Public Protection

The Public Protection Division has a wide-ranging mission with one overriding priority: keeping Kansans safe. Its litigators fight to maintain a fair and competitive business environment, ensure all levels of government in our state remain open and transparent, and work to ensure our citizens are safe from sexually violent predators.

Antitrust & Business Organizations - attorneys protect consumer welfare and market competition by enforcing federal and state laws prohibiting restraints on trade - such as coercive behavior, price fixing, engaging in market divisions, and conducting mergers that create monopolies.

Charities & Financial Scams - attorneys enforce the Charitable Organizations & Solicitations Act and works to identify bogus charities and other financial scams that are preying on Kansans; this section is a national leader on cryptocurrency issues.

Consumer Protection - works to educate consumers and businesses regarding deceptive and unconscionable practices, and sue those who engage in those practices. Our primary focus is preventing future harm to consumers and resolving matters in ways that put money back in consumers’ pockets.

Open Government - investigates possible violations of the Kansas Open Meetings Act and Kansas Open Records Act and takes appropriate action when violations are found, including administrative or court proceedings.

Sexually Violent Predator (SVP) - handles civil commitments under the Sexually Violent Predator Act and handles post-commitment reviews and other proceedings.-

We're Here to Help!

Whether you have suspicious charges on your phone bill or think you've been the victim of identity theft, the consumer protection specialists in Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach's office are here to help.

This Division investigates scams, mediates and prosecutes violations of:

the Consumer Protection Act,
the No-Call Act,
the Roofing Registration Act,
the Charitable Organization and Solicitations Act,
the Kansas False Claims Act,
the Funeral and Cemetery Merchandise Agreements Act,
the Kansas Cemetery Corporation Act,
and the Wayne Owen Act (identity theft).

Protecting Kansas consumers from scams, telemarketing fraud and other deceptive practices is a priority for our office.

We are not able to provide private legal advice and not every dispute falls under our jurisdiction. Please contact a private attorney to assist with these matters. For assistance finding a private attorney, please contact the Kansas Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service or Kansas Legal Services.

Top 5 Scams

Medical Health Insurance Scam

Consumers have reported receiving calls from insurance companies and government agencies offering to help them navigate the process to receive health care coverage. The callers say they need certain pieces of personal data, such as bank account information or Social Security numbers, to get you enrolled in a coverage plan. Or they will need the information because the insurance company no longer takes checks and needs to arrange for an automatic bank draft. Remember, never give your bank account information over the phone, because you don't know who is on the other end of the line.

The scam artist may even "spoof" the caller ID so that it looks like it's coming from a legitimate insurance company. Even if you think the call might be coming from your insurance company, it's wise to tell them you'll call back and hang up the phone. Then go look at your last bill and call the phone number printed on the statement. That way you'll know you're talking to your insurance company, not an imposter. Other scammers pretending to be from government health programs focusing on senior citizens are not trying to steal money but rather personal information that can be used to file for other government benefits, such as a false tax return. These government agencies will never ask you for personal information over the phone or by email. If Medicare or Medicaid really needs to get information from you, they will send you a letter requesting information. If you do receive a call, and think it might be from a legitimate agency, ask them to send you a letter detailing what information they need.

Computer Repairs

In this scam, the caller claims to be from a well-known computer company telling you they've detected a virus on your computer and offers to help you remove it by connecting remotely to your computer. But instead of trying to fix your computer, the scam artist is actually trying to install a virus to give them access to all your files and your personal information that is in them. The scammer may also be trying to hack into your machine to send out spam emails from your account, or even to take over your computer's camera and microphone to spy on you and try to obtain additional personal information. If your computer really does have a problem, take it to a reputable, local computer repair shop or call your computer manufacturer's customer service number directly. Never give a stranger access to your computer over the phone.

Social Security

This one is a twist on the government imposter scam involving a robocall claiming to be from the Social Security Administration (SSA) informing you that your benefits are about to end if you don't take action. Rest assured, the real SSA will never call you to cut off your benefits and will never ask you to wire money, make payments via gift card, or send cash payments in order to continue your benefits. If you receive one of these calls, hang up. Do not "press 1," or any other number it asks you to press. Like with all robocall scams, these scammers are after information. If you press anything on your phone, that lets the scammer know they have reached a working number and you'll get more calls. Our best advice on this or any other robocall scam is to not answer calls from numbers you do not know. If you do answer, once you know it's not someone you know, just hang up.

Sweetheart Scam

The scam works like this: An individual makes a connection online through a social media site with their victim. Often the scammers are targeting those individuals who are new singles or individuals who have recently lost a spouse or partner. The scammer cultivates a relationship and then begins making overtures about wanting to come to Kansas to see their new companion. As the scammers develop more trust and deeper connections, they begin asking for items from the victims, such as money for airline tickets to travel to Kansas, funds to pay for customs for items for the victim, or other sums of money related to travel plans. In reality, the gifts do not exist and the scammer has no intention of coming to Kansas, just gaining access to the victim's money, and perhaps even personal information that could result in identity theft and other serious issues.

Lottery

Whether it's a foreign lottery, sweepstakes or a government grant, scammers are still luring people to send money with the promise of a future "prize," if only they will send in the money to pay for the taxes or processing fees now. We always remind consumers that the Kansas Lottery is the only legitimate, legally operating lottery in Kansas, and you should never have to pay money upfront to claim a prize.

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