http://www.ago.state.ms.us/index.php/press/releases en mshir@ago.state.ms.us Copyright 2013 2013-05-24T14:54:08+00:00 http://agjimhood.com/index.php/press/releases/attorney_general_warns_mississippians_about_scams_related_to_recent_oklahom http://agjimhood.com/index.php/press/releases/attorney_general_warns_mississippians_about_scams_related_to_recent_oklahom#When:14:54:08Z Attorney General Jim Hood is issuing a warning for Mississippians to be aware of scams related to the recent tragedy following the severe storms and devastation in Oklahoma.  “Mississippians have generous hearts and are so open to giving that they are often targeted by con-artists who choose to use tragic events like the Oklahoma tornado to scam money out of people,” said Attorney General Hood.  “I would just caution our residents to be alert and to only donate to reputable charities such as the Salvation Army or the Red Cross.”Jackson, MS - Attorney General Jim Hood is issuing a warning for Mississippians to be aware of scams related to the recent tragedy following the severe storms and devastation in Oklahoma.  “Mississippians have generous hearts and are so open to giving that they are often targeted by con-artists who choose to use tragic events like the Oklahoma tornado to scam money out of people,” said Attorney General Hood.  “I would just caution our residents to be alert and to only donate to reputable charities such as the Salvation Army or the Red Cross.” Anyone who thinks they may have fallen victim to such a scam should call the Attorney General’s Office at 1-800-281-4418. “Our hearts go out to Oklahomans and to the Oklahoma Attorney General’s Office as they fight scams, fraud and price gouging in the affected communities,” said Attorney General Hood. Consumers, Consumer Scams, Featured, Press Releases, 2013-05-24T14:54:08+00:00 http://agjimhood.com/index.php/press/releases/attorney_generals_cyber_team_arrests_two_for_child_exploitation http://agjimhood.com/index.php/press/releases/attorney_generals_cyber_team_arrests_two_for_child_exploitation#When:09:47:28Z Two Mississippians are facing charges of child exploitation, announced Attorney General Jim Hood today.  Travis Arnold, 28, of Hattiesburg was arrested Wednesday by the Attorney General’s Cyber Crime Unit/Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, with assistance from the Forrest County Sheriff’s Office,  and charged with two counts of child exploitation.  Arnold was booked into the Forrest County Detention Center.  Bond has not yet been set.  Charles Michael English, 38, of Laurel, was arrested Monday by the Attorney General’s Cyber Crime Unit/Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, with assistance from the Jones County Sheriff’s Office,  and charged with one count of child exploitation.  English was booked into the Jones County jail.  His bond was set at $500,000.Jackson, MS - Two Mississippians are facing charges of child exploitation, announced Attorney General Jim Hood today. Travis Arnold, 28, of Hattiesburg was arrested Wednesday by the Attorney General’s Cyber Crime Unit/Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, with assistance from the Forrest County Sheriff’s Office,  and charged with two counts of child exploitation.  Arnold was booked into the Forrest County Detention Center.  Bond has not yet been set.  Charles Michael English, 38, of Laurel, was arrested Monday by the Attorney General’s Cyber Crime Unit/Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, with assistance from the Jones County Sheriff’s Office,  and charged with one count of child exploitation.  English was booked into the Jones County jail.  His bond was set at $500,000.  The Laurel Police Department is a member of the Attorney General’s ICAC Task Force. Both defendants are alleged to have been in possession of child pornography and face five to 40 years in the custody of the Mississippi Department of Corrections for each count.  As with all cases, the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. Crime, CyberCrime, Sex Offenders, Featured, Press Releases, 2013-05-23T09:47:28+00:00 http://agjimhood.com/index.php/press/releases/attorney_general_warns_consumers_of_recent_email_scam2 http://agjimhood.com/index.php/press/releases/attorney_general_warns_consumers_of_recent_email_scam2#When:11:52:25Z Attorney General Jim Hood is warning consumers and businesses to be aware of a recent email scam purporting to help overseas military personnel with packages in the U.S.  The unsolicited email suggests that the sender is a military officer who has two military trunk boxes that just arrived in the U.S.A. and is needing help with safekeeping. In order to help, a reply is needed where then, the alleged military officer claims to have $40 million dollars in the trunks and needs an address to send the money to until he returns. The email continues to ask the recipient for various types of information such as who their employer is, marriage status and a request for a copy of a form of identification.Jackson, MS - Attorney General Jim Hood is warning consumers and businesses to be aware of a recent email scam purporting to help overseas military personnel with packages in the U.S..  