The Oregon Department of Justice has released its list of the top 10 consumer complaints for 2024, coinciding with National Consumer Protection Week. Attorney General Dan Rayfield highlighted a significant increase in complaints, which nearly doubled from the previous year. This rise underscores the importance of the work being done by the Civil Enforcement Division at DOJ.
"Having spent almost two decades in private practice working on consumer protection cases, ensuring every Oregonian has a place to turn when they’ve been harmed is a top priority for our team– and that continues to be a priority for me as attorney general," said Rayfield. "The Oregon Department of Justice will keep pushing forward on cases that help our citizens and hold the people who take advantage of them accountable. If you think you’ve been scammed, report it right away – the sooner we know, the sooner we can help."
Significant settlements in 2024 included $2.1 million from Marriott due to a data breach affecting millions of guest records. The funds are allocated to support DOJ's investigative and consumer protection efforts. Marriott also agreed to enhance its data security measures.
Another notable case involved Camping World, where DOJ secured $3 million for customers overcharged for RVs.
The Oregon Consumer Privacy Act, effective since 2024, provides consumers more control over their personal data. Businesses must now limit information collection and ensure data security, especially for children and teens. DOJ has updated its website with resources on privacy rights.
Attorney General Rayfield aims to tackle predatory lending, scams, identity theft, credit fraud, and insurance abuses while expanding protections for consumers in the marketplace. He plans to establish a Working Families Unit at DOJ to safeguard workplace rights.
"We want to protect people, whether that be safeguarding their health, their safety or their wallets," Rayfield stated. "Every year we recover more money for Oregonians who’ve been ripped off or scammed by companies or organizations. This top 10 list helps us identify patterns, prioritize areas that need attention, and spread resources effectively."
The top ten consumer complaints in 2024 were:
1. Telecommunications (1229)
2. Fraudulent Entity/Imposter scams (1135)
3. Auto Sales and Repair (1050)
4. Financial Credit and Lending (741)
5. Health/Medical (569)
6. Travel Services (525)
7. Grocery Food and Beverage (290)
8. Real Estate (274)
9. Construction Contractors (219)
10. Manufacturing (211)
In total, the Attorney General’s Office received 22,436 calls and 9,241 written complaints through its Consumer Hotline.
For scam prevention materials or to report frauds or scams online visit www.doj.state.or.us/consumer-protection/sales-scams-fraud/more-scams-fraud-resources/. Alternatively contact the Attorney General’s Consumer Hotline at 1-877-877-9392.