Consumer Fraud and Environmental Crimes Unit

Consumer Fraud and Environmental Crimes Unit staff handles two areas of prosecution for the Placer County District Attorney. The Consumer Fraud Unit prosecutes unfair, fraudulent or dishonest business practices which harm consumers and honest businesses. The Environmental Crimes Unit uses civil or criminal prosecution to enforce the laws that protect natural resources and the public.

Consumer Fraud

The Deputy District Attorney assigned to this Unit often relies on civil prosecution to enforce laws that protect consumers, although some issues are handled criminally. These matters are prosecuted on behalf of the People of the State of California, like all other District Attorney matters. One of the main goals of the Unit is to ensure businesses are not harming consumers in Placer County and are obeying the laws governing similar business operations here. Some cases arise from consumer complaints made by members of the public who believe they have been harmed or treated unfairly by a business which is located in Placer County. Many complaints received by the Consumer Fraud Unit involve problems that are appropriately handled by a state of federal agency that has specific jurisdiction over a particular problem experienced by the consumer. In these cases, after an evaluation of the facts reported by the consumer, the Deputy District Attorney will refer consumer complaints to the appropriate local, state or federal agency. Where there is a violation of law, the investigators will refer the matter to the Deputy District Attorney for potential prosecution. Some complaints are actually civil disputes which should be handled by private attorneys or in small claims court. The Consumer Fraud Unit of the District Attorney's Office will be glad to review your complaint to determine how best to assist you.

If you have a consumer complaint, you may fill out a complaint form, available here. This will open a new window. Please print out this form, fill it out, and return it to:

Consumer Fraud Unit
Placer County District Attorney
11562 B Avenue
Auburn, CA 95603

If you would rather have this form mailed to you, please contact the Consumer Fraud Unit at (530) 889-7070.

Additionally, the District Attorney's Office has an Elder Abuse Unit to assist seniors and dependant adults. More information is available here. Or the Consumer Fraud Unit staff can contact the Elder Abuse Unit, if appropriate.

If you are a victim of a crime, please make sure a report is made to the local law enforcement agency in your area.

Consumer Tips

Avoid offers that seem "too good to be true"
Avoid impulse buying of major items
There is no "3-day Cooling Off Period" when buying cars
Be aware of businesses who pose as official or government agencies when they are not
Report ID Theft immediately to the Police or Sheriffs & contact your credit companies
Check with the Placer County Recorders office to see if the business has the required business license
Ask the business for references of previous customers and call the Better Business Bureau
Check with regulatory agencies regarding required licenses
Read all advertisements, warranties, guarantees and contracts fully and carefully before purchasing or signing
Know what the refund policy is
Do not be pressured into buying
Keep all receipts and documents of the transaction
If a problem arises, try to resolve the dispute with the business. Attempt to bring about a resolution
If you cannot resolve the dispute, consider filing a small claims court complaint, retaining a private attorney, contacting a mediation organization, or filing a complaint with the applicable regulatory agency
Do not be afraid to hang up on any unsolicited telephone call

Beware of Telemarketers Who:

Use high pressure sales tactics
Insist on an immediate decision
Request a credit card number or social security number
Wants to send someone to your home to pick up money or requests payment via overnight delivery
Make statements that something is "free" and then requires you to pay something
Will not provide references that you can contact or any written information on product, service, charity or the business itself
Ask many questions of a personal nature regarding your marital or financial status, date of birth, your household
Ask you to withdraw or transfer from your bank account to theirs
Play on your emotions by telling you of personal hardships or crisis
Use a business name that sounds like a government agency

Helpful Contacts & Links

Legal Services of Northern California (for low cost legal assistance) (530) 823-7560
Placer Dispute Resolution Services (for mediation assistance) (530) 645-9260
Small Claims Court (916) 783-1620

Better Business Bureau (Sacramento) (916) 443-6843

Links to scams & alerts; charitable giving information

Contractors State License Board (800) 321-2752

Check if business is licensed; file a complaint

Department of Motor Vehicles (916) 774-4500
Department of Consumer Affairs (800) 952-5210

Links to Federal sites & consumer organizations; Landlord/Tenant matters

State of California Homepage with links to Departments, including Secretary of State webpage www.ca.gov/state/portal/myca_homepage.jsp
Consumer Product Safety Commission (800) 638-2772
Federal Trade Commission (877) FTC-HELP

Links to current scams, helpful tips & consumer organizations

ID Theft information (877) ID THEFT
Consumer website
Charitable solicitations-Attorney General's Office (916) 445-2021 www.caag.state.ca.us/charities
Attorney General's Office, Public Inquiry Unit (800) 952-5225
Nigerian Letters Scam: if you received a letter & lost money, call (202) 406-5850

If you received a letter & did not lose money, fax a copy of the letter to (202) 406-5031 or write: US SECRET SERVICE, Financial Crimes Division

950 H Street NW, Washington, DC 20001

Canadian Lottery Scam: Call the Phone Busters toll free (888) 495-8501

Environmental Crimes

The Environmental Crimes Unit of the Placer County District Attorney's Office was created in 1990 and is staffed by a Deputy District Attorney, a paralegal and a legal secretary. The Unit prosecutes cases that involve those code sections designed to protect the environmental quality of our county. Prosecution can be based upon the Health & Safety Code, the Penal Code, the Water Code and the Fish & Game Code. Often county ordinances, such as the Zoning, Grading or Air Pollution ordinances, designed to protect the county resources are violated. These violations are usually investigated by experts in Environmental Health and are referred to our office for prosecution.

A number of statutes which protect the environment allow the District Attorney to bring the either a civil action or a criminal action. It is the policy of the office to resolve the matter as quickly and efficiently as possible, with any damage to the environment mitigated.