The unsolicited email suggests that the sender is a military officer who has two military trunk boxes that just arrived in the U.S.A. and is needing help with safekeeping. In order to help, a reply is needed where then, the alleged military officer claims to have $40 million dollars in the trunks and needs an address to send the money to until he returns. The email continues to ask the recipient for various types of information such as who their employer is, marriage status and a request for a copy of a form of identification. An investigator with the Consumer Protection Division of the Attorney General’s Office has confirmed this email is a scam that is originating overseas. “Scam artists will use the names of respected military personnel and organizations to lure consumers into thinking they are helping someone in our military or a trusted entity, when in fact the scammer is actually asking for your information they can use to engage in various scams such as sending you counterfeit checks, postal money orders or stealing your identity” said Attorney General Hood. “Because of this, we continue to urge consumers to use caution before acting on unsolicited emails, voice mails, text messages or phone calls requesting personal information and/or money. Educating consumers is one of the most important actions we can take to combat scams.” Bogus phone calls and emails are constantly surfacing.  The Attorney General offers some basic tips to help keep you from becoming a victim of these or similar scams: *NEVER reply to an email, pop-up, telephone or text message that asks for personal or financial information. Legitimate companies WILL NOT ask for this information. *ALWAYS contact the organization using a telephone number you know to be correct if you are concerned about your account. Do not call or text the number left in the message, and NEVER follow an internet link to a site. *ALWAYS keep your anti-virus software up to date. In addition, use a firewall, which helps to make you invisible on the Internet and blocks communication from unauthorized sources. *BE CAUTIOUS about opening attachments or downloading files from emails you receive, regardless of the sender. Anyone who suspects they have been a victim of this scam or any other, should contact the Consumer Protection Division of the Attorney General’s Office at 1-800-281-4418. Consumers, Consumer Scams, Featured, Press Releases, 2013-05-15T11:52:25+00:00 http://agjimhood.com/index.php/press/releases/attorney_general_and_police_chiefs_host_third_annual_candlelight_vigil http://agjimhood.com/index.php/press/releases/attorney_general_and_police_chiefs_host_third_annual_candlelight_vigil#When:11:49:22Z Attorney General Jim Hood and the Mississippi Association of Chiefs of Police join together in hosting the third annual “Mississippi Fallen Law Enforcement Officer’s Candlelight Vigil”.  The event is being held today at 6:30 p.m.  at the Statewide Fallen Officers Memorial on the plaza between the Sillers and Gartin Justice buildings off High Street in downtown Jackson.  “Our wall currently contains the name of 215 Mississippi officers who gave the ultimate sacrifice trying to make our communities safer,” said Attorney General Hood.  “We honor that sacrifice every day, but especially today with this special ceremony.”  The candlelight vigil coincides with National Police Week May 12-18, 2013.Jackson, MS - Attorney General Jim Hood and the Mississippi Association of Chiefs of Police join together in hosting the third annual “Mississippi Fallen Law Enforcement Officer’s Candlelight Vigil”.  The event is being held today at 6:30 p.m.  at the Statewide Fallen Officers Memorial on the plaza between the Sillers and Gartin Justice buildings off High Street in downtown Jackson. “Our wall currently contains the name of 215 Mississippi officers who gave the ultimate sacrifice trying to make our communities safer,” said Attorney General Hood.  “We honor that sacrifice every day, but especially today with this special ceremony.” The candlelight vigil coincides with National Police Week May 12-18, 2013. “Last year three names were added to our memorial wall,” said Ken Winter, executive director of the Mississippi Chiefs of Police Association.  “We honor Sheriff John Elbert Nelson of George County, Deputy Sheriff Edgar Allen Harrell of Marion County and Investigator Michael John Walter of the Pearl Police Department for their sacrifice in 2012.”  Two officers have been killed in the line of duty statewide so far in 2013, Chief Randy Boykin of the Enterprise Police Department and Detective Eric Smith of the Jackson Police Department.  Their names have not yet been inscribed on the wall.  