Consumer Protection

LOS ANGELES — Attorney General Kamala D. Harris and the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) have signed a cooperative agreement to crack down on employer wage theft and other illegal labor practices. The Memorandum of Understanding signed by both agencies will facilitate the sharing of information and enhance enforcement of labor violations.

“Wage theft is a crime that hurts our economy and robs hard working Californians of their livelihoods,” said Attorney General Harris. “This agreement allows our agencies to better investigate and prosecute those who exploit workers and deny them the pay and benefits they deserve. I thank the Department of Labor for their partnership and commitment to protecting the rights of workers.”

“As host to one of the largest underground economies and immigrant populations in the United States, it makes sense that we begin our quest to combat wage theft. This partnership with the State AG's office is long over due,” said Ruben Rosalez, regional administrator for the western region for the U.S. Department of Labor.

The agreement will establish a collaborative partnership between the Attorney General’s Office and the U.S. Department of Labor to coordinate enforcement efforts. Specifically, the agreement will enhance both agencies’ ability to investigate and prosecute cases of wage theft and other labor violations through the exchange of investigative information and resources.  

The collaborative agreement will work to combat illegal labor practices such as wage theft, which includes violations of minimum wage and overtime laws.  In addition, the agreement will help both agencies combat employee misclassification, which denies workers important protections such as overtime pay and unemployment insurance.

Industries most impacted by wage theft include restaurants, janitorial work, the garment industry, retail, construction and car washes.

The Attorney General’s Underground Economy Unit is dedicated to protecting workers’ rights, bringing civil and criminal actions against persons engaged in the underground economy. The Unit's enforcement efforts are directed at deterring underground economy violations, recapturing lost revenues, and protecting workers and legitimate businesses from illegal and predatory enterprises.

U.S. Department of Labor Regional Administrator for the Western Region Ruben Rosalez and California Department of Justice General Counsel Brian Nelson sign the memorandum of understanding. 

Photo Credit: Office of the Attorney General. For high resolution copies of the image, please contact agpressoffice@doj.ca.gov

LOS ANGELES — Attorney General Kamala D. Harris today issued a consumer alert in response to the reported breach of UCLA Health, which has impacted up to 4.5 million people. The reported breach compromised the personally identifiable information and medical records of patients and providers at UCLA Health.

Individuals who believe they may have been impacted can contact UCLA Health at 877-534-5972 or visit http://www.myidcare.com/uclaprotection for more information and options to sign up for free services offered by UCLA.

This breach may pose a risk of sensitive information being compromised, including social security numbers (SSNs), separate health insurance IDs, diagnosis and treatment records, and payment information. Both SSNs and health insurance IDs create the potential for medical identity theft, which is the use of someone’s identity to obtain medical services or products or for financial gain. Medical identity theft can affect both the victim’s finances and medical records. Potentially impacted individuals should closely watch the Explanation of Benefits statements they receive from their health insurer. If the statement includes a service or product you did not receive, contact the insurer and ask for details. For more information, see First Aid for Medical Identity Theft: Tips for Consumers by clicking here. These Tips are also available in Spanish.

The Attorney General’s Breach Help: Tips for Consumers has simple instructions for consumers who have been affected by a breach and includes what to do in response to a Social Security number breach. Breach Help is also available in Spanish.

Steps for Responding to Social Security Number Breach: 

1. PLACE A FRAUD ALERT.

Contact the three major credit bureaus and place a 90 day “fraud alert.” This helps protect you against the possibility of an identity thief opening new credit accounts in your name. When a merchant checks the credit history of someone applying for credit, the merchant gets an “alert” that there may be fraud on the account.

Experian       1-888-397-3742

Equifax         1-800-525-6285

TransUnion  1-800-680-7289

You will reach an automated telephone system. You will also be sent instructions on how to get a free copy of your report from each of the credit bureaus. Order the reports.  

2. REVIEW YOUR CREDIT REPORTS.

Look through each one carefully. Look for accounts you do not recognize, especially accounts opened since December 2014, when the Anthem breach occurred. Follow the instructions in the report for disputing any questionable information.

