National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW) highlights consumer protection and education efforts around the country. NCPW 2008's organizers encourage people from coast to coast to master the financial facts of life. It’s a sound investment: Financially savvy consumers are likely to make smarter decisions about managing their money, using credit wisely, and building a solid financial foundation for later.

Every day, consumers conduct some type of financial transaction requiring an educated decision: shopping for a mortgage or auto loan; understanding and reconciling credit card statements and utility bills; choosing savings and retirement plans; comparing health insurance policies; understanding their credit report and how it affects their ability to get credit and on what terms; or simply deciding how to pay for a purchase. Education is the first line of defense for consumers to manage their money wisely and protect themselves against frauds or rip-offs.

Consumers can find practical – and tactical – tips from NCPW partner organizations about how to make well-informed financial decisions, avoid credit scams, and protect their personal information on this site.

This site has information from federal, state, and local government agencies, and national consumer advocacy organizations. Use it to promote NCPW in your community, or at your school, job, or club. The Outreach Toolkit has promotional materials you can download and use.

Previous NCPW topics:

2007: Read Up and Reach Out: Be an Informed Consumer
2006: Consumer Protection? It’s the name of the game
2005: Identity Theft: When Fact Becomes Fiction
2004: Financial Literacy: Earning a Lifetime of Dividends
2003: Information Security: Putting the Pieces Together
2002: Consumer Confidential: The Privacy Story
2001: $eeing Red? High-Cost Loans Are Danger Zones
2000: Armchair Armor: Shopping Safely From Home
1999: Credit Fraud: Know the Rules, Use the Tools.