Home > Departments > District Attorney > District Attorney Units/Divisions > Consumer Protection/ Environmental Crime > Consumer Fraud and Environmental Crimes Unit
	Consumer Fraud and Environmental Crimes Unit Consumer Fraud and Environmental Crimes Unit staff handles two areas of prosecution for the Placer County District Attorney. The Consumer Fraud Unit prosecutes unfair, fraudulent or dishonest business practices which harm consumers and honest businesses. The Environmental Crimes Unit uses civil or criminal prosecution to enforce the laws that protect natural resources and the public. Consumer Fraud The Deputy District Attorney assigned to this Unit often relies on civil prosecution to enforce laws that protect consumers, although some issues are handled criminally. These matters are prosecuted on behalf of the People of the State of California, like all other District Attorney matters. One of the main goals of the Unit is to ensure businesses are not harming consumers in Placer County and are obeying the laws governing similar business operations here. Some cases arise from consumer complaints made by members of the public who believe they have been harmed or treated unfairly by a business which is located in Placer County. Many complaints received by the Consumer Fraud Unit involve problems that are appropriately handled by a state of federal agency that has specific jurisdiction over a particular problem experienced by the consumer. In these cases, after an evaluation of the facts reported by the consumer, the Deputy District Attorney will refer consumer complaints to the appropriate local, state or federal agency. Where there is a violation of law, the investigators will refer the matter to the Deputy District Attorney for potential prosecution. Some complaints are actually civil disputes which should be handled by private attorneys or in small claims court. The Consumer Fraud Unit of the District Attorney's Office will be glad to review your complaint to determine how best to assist you. If you have a consumer complaint, you may fill out a complaint form, available here. This will open a new window. Please print out this form, fill it out, and return it to: Consumer Fraud Unit Placer County District Attorney 11562 B Avenue Auburn, CA 95603 If you would rather have this form mailed to you, please contact the Consumer Fraud Unit at (530) 889-7070. Additionally, the District Attorney's Office has an Elder Abuse Unit to assist seniors and dependant adults. More information is available here. Or the Consumer Fraud Unit staff can contact the Elder Abuse Unit, if appropriate. If you are a victim of a crime, please make sure a report is made to the local law enforcement agency in your area. Consumer Tips Avoid offers that seem "too good to be true" Avoid impulse buying of major items There is no "3-day Cooling Off Period" when buying cars Be aware of businesses who pose as official or government agencies when they are not Report ID Theft immediately to the Police or Sheriffs & contact your credit companies Check with the Placer County Recorders office to see if the business has the required business license Ask the business for references of previous customers and call the Better Business Bureau Check with regulatory agencies regarding required licenses Read all advertisements, warranties, guarantees and contracts fully and carefully before purchasing or signing Know what the refund policy is Do not be pressured into buying Keep all receipts and documents of the transaction If a problem arises, try to resolve the dispute with the business. Attempt to bring about a resolution If you cannot resolve the dispute, consider filing a small claims court complaint, retaining a private attorney, contacting a mediation organization, or filing a complaint with the applicable regulatory agency Do not be afraid to hang up on any unsolicited telephone call Beware of Telemarketers Who: Use high pressure sales tactics Insist on an immediate decision Request a credit card number or social security number Wants to send someone to your home to pick up money or requests payment via overnight delivery Make statements that something is "free" and then requires you to pay something Will not provide references that you can contact or any written information on product, service, charity or the business itself Ask many questions of a personal nature regarding your marital or financial status, date of birth, your household Ask you to withdraw or transfer from your bank account to theirs Play on your emotions by telling you of personal hardships or crisis Use a business name that sounds like a government agency Helpful Contacts & Links Legal Services of Northern California (for low cost legal assistance) (530) 823-7560 Placer Dispute Resolution Services (for mediation assistance) (530) 645-9260 Small Claims Court (916) 783-1620 Better Business Bureau (Sacramento) (916) 443-6843 Links to scams & alerts; charitable giving information Contractors State License Board (800) 321-2752 Check if business is licensed; file a complaint Department of Motor Vehicles (916) 774-4500 Department of Consumer Affairs (800) 952-5210 Links to Federal sites & consumer organizations; Landlord/Tenant matters State of California Homepage with links to Departments, including Secretary of State webpage www.ca.gov/state/portal/myca_homepage.jsp Consumer Product Safety Commission (800) 638-2772 Federal Trade Commission (877) FTC-HELP Links to current scams, helpful tips & consumer organizations ID Theft information (877) ID THEFT Consumer website Charitable solicitations-Attorney General's Office (916) 445-2021 www.caag.state.ca.us/charities Attorney General's Office, Public Inquiry Unit (800) 952-5225 Nigerian Letters Scam: if you received a letter & lost money, call (202) 406-5850 If you received a letter & did not lose money, fax a copy of the letter to (202) 406-5031 or write: US SECRET SERVICE, Financial Crimes Division 950 H Street NW, Washington, DC 20001 Canadian Lottery Scam: Call the Phone Busters toll free (888) 495-8501 Environmental Crimes The Environmental Crimes Unit of the Placer County District Attorney's Office was created in 1990 and is staffed by a Deputy District Attorney, a paralegal and a legal secretary. The Unit prosecutes cases that involve those code sections designed to protect the environmental quality of our county. Prosecution can be based upon the Health & Safety Code, the Penal Code, the Water Code and the Fish & Game Code. Often county ordinances, such as the Zoning, Grading or Air Pollution ordinances, designed to protect the county resources are violated. These violations are usually investigated by experts in Environmental Health and are referred to our office for prosecution. A number of statutes which protect the environment allow the District Attorney to bring the either a civil action or a criminal action. It is the policy of the office to resolve the matter as quickly and efficiently as possible, with any damage to the environment mitigated.