NASHVILLE – Does paying $150 to obtain a certificate of existence for a business seem pricey? It might seem reasonable but, in fact, that service and others are actually available free of charge or at minimal cost through governmental agencies.

NASHVILLE — Ahead of the anticipated landfall of Hurricane Florence this weekend, Tennessee Attorney General Herbert H. Slatery III and Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance (TDCI) Commissioner Julie Mix McPeak are urging consumers to be alert to potential price gouging that could occur.

NASHVILLE – The fall sport season kick off means Tennesseans will crowd stadiums and arenas in the coming months to cheer on their favorite teams. With a plethora of ticket-buying options, the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance (TDCI) is reminding consumers to be on the lookout for fraudulent tickets and ticket-buying scams that could make losers out of consumers.

NASHVILLE – The offer sounds simple, lucrative, and fun: Get paid to advertise a well-known company or product just by adding a decal to your vehicle. Unfortunately, consumers are the ones being left in the dust by scammers who eventually drive away with the profits.

NASHVILLE – As technology is increasingly prevalent in our daily lives, scammers are using these new tools to reinvent their schemes and swindle unsuspecting consumers. To help raise consumer awareness, the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance’s (TDCI) Division of Consumer Affairs is reminding Volunteer State residents to be on the lookout for con artists using technology as their platform to perpetrate scams.

NASHVILLE – If you’ve gone on vacation in a resort-populated area, it’s likely you’ve been offered to join a timeshare seminar. With vacation season in full swing, the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance’s (TDCI) Division of Consumer Affairs is offering tips to help consumers avoid common scams and potentially unfair or deceptive sales tactics involving timeshares.

NASHVILLE – As temperatures have soared to new heights, most Tennesseans would agree that an air-conditioning unit is a survival staple. The Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance (TDCI) is warning consumers to be on the lookout for scammers trying to make a profit from charging for unnecessary AC repair work.

NASHVILLE – Tennesseans now have greater protection from military impersonators, improved assistance when recovering from identity theft and cannot be charged by credit reporting companies when enacting security freezes, among other new protections. Those improvements are courtesy of several consumer-oriented laws passed earlier this year by the Tennessee General Assembly.

NASHVILLE – As Tennessee’s strong economy continues making the Volunteer State a popular destination for newcomers, the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance’s (TDCI) Division of Consumer Affairs is offering tips to prospective renters on how to avoid becoming a victim of moving and/or home rental scammers.

NASHVILLE – With new Medicare cards slated to arrive in Tennessee sometime after June, the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance (TDCI) is warning Medicare beneficiaries to be wary of scammers who might use the cards’ pending arrival as an opportunity to fleece unsuspecting consumers.

NASHVILLE – With elder abuse being an ever-increasing problem, Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam has proclaimed June 15, 2018 as Elder Abuse Awareness Day in Tennessee. In anticipation of this day, the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance’s (TDCI) Securities and Consumer Affairs divisions offer tips to help seniors avoid falling victim to identity theft and financial abuse.

NASHVILLE – With the official start of summer ahead, music lovers are counting down the days until the kick-off of Tennessee’s outdoor festival season. With events like Bonnaroo in Manchester, CMA Fest in Nashville, and Chattanooga’s Riverbend Festival, the Tennessee State Fire Marshal’s Office (SFMO) is reminding music fans to incorporate safety into their festival plans.

NASHVILLE – The Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance’s Division of Consumer Affairs announces a free document shredding/drug takeback event in Jackson on Saturday, June 9, 2018, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. (CDT). Residents of Madison County and surrounding areas will have an opportunity to safely dispose of expired or unneeded medications and shred their personal documents or records during an event aimed at promoting identity theft prevention and consumer protection.

NASHVILLE – As the school year comes to a close, many students are searching for a way to earn money during summer break. The Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance’s (TDCI) Division of Consumer Affairs is advising Tennesseans of all ages to be wary of job announcements that promise more than they can deliver.

NASHVILLE – The Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance (“TDCI”) Securities Division is alerting Tennessee consumers to be wary of advertising related to the transfer of funds from Individual Retirement Accounts (“IRAs”) into what have been advertised as “Cryptocurrency IRAs endorsed by the IRS.”