Ohioans lose about $2M in prize scams

January 20, 2012 at 12:00a.m.

Associated Press

CINCINNATI

Sweepstakes scams cost Ohioans about $2 million in 2011 as gauged by complaints made to the state last year, state Attorney General Mike DeWine said Thursday.

His office’s consumer protection division logged nearly 1,500 complaints about sweepstakes and prizes scams in 2011, DeWine said in a release.

DeWine said his office is seeking stronger tools to go after people and companies conducting those types of scams and other forms of fraud against consumers.