Members of the public, along with family and friends of any Mississippi law enforcement officer killed in the line of duty, are invited to join officers from the Mississippi Chiefs of Police Association, the Mississippi Sheriffs Association, the Mississippi Highway Patrol, the Mississippi Wildlife and Fisheries Department, the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, and the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office at the event. Featured, Press Releases, 2013-05-14T11:49:22+00:00 http://agjimhood.com/index.php/press/releases/ag_supported_bills_become_law http://agjimhood.com/index.php/press/releases/ag_supported_bills_become_law#When:10:28:33Z - Attorney General Jim Hood is proud of the passage of several bills and improvements made to numerous laws this legislative session, particularly in the areas of human trafficking, child pornography, domestic violence and mental health.  “We will see several laws become stronger July 1 thanks to bi-partisan support this past legislative session,” said Attorney General Hood.Jackson, MS - Attorney General Jim Hood is proud of the passage of several bills and improvements made to numerous laws this legislative session, particularly in the areas of human trafficking, child pornography, domestic violence and mental health.  “We will see several laws become stronger July 1 thanks to bi-partisan support this past legislative session,” said Attorney General Hood.  Some of the more significant AG sponsored/supported legislation going into effect July 1 include: HB 673 Human Trafficking law • Creates minimum penalties (currently the law only prescribes a maximum time for imprisonment for a violation) and establish fines (current law does not permit fines for convicted traffickers) for human trafficking offenses; provides escalation of penalties when minor victim is involved; • Provides that consent of a minor victim of sex trafficking is not a defense to any offense involving the procurement of the sexual servitude of a minor; provides that mistake of age is not a defense; • Requires a report to DHS and law enforcement when a minor under the age of 18 is identified as a victim of trafficking, and clarifies that a minor who is engaged in trafficking as a result of being a victim themselves shall be immune from prosecution for the trafficking offense; • Creates an affirmative defense in a prosecution for trafficking that the person was themself a victim and subjected to serious harm or threats of serious harm; • Provides for injunctive relief against a convicted defendant which may include shutting down a business, imposing restrictions upon future endeavors, requiring suspension or surrender of a professional license, ordering dissolution or reorganization of any enterprise, or ordering forfeiture of corporate charter or revocation of license of foreign corporation to do business in Mississippi; • Provides mechanism for a victim of trafficking who was convicted, to request their sentence be set aside or vacated; • Specifically provides for forfeiture of assets of traffickers; • Creates a specific fund in the state treasury to be used to support services for victims of trafficking and to support the efforts to implement the Mississippi Human Trafficking Act; • Creates and sets out the functions and duties of a statewide human trafficking coordinator; • Re-defines the crimes of prostitution, procuring prostitution and promoting prostitution, creates new felony offenses related to these crimes; creates enhanced penalties when a minor under 18 is involved; Establishes mandatory reporting to MDHS if a minor is arrested and suspected of engaging in prostitution; and creates immunity for prosecution for prostitution if the prostitute is identified as a victim of human trafficking under 97-3-54.4. “We focused on strengthening penalties for this crime and updated some of the antiquated language in our current law,” said Attorney General Hood. HB 709 Domestic Violence law; revise • Adds aggravated domestic violence, promoting prostitution when the person involved is a minor, and human trafficking to the list of crimes for which the general two year statute of limitations is not applicable; • Increases the period of time for third or subsequent offense enhancements for both simple and aggravated domestic violence from five years to seven years, and allows inclusion of similar offense from other jurisdictions in that calculation; • Clarifies the calculation for a third offense of simple domestic violence or aggravated domestic violence to provide that for purposes of the third or subsequent offense enhancement, the date of the third offense is the starting point, rather than the date of the third conviction. SB 2631 Domestic Violence Task Force; create (became effective upon passage) • Creates a task force made up of 26 members to be appointed by the Governor.  The areas of expertise of each member of the task force is specified in the legislation. There will be representatives from domestic violence service providers, law enforcement, the judiciary, the medical profession, legal community, and also serving on the task force will be victims of domestic violence. The purpose of the task force is to review, and then provide recommendations and advice regarding the following: • Streamlining funding to domestic violence shelters resulting in uniform and objective funding and auditing standards; • Creates the Victims of Domestic Violence Fund (currently administered by the MS Department of Health) and disbursements to individual shelter programs; • The impact, definition, funding and certification of domestic abuse batterer intervention programs; • Creating standards for confidentiality of client records; • Updating training requirements for grant monitors, law enforcement and court personnel; • Providing uniform reporting and automation options; and • Implementing the formation of a standing domestic violence commission with the duties to carry out the recommendations made by the task force. “The creation of such a task force improves the state’s efforts to curb instances of domestic violence by improving communication between all the key players,” said Attorney General Hood. SB 2197 Depicting Child Pornography; revise • Adds an intent element to the child pornography possession statute and create a new crime of “knowingly access with the intent to view child pornography” mirroring the federal statute on child pornography. HB 710 Crime victims’ compensation • Expands types of eligible vehicular offenses that may be considered for compensation to include a child who is injured in the process of boarding or exiting a school bus in the course of a violation of Section 63-3-615. “This legislation was initiated to make sure that compensation benefits would be available for a child who is injured or killed when there is a vehicular offense that is a violation of Nathan’s Law,” said Attorney General Hood. • Allows payment to individuals who otherwise qualifies and have been rehabilitated, as evidenced by having been out from under the supervision of the MDOC for the five years prior to the date of the incident on which the claim is based.  “We were finding that many individuals had long since served their time and otherwise would have been eligible for compensation,” said Attorney General Hood.  “The previous law barred certain individuals from ever receiving compensation.”  HB 151 Child Protection Act/Teen Pregnancy • A law enforcement officer who receives a mandated report under this section shall file an affidavit against the offender on behalf of the State if there is probable cause to believe that the offender has committed a sex crime against a minor; • When a minor who is under sixteen (16) years of age gives birth to an infant, umbilical cord blood shall be collected, if possible, in accordance with rules and regulations adopted pursuant to this section if it would be reasonable to suspect that the minor’s pregnancy resulted from a sex crime against a minor; • • It shall be reasonable to suspect that a sex crime against a minor has occurred if the mother of an infant was less than 16 years of age at the time of conception and at least one of the following conditions also applies: 1. The mother of the infant will not identify the father of the infant;  2. The mother of the infant lists the father of the infant as unknown;          3. The person the mother identifies as the father of the infant disputes his fatherhood;          4. The person the mother identifies as the father of the infant is 21years of age or               older; or 5. The person the mother identifies as the father is deceased. • The medical examiner shall establish rules and regulations for the collection and preservation of umbilical cord blood. “We are talking about crimes involving a person over the age of 21 and a minor under the age of 16,” said Attorney General Hood.  “I think most of us will agree, this is a clear line and this legislation imposes penalties for crossing that line.” SB 2342 ICFMR operated by Department of Mental Health; authorize transfer of beds to more appropriate setting for clients • Department of Mental Health shall have the authority to contract with private and/or public entities to transfer beds within Intermediate Care Facilities for the Mentally Retarded owned and operated by the Department of Mental Health to locations owned and operated by private and/or public entities for the purpose of serving individuals with intellectual disabilities in the settings most appropriate to meet their needs. “This legislation helps us protect our mentally ill and shows the priority our state places on meeting their needs,” said Attorney General Hood. Featured, Press Releases, 2013-05-13T10:28:33+00:00 http://agjimhood.com/index.php/press/releases/starkville_resident_going_to_prison_for_possession_of_child_porn http://agjimhood.com/index.php/press/releases/starkville_resident_going_to_prison_for_possession_of_child_porn#When:10:26:44Z A Starkville man is going to prison for possession of child pornography, announced Attorney General Jim Hood today.  