Bergen County Increases Patrols To Fight Consumer Fraud: Tedesco

BERGEN COUNTY, NJ — County officials are stepping up patrols to enforce the state consumer fraud act and better protect residents, according to County Executive Jim Tedesco.

State law protects people from unlawful business practices like price-gouging, false advertising, writing fraudulent contracts, and hiding information about a transaction.

"With prices rising, the County is fighting back to make sure Bergen County consumers are protected," Tedesco said in a social media post.

The Division of Consumer Affairs and Bergen County Weights & Measures are both increasing random patrols, Tedesco said.

Bergen/Passaic Consumer Affairs "responds to consumer complaints about merchandise and services, the most frequent including frequent complaints are about cars, home repair, furniture purchases and many more." They can be reached at (201) 336-6400.

Bergen County Weights & Measures "conducts inspections and tests of all commercial weighing, measuring, timing, and counting devices, which are used to sell various commodities and services to consumers." They can be reached at (201) 336-7920.

Statewide, the Division of Consumer affairs (DCA) enforces the Consumer Fraud Act. The DCA is under the Office of the Attorney General.

Earlier this month, the state senate passed a bill to strengthen the Consumer Fraud Act against “predatory tax refund anticipation practices." That bill is now in the Assembly.