FTC, Partners Will Hold Hispanic Fraud Prevention Forum in New York City

The Federal Trade Commission, United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York, and Manhattan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce are hosting a day-long Hispanic Fraud Prevention Forum in New York City. The Forum, which will be held September 27, 2006, from 8:30 A.M. until 3:30 P.M. at the Alexander Hamilton U.S. Custom House at One Bowling Green, New York, NY 10004, is open to Hispanic community leaders, representatives from community organizations, and local, state, and federal law enforcement and consumer protection agencies that work with Hispanic consumers. The goals are to discuss consumer fraud in Hispanic communities in the New York area and develop law enforcement and consumer education strategies to address it.

Featured speakers include:

• Deborah Platt Majoras, Chairman, Federal Trade Commission;
• Ron Walker, Inspector in Charge, U.S. Postal Inspection Service;
• Michael Garcia, U.S. Attorney, Southern District of New York;
• Teresa Santiago, Chairperson and Executive Director, New York State Consumer Protection Board;
• Alba Pico, Deputy Commissioner for Operations, New York City Department of Consumer Affairs;
• Maria Alvarez Castro, President and CEO, Manhattan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce; and
• Sarah Ludwig, Founder and Co-Director, Neighborhood Economic Development Advocacy Project.

Three panels to be held during the Forum will focus on consumer protection issues that affect Hispanic communities, effective consumer education and outreach strategies, and how to work effectively with print, television, radio, and Internet media to disseminate information.

The Forum is the latest in a series of events held by the FTC, the USPIS, and other agencies that aim to discuss consumer protection issues among Hispanic consumers; facilitate open dialogue with local government, consumer groups, and members of the Hispanic community; and share consumer education resources to help local communities conduct outreach about fraud, how to prevent it, and where to report it. Previous forums have been held in Chicago, Dallas, Miami, Phoenix, Los Angeles, Cleveland, San Diego, and Las Vegas.

The agenda, registration information, and other details are available at http://www.ftc.gov/hispanicforum. Registration for this event is free and open to the public.

The FTC works for the consumer to prevent fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices in the marketplace and to provide information to help consumers spot, stop, and avoid them. To file a complaint in English or Spanish (bilingual counselors are available to take complaints), or to get free information on any of 150 consumer topics, call toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357), or use the complaint form at www.ftc.gov. The FTC enters Internet, telemarketing, identity theft, and other fraud-related complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a secure, online database available to thousands of civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad.