FDACS & Commissioner Nikki Fried Highlight National Consumer Protection Week

Tallahassee, Fla. – This week, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) and Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried are raising awareness of consumer fraud, scams, and abuse during National Consumer Protection Week, February 28 - March 6, 2021, and National Weights and Measures Week, March 1-7, 2021.

“Consumer scams, fraud, and abuse have only worsened during COVID-19, and our Division of Consumer Services has worked to help keep Floridians from falling victim to fraud,” said Commissioner Fried. “During National Consumer Protection Week, we’re asking Floridians to take proactive steps to help stay safe from scams. And as we recognize National Weights and Measures Week, take a moment to think about the thousands of scales and devices our Bureau of Standards inspects to ensure consumer pricing accuracy. If you suspect fraud or scams, report it to us at FloridaConsumerHelp.com.”

FDACS Consumer Protection by the Numbers:

In the past year, the FDACS Division of Consumer Services has:

• COVID-19 Related Scams: Since COVID-19’s onset, FDACS has consistently warned consumers of emerging pandemic scams and the steps that can be taken to stay vigilant and protected
• Consumer Inquiries, Complaints & Mediation: Responded to more than 230,000 consumer inquiries and complaints, and returned over $2.7 million to consumers through mediation with businesses
• Lab Analyses: Performed more than 31,000 lab analyses on petroleum, antifreeze, and brake fluid samples to ensure quality products are being delivered to consumer; removed over $1.9 million in substandard fuel from the market; conducted 9,757 LP gas facilities and systems inspections
• Consumer Information: Provided over 600,000 consumers with consumer protection information and vital resources and tools needed to protect them from fraud and scams
• Fair Rides: Performed 7,456 amusement ride inspections, identified 5,958 deficiencies on those rides, and issued 42 stop operation orders and 359 out of service tags to ensure that unsafe rides were not allowed to operate at parks, fairs, and events

FDACS Weights and Measures: Our Bureau of Standards is responsible for monitoring the accuracy of Florida's gas pumps, scales, price scanners, and other commercial weighing and measuring devices to promote a fair and equitable marketplace and protect consumers, and also tests packaged goods to verify the accuracy of package labeling as it pertains to net quantity. Hal Prince, Bureau Chief of Standards, serves as Chairman of the National Conference on Weights and Measures.

• Regulatory Oversight: Inspected or tested 451,533 regulated devices, entities, and products for compliance, fairness and accuracy, including grocery scales, airport luggage scales, gas pumps; Inspected over 45,000 consumer items for pricing accuracy
• Skimmer Inspections: Conducted multiple sweeps and daily inspections to combat illegal credit card skimmers being placed in gas pumps, recovering 1,309 skimmers and averting an estimated $1.3 billion dollars in economic impact to consumers; Consumer Services’ inspectors have recovered over 5,100 skimmers since 2015

To file a complaint or report fraud, use the Division of Consumer Services online form or call 1-800-HELP-FLA (1-800-FL-AYUDA en Español). For free publications and information on consumer rights and responsibilities, tips on how to avoid common scams and frauds, to receive the Florida Consumer E-Newsletter, or request a speaker for on event or meeting, visit the Division of Consumer Services’ website.

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