone claiming to be your friend or family member in dire need. They are trying to prey on your emotions by inventing a situation that you must respond to immediately – with your money.

How does the United States Attorney’s office work with federal agents?

Jul 13, 2018 · Posted on Jul 13, 2018. Posted on Jul 13, 2018. It may be related to employment or business that you did with a company they are investigating that they either want information about, or there was a settlement and they are trying to find you as a result. The AG's office does not prosecute individuals.

What is a letter from the US Attorney’s office?

Often, a former state attorney general will be best positioned to navigate the legal process with the office of a current state attorney general. The lawyer who helped your company negotiate a commercial lease for your office space or who defended a recent class action most likely does not have the skill set or the connections to ensure that your company is put in the most …

Why would an attorney general call someone?

They might promise lottery winnings if you pay “taxes” or other fees, or they might threaten you with arrest or a lawsuit if you don't pay a supposed debt. The call may be purported to be from the Internal Revenue Service, a fake FBI agent, and even from individuals impersonating the Attorney General.

How can you identify a scammer?

Common online scam signsTries to gain trust. An online scam will often try to gain your trust in some way. ... Asks for action. ... Asks for personal info. ... Overpays you. ... Promises something. ... Wire transfer request. ... Pretends to be a family member. ... Offers something you want.More items...•Oct 16, 2021

What is one tactic a scammer will use to get you to provide your personal information?

Some scammers “phish” for your personal information using cleverly designed calls or e-mails. They often pretend to be an employee of your bank or a government agency and ask you to update or confirm your account information by submitting your bank account number, password, or Social Security number.

What area codes should you not answer?

Unless you know that a call is legitimate, it's best to avoid calls from the following international area codes with a +1-country code:232: Sierra Leone.242: Bahamas.246: Barbados.284: British Virgin Islands.268: Antigua and Barbuda.345: Cayman Islands.441: Bermuda.473: Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique.More items...•May 14, 2021

What if a scammer has my phone number?

If the worst happens and a scammer gains access to your phone number, you still have options: Contact your service provider immediately and explain the situation. If need be, ask them to put a temporary freeze on your line so that scammers can't use your number.Apr 6, 2022

Will a scammer come to my house?

We have heard such reports in the past and to our knowledge no scammer has actually come to the victim's house.” Unfortunately, it is easy for scammers to find your home address online. In many cases, the impostor scams come from places outside the U.S. such as Jamaica and Costa Rica.Mar 3, 2020

What information does a scammer need?

Scammers can steal your identity by obtaining your personal financial information online, at the door or over the phone. What they want are account numbers, passwords, Social Security numbers, and other confidential information that they can use to loot your checking account or run up bills on your credit cards.

How do scammers convince you to be a grandparent?

They convince you by disguising their voice, showing a familiar phone number on your caller ID using a practice called “spoofing”, and using information available on the Internet. For instance, they say they may sound different because they are crying, sick, or injured. They reference specific names of family members or locations to make their story seem plausible. Then, they try to keep you from confirming their story by begging you not to tell anyone since they are embarrassed or scared in their situation.

Why do scammers demand payment on fake debts?

Scammers will demand payment on fake debts because a few people will be scared into paying. Real, legitimate creditors will be able to produce proof that a debt exists in the first place. If the debt is real and you weren't aware of it, you may be the victim of identity theft. Learn more about Debt Collection Scams.

How to tell if a scam is real?

5 Signs of a Scam 1 They contacted you#N#When you contact a business, you know who's on the other end of the line. But when someone contacts you first, you can't be certain they're telling the truth. You don't know if they are whom they say they are. And remember, email addresses and caller ID information can be faked. 2 They dangle bait—usually money#N#Let's face it: People simply don't give away large sums of money easily. If someone dangles bait in front of you—a big prize, a shopping spree, an easy loan — for nothing, they're probably lying. 3 They want your personal information#N#Anytime anyone asks for your personal information — bank accounts, social security number, etc. — you should be on alert. Don't give it away quickly or easily, especially to someone you don't know. You may become a victim of identity theft. 4 You have to pay them first#N#If someone offers you a prize, debt relief, or employment — but first you have to pay an upfront fee to get it —you're probably being scammed. 5 You have to wire money or send gift cards#N#If you're about to wire money or send gift cards to someone in order to receive a prize, or pay off a debt collector that contacts you ... STOP! This may be a scammer trying to take your money.

What happens if you don't pay your taxes?

An IRS agent contacts you and tells you that you owe back taxes and must pay immediately. If you don’t, they say they will have the police come and send you to jail. There are variations of this scam, such as local law enforcement contacting you with a warrant because you missed jury duty, but almost always you will be asked to pay immediately via wire transfer or even gift cards, and will be told to stay on the phone throughout the entire payment process (including driving to the store!). Or you may be asked for your personal information to confirm your innocence or to receive a tax refund. Do not fall for it! Most likely you are not communicating with a government agent.

What is Nigerian fraud?

Sometimes known as Nigerian Fraud, a "government minister" (or his widow), a lawyer representing a deceased client from a foreign country, or a business owner wants to deposit money from a foreign country in your bank account. There are many variations on the same theme but they all have a similar catch.

Can you tell if someone contacted you first?

They contacted you. When you contact a business, you know who's on the other end of the line. But when someone contacts you first, you can't be certain they're telling the truth. You don't know if they are whom they say they are. And remember, email addresses and caller ID information can be faked.

What is a shopping spree?

