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This year’s National Consumer Protection Week – sponsored by the �鶹��ý
Trade Commission and a variety of government agencies and national consumer groups – features as its theme “Nuts and Bolts: Tools for Today’s Economy.” Whether consumers are trying to stretch their paychecks, find a quick fix for a spotty credit history, or tell the difference between a real deal and a potentially fraudulent product or service, information is one tool that can always help them get the most for their money.

“National Consumer Protection Week is an ideal time to highlight education efforts by government agencies and advocacy organizations that can enrich consumers from coast to coast,” said Eileen Harrington, Acting Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. “Practical information is one tool that retains its value, especially in tough economic times.”

The National Consumer Protection Week Web site, www.ftc.gov/ncpw, has information to help consumers manage their money wisely and protect themselves against fraud. For organizations seeking to promote financial education during National Consumer Protection Week, there is an “Outreach Toolkit” with free resources that are ready for publication in a newsletter, newspaper, or magazine; a press release to send to reporters; Web banners and buttons to post online; and radio public service announcements to send to local radio stations.

The FTC’s co-sponsors for National Consumer Protection Week include: AARP, Council of Better Business Bureaus, Consumer Federation of America, �鶹��ý Citizen Information Center, �鶹��ý Communications Commission, �鶹��ý Deposit Insurance Corporation, National Association of Attorneys General, National Association of Consumer Agency Administrators, National Consumers League, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, United States Postal Inspection Service, and United States Postal Service.

The �鶹��ý Trade Commission works for consumers to prevent fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices and to provide information to help spot, stop, and avoid them. To file a complaint in English or Spanish, visit the FTC ’s online or call 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357). The FTC enters complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a secure, online database available to more than 1,500 civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad. The FTC’s Web site provides free information on a variety of consumer topics.

(NCPW NR.wpd)