California Department of Corporations Asks Californians To Observe National Consumer Protection Week

The Department offers resources promoting consumer awareness and financial literacy the week of March 3, 2013

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SACRAMENTO, CA (March 4, 2013) – The California Department of Corporations encourages Californians to
observe National Consumer Protection Week by reviewing their personal finances and taking steps to protect
against investment fraud during the week of March 3 – 9.

“National Consumer Protection Week is really an annual reminder to consumers to make time to assess their
finances and take precautions to defend their family from fraud,” said Jan Lynn Owen, Commissioner of the
Department of Corporations. “The Department offers a variety of resources to assist Californians in protecting
their personal financial health.”

Financial education events are listed for this week and throughout the year at the Department’s Outreach Events
Calendar viewable here: http://www.corp.ca.gov/Consumer/Events.asp. The Department also posts consumer
alerts and other useful financial advice in the “Consumer Corner” section of the homepage, viewable here:
http://www.corp.ca.gov/Consumer/Corner.asp.

The Department has developed several programs and publications to help protect families in their financial
dealings. These resources are available at the Department of Corporations website (www.corp.ca.gov) and
include:

 Seniors Against Investment Fraud (SAIF). SAIF alerts and educates Californians over the age of 50 about
financial and investment fraud, scams, and unscrupulous sales practices that specifically target seniors.
SAIF provides valuable information and resources so Seniors can make well-informed financial decisions.

 Consumer Resource Guide. This Guide is a thorough listing of public agencies that can assist consumers
on a wide variety of topics.

 Informed Investing: A Reference Guide for California Investors. This guide helps Californians with
what to do before investing, and the type of questions to ask of investment advisers.

For the past 15 years, a national coalition of regulators, public agencies and non-profit organizations has worked
together to promote privacy protection, money management and preventing identity theft and other frauds and
scams. For more information on National Consumer Protection Week, visit www.ncpw.gov.

California consumers should contact the Department of Corporations to check on the status of the companies, investments or
other services they are considering and the licensing status of individuals at the Department’s toll-free Consumer Services Office
at 1-866-ASK-CORP or at www.corp.ca.gov.

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