Shopping Sprees. You get a phone call, offering you a "$500 shopping spree" (or other amount). They say they're from a well-known company or a government agency. Then, the caller asks for your bank account number in order to collect a small fee. They say the fee is for shipping and handling of your vouchers.

Keith G Langer

It is odd that the AG's office would be calling, unless it was in response to your contacting it first. If that were the case, it would presumably have the current information, which you provided.

David M Owens

It may be related to employment or business that you did with a company they are investigating that they either want information about, or there was a settlement and they are trying to find you as a result. The AG's office does not prosecute individuals.

What to do if you receive a letter of inquiry from the state attorney general?

If your company does receive a letter of inquiry from a state attorney general, you need to respond. Unlike some things in life, ignoring it will not make it go away. This is when it will have been really helpful to have previously established a relationship with the attorney general. If your company has that relationship, the attorney general may notify you before making the inquiry public so that your company will have the opportunity to resolve unfounded accusations quietly before any reputational damage is incurred.

How to avoid being an investigatory target?

The easiest way to minimize your company’s chances of becoming an investigatory target is to reduce and resolve consumer complaints about your company’s products. If you make a quality product and you do not give consumers unreasonable expectations about the product by making misleading claims when advertising it, your customers will likely not file complaints. But when you do get a complaint, you need to take it seriously, even if you think the complaint has no merit. Chances are that other customers have the same complaint as the one that contacted you, and, if customers feel that your company is not doing anything to address their complaints, it is only a matter of time before someone will bring it to the state consumer protection division. Thus, you need to work with your customers to resolve any complaints that they may have.

What stores did Schneiderman order?

Schneiderman issued cease-and-desist orders to four prominent supplements retailers: Walgreens, Walmart, General Nutrition Centers and Target. Schneiderman announced his allegations at a packed press conference, claiming that DNA barcode testing had revealed that most of the supplement products sold by the retailers did not contain the advertised ingredients. He also alleged that his testing had found that the products contained many substances not listed on the label, including known allergens.

Where to contact former state and federal prosecutors?

Attorney’s Office, you should contact the former state and federal prosecutors at Oberheiden, P.C. today. You can reach one of our senior attorneys seven days a week, including weekends. Oberheiden, P.C.

What do federal agents do?

Oftentimes, federal agents will handle investigative tasks, such as interviewing witnesses or executing search warrants, and then the United States Attorney’s Office will rely on those investigative efforts of the federal agents to build a case for trial.

What is the criminal division?

The criminal division prosecutes criminal cases. While most criminal cases are handled in state courts rather than in federal courts, the types of criminal cases prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office include white collar fraud, Medicare fraud, drug trafficking, tax evasion, and immigration crimes.

What is a target letter?

Another type of letter that can be issued from the United States Attorney’s Office is a “target letter.”. Target letters inform the recipients that they are the target of a federal investigation, which means that the government intends to press civil or criminal charges against that person.

Why do federal prosecutors resemble sharks?

Federal prosecutors sometimes resemble sharks, because they are frequently unwilling to abandon even fruitless investigations unless they draw some blood. Fortunately, we know how to handle these types–– in fact, many of our clients have been shocked to learn that their investigations have been closed with zero civil or criminal liability. Still, others have been pleasantly surprised when what was once an existential threat is transformed into a manageable inconvenience.

What is a grand jury subpoena?

A grand jury subpoena is a court order demanding that the recipient produce documents and/or testify at a given time.

What is perspective in law?

What gives us perspective are the lawyers in our firm who left behind successful careers as federal prosecutors to come and work for us. Their presence allows us to view a case from both points of view–– the defense and the prosecution. The resulting ability to anticipate the government’s case strategy gives us a critical edge over firms that lack this capability.

Why are scam artists targeting seniors?

Scams Directed at Seniors. Scam artists target seniors because they believe they have money to be taken and may be less careful in their dealings with strangers. While this is not always true, seniors and those who love them should still be on the lookout for scams directed towards older members of our community.

What is crowdfunding platform?

Online crowdfunding platforms allow you to be part of the development of an innovative, creative, or philanthropic project. Here’s what you need to know before participating in a crowdfunding campaign.

Can a living trust be used for everyone?

But living trusts are not for everyone, and the trust documents that work for one person might not work for another. Find out how to avoid paying for an unnecessary or even harmful living trust as well as information on finding a reputable attorney to assist with you with your plans.

Joseph Briscoe Dane

You're absolutely right to be concerned about talking to a DA investigator. They're law enforcement and yes, anything you say could potentially be used against you.

Craig Allen Renetzky

I suggest you hire an attorney who will protect your interests. I am a former Deputy District Attorney, and can promise you that if a DA investigator is asking questions it easily could result in criminal charges.#N#More

Steven Alan Fink

Perhaps you should hire an attorney for the limited purpose of communicating with D.A. to find out the issue.#N#The response given is not intended to create, nor does it create an ongoing duty to respond to questions. The response does not form an attorney-client relationship...

Why do you need an investigator?

In most cases, using an investigator to collect evidence is the best practice. A good investigator will locate video cameras and persuade recalcitrant proprietors to cooperate. Using an investigator will enable you to isolate your client from unnecessary witnesses.

Do apartments have security cameras?

Many apartments and businesses now have security cameras inside and out. Some single-family residences do too. Many cameras are readily visible in the Google Maps street view, often located high on the first floor of buildings, either above parking lots or doorways, or on the side of the building below the roof line.