Informed citizenry offers best defense against consumer fraud

The week of Feb. 5-10 has been designated National Consumer Protection Week by the Federal Trade Commission.

As the oldest continuing voluntary grass-roots consumer organization in the United States, Northeast COMBAT joins colleagues including the FTC, AARP, Better Business Bureau, and Consumer Federation of America, which are promoting this year’s theme: “Avoid high-cost loans and unscrupulous credit offers.”

But as COMBAT approaches its 29th anniversary of serving Maine consumers and businesses, we have decided to observe National Consumer Protection Week by celebrating the people of Maine and hundreds of COMBAT volunteers who have assisted more than 150,000 of their neighbors since 1972. No matter how many pamphlets are printed and news releases sent to the media by state and federal agencies, a simple fact remains: We are our own best defenders.

During three decades of providing mediation and education services, COMBAT has learned that we cannot depend entirely upon agencies of government.

Certainly they are helpful and do good work, but they simply cannot provide individual help to each of the thousands of Maine consumers and small businesses victimized by unscrupulous out-of-state outfits every year.

We know this to be true because every year hundreds of cases are referred to COMBAT by agencies as diverse as the attorney general, chambers of commerce, and even the FBI.

Government can’t do it all for us, and that’s where an informed citizenry and grass-roots action make the difference. It begins with personal responsibility. Consumers have a responsibility to become informed before making decisions to spend money.

But in a complex world of clever marketing, intense competition, and sophisticated and confusing selling techniques, just being informed is not enough. State and federal agency capabilities are being reduced through budget cuts and downsizing even though the intensity and frequency of fraud and abuse are growing.

No matter how smart and resourceful you are, “they” have more money and technology than we do. As individuals, we are outgunned and outnumbered. Maine consumers and businesses must organize to protect themselves.

That’s why COMBAT decided two years ago to create a Maine Center for the Public Interest, a broad coalition of individuals, households, merchants, business and professional groups, the media, and statewide associations working together to “combat” fraud and abuse. The centerpiece of the Maine Center for the Public Interest will be an interactive Web site linking Kittery to Fort Kent.

The Web site (consumerprotect.org, now under construction) will allow the center to distribute “early warnings” of scams coming into Maine from across the border to everyone signed onto the site as well as by fax, mail and media.

The Web site will include informational articles; a search engine to help consumers find 1-800 numbers, agencies, corporate offices, etc. online; a bulletin board; and chat room discussions on topics of interest so Maine people may talk about experiences, ideas, issues, and ways to help.

So that’s how COMBAT is celebrating National Consumer Protection Week, not by talking and distributing news releases, but by taking action, much as we have for 29 years. But this visionary initiative for Maine will take volunteers and money – about $1.6 million – for facilities, equipment, and capitalization of a statewide organizing effort until the IRS tax-exempt 501c3 center can become self-supporting.

As in all grass-roots efforts, if everyone gives a little, we can achieve a lot.

To make a contribution or for information on giving, write to: COMBAT/Maine Center for the Public Interest, PO Box 1183, Bangor 04402. Enclosing a self-addressed, stamped envelope would help.