John A. Brown, age 61, of Logan Drive in Starkville, appeared before Judge Lee Coleman in Oktibbeha County today and plead guilty to one count possession of child pornography.  Judge Coleman sentenced Brown to 20 years, 15 suspended, five to serve with five years post release supervision.  The Judge also slapped Brown with a $50,000 fine and he must register as a sex offender upon his release. Jackson, MS - A Starkville man is going to prison for possession of child pornography, announced Attorney General Jim Hood today. John A. Brown, age 61, of Logan Drive in Starkville, appeared before Judge Lee Coleman in Oktibbeha County today and plead guilty to one count possession of child pornography.  Judge Coleman sentenced Brown to 20 years, 15 suspended, five to serve with five years post release supervision.  The Judge also slapped Brown with a $50,000 fine and he must register as a sex offender upon his release. “An undercover investigation by our Cyber Crime Unit and our Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force caught this defendant downloading child pornography,” said Attorney General Hood. This case was prosecuted by Special Assistant Attorney General Brandon Ogburn of the Attorney General’s Cyber Crime Division. Crime, CyberCrime, Sex Offenders, Featured, Press Releases, 2013-05-06T10:26:44+00:00 http://agjimhood.com/index.php/press/releases/clinton_resident_going_to_prison_for_identity_theft_and_other_crimes http://agjimhood.com/index.php/press/releases/clinton_resident_going_to_prison_for_identity_theft_and_other_crimes#When:10:13:39Z A Clinton woman has been sentenced to prison and ordered to pay restitution after pleading guilty to identity theft and other crimes, announced Attorney General Jim Hood today. Emily Kristen McLellan-Bilbo, 25, pled guilty Friday to one count felonious identity theft, one count uttering counterfeit instruments and two counts felonious use of a Social Security number or identifying information to obtain goods.  Hinds County Circuit Court Judge William A. Gowan sentenced Bilbo to serve 10 years for identity theft with five suspended and four years post release supervision.Jackson, MS - A Clinton woman has been sentenced to prison and ordered to pay restitution after pleading guilty to identity theft and other crimes, announced Attorney General Jim Hood today. Emily Kristen McLellan-Bilbo, 25, pled guilty Friday to one count felonious identity theft, one count uttering counterfeit instruments and two counts felonious use of a Social Security number or identifying information to obtain goods. Hinds County Circuit Court Judge William A. Gowan sentenced Bilbo to serve 10 years for identity theft with five suspended and four years post release supervision. She was also ordered to pay $13,825.35 in restitution to the victims, $1,000 to the Victim’s Compensation Fund, and $2,000 for investigative costs. All costs must be paid during her four years post release supervision. In addition, Bilbo received five years for each of the two counts of felonious use of a Social Security number and five years for uttering a counterfeit instrument. The sentences are to run concurrently. At the time the crimes were committed, Bilbo worked as a receptionist at Audibel in Jackson where she obtained credit card and other personal identifying information of customers.  She then used the information to purchase more than $13,000 in goods, cash, and services. There are 13 victims of identity theft in this case.  The business owner told the court that he and his wife had been taken in by Bilbo and it had cost them and their family-run business dearly. Other victims of Bilbo’s crimes asked that Bilbo be sent to jail, that she be held accountable, and that she get some counseling. “I hope Judge Gowan’s tough sentence and order of restitution for these victims will send a message to others contemplating identity theft,”  said Attorney General Hood. This case was investigated by Investigator Arthur Kendrick and Auditor Gilda Holbrook of the Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit and prosecuted by Special Assistant Attorney General Sue Perry. Crime, Fraud, Featured, Press Releases, 2013-05-06T10:13:39+00:00 http://agjimhood.com/index.php/press/releases/batesville_nurse_charged_with_taking_drugs_from_patients http://agjimhood.com/index.php/press/releases/batesville_nurse_charged_with_taking_drugs_from_patients#When:10:04:28Z - A Batesville nurse is facing charges she took controlled substances away from patients, announced Attorney General Jim Hood today.  