3. CONSIDER A SECURITY FREEZE.

Placing a security freeze on your credit files offers longer-term protection. For information on how to do this, see “How to Freeze Your Credit Files” at www.oag.ca.gov/privacy/info-sheets

4. BE WARY OF PHISHING ATTEMPTS.

If you get an email or call from someone claiming to be from Anthem and asking for your personal information, do not provide it. Scammers often take advantage of breaches by offering to help and actually seeking to steal your information. Check with Anthem through the phone number you usually use or one from the phone book, if you want to confirm that such a contact is legitimate.

More consumer information from the Attorney General:

First Aid for Medical Identity Theft: Tips for Consumers
https://oag.ca.gov/sites/all/files/agweb/pdfs/privacy/cis_16_med_id_theft.pdf

En Español: Primeros auxilios para el robo de identidad médica: Consejos para los consumidores
http://oag.ca.gov/sites/all/files/agweb/pdfs/privacy/cis_16_med_id_theft_sp.pdf

Breach Help: Tips for Consumers
www.oag.ca.gov/sites/all/files/agweb/pdfs/privacy/cis-17-breach-help.pdf?

En Español:  Ayuda en caso de robo de datos confidenciales
www.oag.ca.gov/sites/all/files/agweb/pdfs/privacy/sp-cis-17-breach-help.pdf?

How to Order Your Free Credit Reports
www.oag.ca.gov/sites/all/files/agweb/pdfs/idtheft/cis_11_free_annual_doj...

En Español:  Cómo encargar sus informes de crédito gratuitos
www.oag.ca.gov/sites/all/files/agweb/pdfs/idtheft/cis11spanish.pdf?

How to "Freeze" Your Credit Files
www.oag.ca.gov/sites/all/files/agweb/pdfs/idtheft/cis_10_credit_freeze_d...

Identity Theft Victim Checklist
http://oag.ca.gov/sites/all/files/agweb/pdfs/privacy/CIS_3_victim_checkl...

En Español: Lo que deben hacer las víctimas de robo de identidad

Top 10 Tips for Identity Theft Protection
www.oag.ca.gov/sites/all/files/agweb/pdfs/idtheft/cis_1_top_10tips_doj.pdf?

En Español:  Los 10 consejos para protegerse contra el robo de identidad 
www.oag.ca.gov/sites/all/files/agweb/pdfs/idtheft/cis_1_top_10tips_doj_s...
 

SAN FRANCISCO – Attorney General Kamala D. Harris today released an enhanced interactive tool to help former Corinthian Colleges, Inc. students  learn about new expanded loan relief options granted to students by the U.S. Department of Education. As a result of the Department’s announcement, a large majority of former California Heald College students are now eligible for a streamlined process for loan forgiveness, with an estimated $500-$600 million worth of loans made to approximately 40,000 former Heald students since 2010. 

Corinthian students should utilize the interactive tool created by the Attorney General’s office to learn more about their new relief eligibility and to connect with free resources near them. 

Students will be prompted to answer a short series of questions, which will result in a personalized resource sheet that can be downloaded or emailed for future reference. The personal resource sheet will provide students with information about types of relief they may be eligible for, information on free local legal aid organizations that may provide advice and assistance in applying for relief, and can optionally provide information on cost-effective educational opportunities near them.   

This week, the U.S. Department of Education announced expanded debt relief options for Corinthian students, which will result in many more students being eligible for relief. Specifically, the Department expanded eligibility for students to apply for a closed school discharge, extending the eligibility window back to June 20, 2014 for students who withdrew from a Corinthian College. With the recent closure of all of Corinthian’s California campuses, students in the state will greatly benefit from the Department of Education’s expanded relief effort.  Additionally, the Department announced a streamlined process for many former Heald students to apply for relief through a borrower defense to repayment.   Ten of the thirteen former Heald Colleges were located in California.

The Department of Education’s announcement comes after continuous calls from Attorney General Harris for substantive relief for students suffering from crippling debt.

In May, Attorney General Harris sent a letter to U.S. Department of Education Secretary Arne Duncan, asking the Department to exercise its authority under closed school discharge regulations to provide aid to students affected by Corinthian’s predatory practices.   

In April, Attorney General Harris and eight other state Attorneys General also sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Education urging immediate debt relief for the students who attended Heald College and other CCI campuses. 

