Scam Alert! What State & County Consumer Affairs Want You To Know

Presented by Melanie Hazim, Director of Outreach at the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs and Anita Velardo, Investigator at the Monmouth County Division of Consumer Affairs

Co-sponsored by the American Association of University Women (AAUW)

Learn how to avoid falling victim to fraud, deceit, and deceptive business practices and all the ways the Division of Consumer Affairs works to educate the public about the latest scams. It will cover a range of topics from identity theft to phone scams, cybersecurity and consumer protection. The presentation will also dive into how investigators respond to consumer complaints, and how the division mediates between consumers and businesses.

Melanie Hazim joined the Division of Consumer Affairs in January 2016. As the Outreach Director, she is responsible for implementing the Division's missions to protect NJ residents from becoming victims of consumer fraud. She speaks to thousands of people across the state yearly as the main speaker for outreach events, educating all groups including seniors, non-English speaking people, and other populations that can find themselves a target of scam artists. She also directs the New Jersey High School Consumer Bowl and works with her team to educate students across the state about consumer issues and scams they may face in their future in a fun, game show setting.