Attorney General Michael A. Delaney announced that yesterday a Merrimack County Superior Court judge issued a preliminary restraining order against Prize Information Bureau. Prize Information Bureau has sent correspondence to New Hampshire residents claiming to be working with the State of New Hampshire Commissioners of Registration. No such agency exists. Prize Information Bureau has also sent correspondence stamped with a seal that creates the appearance of a government-sponsored program. In its correspondence, Prize Information Bureau offers “guaranteed cash payments” in various amounts for which they require a “document transfer fee” of twenty dollars.

On September 16, 2009, the New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office filed a Petition for Preliminary Injunction, Permanent Injunction, and Civil Penalties against Prize Information Bureau which is located in Las Vegas, Nevada. In its petition, the State alleged that Prize Information Bureau violated the Consumer Protection Act by distributing advertising which causes misunderstanding or confusion as to the source, sponsorship, approval, or certification of a product; misrepresenting to consumers that it has been prepared by or on behalf of a government agency; and advertising winnings for which a consumer would have to pay a processing fee.

Attorney General Delaney said, “I am pleased to provide additional protection to the consumers of New Hampshire by enforcing the Consumer Protection Act by prohibiting this kind of advertising in our state. My office will continue to take action against deceptive advertisers in an effort to protect our consumers from sending money to businesses which advertise in this manner.”

Additionally, consumers may obtain information about consumer protection issues, or report consumer complaints, on the Consumer Protection Bureau’s website at http://www.doj.nh.gov/consumer.