Attorney General Harris filed a complaint in 2013 alleging that CCI misrepresented job placement rates and school programs and intentionally targeted low-income, vulnerable Californians through persistent internet, telemarketing and television ad campaigns. In addition, the complaint alleges that Corinthian executives knowingly misrepresented job placement rates to investors and accrediting agencies, harming students, investors and taxpayers.

Students can access the interactive tool here: http://oag.ca.gov/corinthiantool

SAN FRANCISCO –  Attorney General Kamala D. Harris released the following statement today, following the U.S. Department of Education’s announcement that many more Corinthian Colleges, Inc. students will now be eligible for student loan relief.  Corinthian Colleges, Inc. (CCI) recently closed its remaining campuses in California.

“Corinthian profited by preying on the educational dreams of vulnerable people and then left them under a mountain of debt,” said Attorney General Harris. “I applaud the Department of Education for answering our call to relieve students from this crippling debt Corinthian imposed upon them through its lies and deception. This action has the potential to give students new hope and the opportunity to achieve their educational goals and rebuild their lives.”

Attorney General Harris filed a complaint in 2013 alleging that CCI misrepresented job placement rates and school programs and intentionally targeted low-income, vulnerable Californians through persistent internet, telemarketing and television ad campaigns. In addition, the complaint alleges that Corinthian executives knowingly misrepresented job placement rates to investors and accrediting agencies, harming students, investors and taxpayers.

In April, Attorney General Harris and eight other state Attorneys General sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Education urging immediate debt relief for the students who attended Heald College and other CCI campuses. View the letter here: https://oag.ca.gov/sites/all/files/agweb/pdfs/letter-asg-arne-duncan-04-09-2015.pdf. 

LOS ANGELES–Attorney General Kamala D. Harris issued the following statement on the announcement by Corinthian College, Inc. (CCI) that it will close all of its California campuses.

"Corinthian continued to deceive its students to the end.  Closure of these campuses should help students get out from under the mountains of debt Corinthian imposed upon them through its lies.  Federal and state regulators rightly acted to prevent taxpayer dollars from flowing to Corinthian, which preyed on the educational dreams of vulnerable people such as low-income individuals, single mothers and veterans by misleading students and investors about job placement rates and course offerings.  My office will work closely with our state and federal partners to ensure that students get the relief they deserve, providing them with a new path to achieve their educational goals and rebuild their lives.”

Current students attending Corinthian’s WyoTech, Everest or Heald College campuses can visit www.oag.ca.gov/Corinthian to find information on eligibility for debt relief, available resources and the closure status of a specific campus.

Students are also encouraged to utilize an interactive tool created to help current and former Corinthian students learn more about their rights and how to protect them. Students will be prompted to answer a series of questions, which will result in a personalized resource sheet that can be downloaded or emailed for future reference. The personal resource sheet will provide students with information about types of relief they may be eligible for, as well as information on local organizations that can provide help and advice regarding their legal rights and educational options.

In 2013, Attorney General Harris filed a complaint alleging that CCI intentionally targeted low-income, vulnerable Californians through deceptive and false advertisements and aggressive marketing campaigns that misrepresented job placement rates and school programs. The complaint alleged that CCI deployed these advertisements through persistent internet, telemarketing and television ad campaigns. The complaint further alleged that Corinthian executives knowingly misrepresented job placement rates to investors and accrediting agencies, which harmed students, investors and taxpayers.

On April 9, 2015, Attorney General Harris and eight other state Attorneys General sent a letter to the Department of Education urging the federal government to immediately relieve the debt burden of thousands of students who attended Heald College and other Corinthian Colleges, Incorporated campuses. View the letter here: https://oag.ca.gov/sites/all/files/agweb/pdfs/letter-asg-arne-duncan-04-09-2015.pdf.

English/Inglés: http://oag.ca.gov/contact/consumer-complaint-against-business-or-company

En Español:  http://oag.ca.gov/sites/all/files/agweb/pdfs/contact/business_corpform_s...?

中文/Chino :  http://oag.ca.gov/sites/all/files/agweb/pdfs/contact/business_corpform_c...?

Tiếng Việt/Vietnamita:  http://oag.ca.gov/sites/all/files/agweb/pdfs/contact/business_corpform_v...?

También puede visitar el sitio web http://www.uscis.gov/avoidscams (Inglés) o http://www.uscis.gov/eviteestafas (En español) para aprender como reconocer y evitar las estafas de inmigración, y como encontrar servicios legales autorizados.

