NEWS RELEASE: 42 State and Territory Attorneys General Urge Meta to Take Action Against Investment Scam Ads

WASHINGTON, D.C. — June 11, 2025  — The National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG) today announced that a bipartisan coalition of 42 attorneys general has sent a letter to Meta Platforms, Inc. (Meta), urging the company to take immediate and meaningful action to address the proliferation of fraudulent investment advertisements on Facebook and WhatsApp. The letter, addressed to Meta’s Chief Legal Officer Jennifer …

NEWS RELEASE: Utah County Man Sentenced to Prison for Affinity Fraud Scheme that Scammed Over $5M from Alpha Influence Investors

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Kole Glen Brimhall, 27, of Orem, Utah, was sentenced today to 12 months’ and one day imprisonment after he defrauded approximately 135 investors through the sale of a fraudulent investment offered through Alpha Influence, LLC, a registered Utah company. Brimhall was also sentenced to three years’ supervised release, and ordered to pay a forfeiture money …

Protect Yourself from Scams During National Consumer Protection Week

National Consumer Protection Week is the perfect time to remind ourselves about the importance of staying safe from scams. Scammers are becoming increasingly sophisticated, using technology like deceptive text messages to trick unsuspecting individuals. A recent example includes text messages about owing tolls. It’s crucial to be vigilant and informed. Visit Scams.Utah.gov for information on how to protect yourself from …

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Identity Theft Prevention: Steps to Safeguard Your Information in 2025

In an era where our lives are increasingly integrated with technology, protecting personal information has never been more critical. The rise of identity theft remains a significant threat, making it essential for individuals to take proactive measures to safeguard their sensitive information. Here are some effective strategies to help you protect yourself in 2025. 1. Monitor Your Credit Reports Regularly …

Stay Alert: How to Protect Yourself from Impersonation Scams

Impersonation scams are on the rise. These deceptive schemes often involve individuals posing as trusted figures—whether government officials, law enforcement, trusted businesses, or even close friends and family—aiming to manipulate others into revealing personal information or transferring money. While people may be aware of these scams, some still fall victim to these scenarios because scammers are pros at leveraging fear …

MEDIA ADVISORY: Scammers Impersonating Utah Government Officials and Targeting Licensed Professionals

The Utah Department of Commerce’s Division of Professional Licensing (DOPL) reports a rise in scam calls using spoofed DOPL numbers and letterhead  Salt Lake City, UT – The Division of Professional Licensing (DOPL) is warning licensed professionals of an alarming scam involving impersonation and intimidation tactics. Recent reports indicate that scammers are making fraudulent calls to healthcare licensees using spoofed DOPL …

Multi-State Task Force Sues Avid Telecom Over Illegal Robocalls

SALT LAKE CITY, UT – Utah Attorney General Sean D. Reyes, representing the Utah Division of Consumer Protection, sued Avid Telecom, its owner Michael D. Lansky, and Vice President Stacey S. Reeves today for allegedly initiating and facilitating billions of illegal robocalls to millions of people and violating the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, the Telemarketing Sales Rule, and other federal and state telemarketing and consumer laws. Avid Telecom sent or transmitted more than 7.5 billion calls to telephone numbers on the National Do Not Call Registry between December 2018 and January 2023 – more than 72 million of which went to numbers in Utah.

The W.I.S.E Consumer Checklist

As much as we want to help all consumers who have problems in the marketplace, the reality is that the Division of Consumer Protection can’t guarantee your satisfaction for every private transaction nor can we make business recommendations (for that, you can look at organizations like the Better Business Bureau or AARP). Our purpose is to stop deceptive and fraudulent …