Department of Consumer Affairs   Most requested Los Angeles County websites
County Home Home About this SiteAbout this Site Online Services Contact Us Public Info Public Info Public Alerts Public Alerts Language Privacy
Los Angeles County Department of Consumer Affairs LA County Home Page DCA Home Page

 

Consumer Protection Leaders Gather at Summit

Representatives from nearly 40 Federal, State, and local government and non-profit agencies discuss better ways to protect consumers from common frauds and issues

Updated May 8, 2012

Consumer protection leaders from nearly 40 Federal, State and local government and non-profit agencies recently got together for a Consumer Protection Summit at the Milken Youth and Family Center in Los Angeles.

U.S. Attorney Andre Birotte Jr. addresses Summit.

U.S. Attorney Andre Birotte Jr. addresses guests at the Consumer Protection Summit in Los Angeles.

The Summit, subtitled "Strategic Planning for Consumer Protection in 21st Century Los Angeles", featured several panels of speakers, who discussed ways to work together on enhancing consumer protection by:

  • Identifying harmful consumer frauds and emerging consumer issues
  • Proposing consumer outreach and education solutions to reduce consumer fraud
  • Identifying existing consumer protection programs and resources that work
  • Creating and strengthen partnerships to enhance consumer protection
  • Strategizing on creating and implementing comprehensive, long-term and effective consumer protection goals

The Los Angeles County Department of Consumer Affairs co-hosted the Summit with the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Andre Birotte, U.S. Attorney, California Central District, provided the keynote remarks and moderated a panel of speakers from key consumer protection agencies, including the Federal Trade Commission, FBI, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, California Attorney General’s Office, Los Angeles County Department of Consumer Affairs, and Los Angeles Urban League. U.S. Attorney Birotte led the panel in a discussion on how to work together to protect consumers, fight fraud and raise awareness.

Other panels discussed important consumer frauds and emerging issues such as:

  • The mortgage crisis, including foreclosures and loan modifications
  • The growing student debt crisis and for-profit schools
  • Predatory lending, such as buy-here-pay-here expensive car loans
  • Privacy concerns, including identity theft
  • Consumer debt and abusive debt collections
  • Employment scams
  • Health care fraud
  • Financial education for consumers, including high school students

Organizations represented at the Summit included: Federal Trade Commission, FBI, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Securities and Exchange Commission, California Department of Insurance, State Bar of California, California Department of Justice, Los Angeles City Attorney, Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office, Los Angeles Police Department, Los Angeles Sheriff's Department, Public Counsel Law Center, Bet Tzedek Legal Services, Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles, Koreatown Multipurpose Service Center, Neighborhood Legal Services, and Los Angeles Urban League.

(Pictured on DCA front page: Brian Nelson, Special Assistant Attorney General, California Department of Justice; Brian J. Stiger, Director, County Department of Consumer Affairs; John Pitts, Intergovernmental Advisor, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau; Birotte; Bernard B. Ferguson, Inspector in Charge, U.S. Postal Inspection Service; Dean Graybill, Assistant Regional Director, Federal Trade Commission.)

Back