En Español

LOS ANGELES -- Attorney General Kamala D. Harris urges you to be careful if a tax preparer offers to help you prepare and file your immigration forms or asks you to pay fines directly to them. Individuals and businesses that prepare tax returns may not be authorized to assist you with immigration services.

The only people authorized to give you legal advice on immigration are licensed attorneys and representatives accredited by the Board of Immigration Appeals. Attorneys and accredited representatives are the only ones authorized to:

•           Explain which immigration options may be available to you;

•           Advise you about which forms to submit; and

•           Communicate with USCIS about your case.

Getting immigration help from unauthorized individuals and businesses can:

•           Delay the processing of a case;

•           Cost unnecessary fees; and

•           Possibly lead to deportation proceedings.

Consumers can report suspected immigration scams to the Office of the Attorney General.  To file a Complaint with our office, use one of the following complaint forms:

English: http://oag.ca.gov/contact/consumer-complaint-against-business-or-company

En Español:  http://oag.ca.gov/sites/all/files/agweb/pdfs/contact/business_corpform_s...?

中文 :  http://oag.ca.gov/sites/all/files/agweb/pdfs/contact/business_corpform_c...?

Tiếng Việt:  http://oag.ca.gov/sites/all/files/agweb/pdfs/contact/business_corpform_v...?

You may also visit http://www.uscis.gov/avoidscams (English) or http://www.uscis.gov/eviteestafas (Spanish) to learn how to recognize and avoid immigration scams and find authorized legal services.

En Español

LOS ANGELES- Attorney General Kamala D. Harris today issued a consumer alert to Californians on the availability of critical information about the efforts that certain companies are undertaking to stop and prevent human trafficking and slavery in their product supply chains - in the United States and abroad.  In addition, Attorney General Harris today released a guide, The California Transparency in Supply Chains Act: A Resource Guide, to provide businesses with recommendations to develop and refine their disclosures to consumers.

The California Transparency in Supply Chains Act (the Act) requires large retail sellers or manufacturers doing business in California—with annual worldwide gross receipts that exceed $100 million—to provide disclosures about their “efforts to eradicate slavery and trafficking in their direct supply chains for tangible goods offered for sale.” (Cal. Civ. Code, § 1714.43, subd. (a)(1).)  The mandated disclosures apply to five specific categories—verification, audits, certification, internal accountability, and training. 

By taking the time to read a company’s disclosures before making a purchasing decision, California consumers have another means of holding retail sellers and manufacturers accountable for the integrity of their products.

The Act, the first law of its kind in the nation, enables consumers to distinguish companies that are taking steps to supply the marketplace with products free from the taint of slavery and trafficking.  Under California law, a human trafficking crime takes place when a person “deprives or violates the personal liberty of another with the intent to obtain forced labor or services .…” (Cal. Pen. Code, § 236.1, subd. (a).)  An estimated 21 million people are victims of forced labor around the globe. These victims work in virtually every industry and across sectors, including manufacturing, agriculture, construction, entertainment and domestic service.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR:

Since the Act is intended to help consumers make informed purchasing decisions, consumers should be aware of the law and know what to look for on company websites.  If a company has a website, the required disclosures must be accessible through a “conspicuous and easily understood link” on the company website’s homepage.

Once consumers have gained access to the required disclosures, they can review them before making a purchase.  Through a company’s required disclosures, the law entitles consumers to obtain information about:

1. Verification: To what extent, if any, that the retail seller or manufacturer engages in verification of product supply chains to evaluate and address risks of human trafficking and slavery. 

2. Audits: To what extent, if any, the retail seller or manufacturer conducts audits of suppliers to evaluate supplier compliance with company standards for trafficking and slavery in supply chains. 

3. Certification: To what extent, if any, the retail seller or manufacturer requires direct suppliers to certify that materials incorporated into the product comply with the laws regarding slavery and human trafficking of the country or countries in which they are doing business.

4. Internal Accountability: To what extent, if any, the retail seller or manufacturer maintains internal accountability standards and procedures for employees or contractors failing to meet company standards regarding slavery and trafficking.

5. Training: To what extent, if any, that the retail seller or manufacturer provides company employees and management, who have direct responsibility for supply chain management, training on human trafficking and slavery, particularly with respect to mitigating risks within the supply chains of products.

(Cal. Civ. Code, § 1714.43, subds. (c)(1)-(5).)

The Act provides consumers with a mechanism to use the power of information in the fight against slavery and trafficking.  For California consumers, evaluating company disclosures required by the California Transparency in Supply Chains Act is among the best ways to use their voices and wallets to influence supply practices that contribute to the slavery and trafficking problem around the globe.  

WHERE TO REPORT SUSPECTED VIOLATIONS OF THE ACT:

The Attorney General has created an online form to accept inquiries and reports related to the California Transparency in Supply Chains Act. Please direct any such inquiries or reports to http://oag.ca.gov/sb657/contact-us or to:

SB 657 Enforcement Reporting
Attention: Civil Rights Enforcement Section
300 S. Spring Street, Suite 1702
Los Angeles, California 90013

WHERE TO REPORT INSTANCES OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING:

If you or someone you know is a victim of human trafficking, please seek help immediately by calling the National Human Trafficking Resource Center Hotline at 1-888-373-7888 or the U.S. Department of Justice Hotline at 1-888-428-7581. For more general information and additional resources, please visit the Attorney General’s Human Trafficking page at http://oag.ca.gov/human-trafficking.

SACRAMENTO— Attorney General Kamala D. Harris today issued a resource guide to assist companies that do business in California with disclosing their efforts to prevent and root out human trafficking and slavery in their product supply chains, as required by law. The guide, The California Transparency in Supply Chains Act: A Resource Guide, provides businesses with recommendations to develop and refine their disclosures to consumers.

“Human trafficking profits from exploiting the most vulnerable in our society and often extends to factories, farms and construction sites,” Attorney General Harris said. “This guide will help companies disclose efforts to eradicate human trafficking from their supply chains and empower consumers to make informed purchasing decisions.”   

The California Transparency in Supply Chains Act (D-Steinberg, 2010) (the Act) requires large retailers and manufacturers that do business in California to disclose on their websites their efforts to eradicate slavery and human trafficking from their direct supply chain for tangible goods offered for sale. The Act applies to companies doing business in California with annual worldwide gross receipts totaling over $100 million and that identify themselves as a retail seller or manufacturer on its California tax return.  

The Resource Guide explains each of the Act’s requirements, and provides model disclosures inspired by actual company website disclosures.  These model disclosures aim to help businesses develop their own effective disclosures—ones that not only comply with the Act, but also more fully educate the public about the integrity of their supply chains.  

Specifically, the new guide will assist companies in addressing the Act’s five required disclosure categories:

1. Verification: Disclose to what extent, if any, that the retail seller or manufacturer engages in verification of product supply chains to evaluate and address risks of human trafficking and slavery. 

2. Audits: Disclose to what extent, if any, the retail seller or manufacturer conducts audits of suppliers to evaluate supplier compliance with company standards for trafficking and slavery in supply chains. 

3. Certification: Disclose to what extent, if any, the retail seller or manufacturer requires direct suppliers to certify that materials incorporated into the product comply with the laws regarding slavery and human trafficking of the country or countries in which they are doing business. 

4. Internal Accountability: Disclose to what extent, if any, the retail seller or manufacturer maintains internal accountability standards and procedures for employees or contractors failing to meet company standards regarding slavery and trafficking.

5. Training: Disclose to what extent, if any, that the retail seller or manufacturer provides company employees and management, who have direct responsibility for supply chain management, training on human trafficking and slavery, particularly with respect to mitigating risks within the supply chains of products.

The Act does not impose any obligation on businesses to implement new measures. All disclosures must be made available on the company’s website and be accessible by a conspicuous link on the homepage. If a company subject to the law does not have a website, it must provide written disclosures within 30 days of receiving a request for the information.

In 2012, Attorney General Harris released a report, The State of Human Trafficking in California, which outlined the growing prevalence of human trafficking and emphasized that the crime is routinely “hidden in plain sight,” with victims often going unrecognized and consumers across the United States—including those in California—routinely make purchasing and business choices that “inadvertently promote the crime of trafficking.” Developing model disclosures will empower California consumers to join the fight against human trafficking, and enable companies to highlight their efforts to eradicate trafficking and slavery from their supply chains and improve the quality of the goods they bring to market.