Tina Paige, 51,  of Batesville, turned herself into authorities Friday after being indicted by a Panola County grand jury on three counts of acquiring or obtaining possession of a controlled substance or prescription “by misrepresentation, fraud and the like”. At the time the crimes are alleged to have been committed, Paige worked as an LPN at Golden Living Center in Batesville. The indictment charges Paige with obtaining schedule two controlled substances, Fentanyl and Fioricet, from three patients at the facility by signing the drugs out without dispensing to the patients prescribed the drugs. Jackson, MS - A Batesville nurse is facing charges she took controlled substances away from patients, announced Attorney General Jim Hood today. Tina Paige, 51,  of Batesville, turned herself into authorities Friday after being indicted by a Panola County grand jury on three counts of acquiring or obtaining possession of a controlled substance or prescription “by misrepresentation, fraud and the like”. At the time the crimes are alleged to have been committed, Paige worked as an LPN at Golden Living Center in Batesville. The indictment charges Paige with obtaining schedule two controlled substances, Fentanyl and Fioricet, from three patients at the facility by signing the drugs out without dispensing to the patients prescribed the drugs. Paige was released on a $5,000 bond.  If convicted,  she faces up to 15 years behind bars.  As with all cases, the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. This case is being investigated by Investigator Joe Sanderson and will be prosecuted by Special Assistant Attorney General Sue Perry of the Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Division. Crime, Fraud, Featured, Press Releases, 2013-04-30T10:04:28+00:00 http://agjimhood.com/index.php/press/releases/attorney_general_jim_hood_teams_with_facebook_in_online_safety_campaign http://agjimhood.com/index.php/press/releases/attorney_general_jim_hood_teams_with_facebook_in_online_safety_campaign#When:09:49:12Z Protecting teens’ online privacy is the goal of a new public education campaign launched today by Attorney General Jim Hood in cooperation with Facebook.  “As parents, we address issues of trust, accountability and respect with our children concerning their direct interactions with others and we should treat online conversations the same,” said Attorney General Hood. “I am proud to partner with Facebook for this consumer education campaign focusing on safety and privacy.”Jackson, MS - Protecting teens’ online privacy is the goal of a new public education campaign launched today by Attorney General Jim Hood in cooperation with Facebook. “As parents, we address issues of trust, accountability and respect with our children concerning their direct interactions with others and we should treat online conversations the same,” said Attorney General Hood. “I am proud to partner with Facebook for this consumer education campaign focusing on safety and privacy.” The initiative, which was formally unveiled recently at the National Association of Attorneys General’s Presidential Initiative Summit on “Privacy in the Digital Age,” provides teenagers and parents with tips and resources to better manage what information they share - and with whom they share it—both on Facebook and more broadly on the Internet. Attorney General Hood joined with Facebook Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg in taping a public service announcement entitled, “What You Can Do to Control Your Information” that addresses top questions about privacy, bullying prevention and general Internet safety. Although the awareness campaign targets young people, the online privacy resources can be utilized by all consumers. The effort also includes a privacy tip sheet and an “Ask the Safety Team” video series where Facebook will answer consumers’ questions. Both can be found at http://www.facebook.com/fbsafety and on Attorney General Hood’s Facebook page (Mississippi Attorney General’s Office) and office website (http://www.agjimhood.com). The Presidential Initiative Summit, held just outside Washington, D.C., covered the latest legal and policy ground related to digital privacy and featured prominent speakers discussing cybersecurity, data mining, government responses and market solutions to Internet privacy challenges and more. CLICK HERE to view the public service announcement. Crime, CyberCrime, Families, Featured, Press Releases, 2013-04-23T09:49:12+00:00 http://agjimhood.com/index.php/press/releases/board_of_contractors_and_attorney_general_join_forces_to_fight_unscrupulous http://agjimhood.com/index.php/press/releases/board_of_contractors_and_attorney_general_join_forces_to_fight_unscrupulous#When:10:19:01Z Following a series of recent storms, the Mississippi State Board of Contractors (MSBOC) and the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office (MSAGO) are joining forces to send a message to crooked contractors that bad business won’t be tolerated in the Magnolia State and violators will be prosecuted.  “Mississippi has been hit hard by storms in 2013, everything from tornadoes to hail storms, causing an increase in out-of-state contractors moving to the state looking for work,” said Attorney General Hood.  “Many of these contractors are unlicensed or fraudulent.”Jackson, MS -Following a series of recent storms, the Mississippi State Board of Contractors (MSBOC) and the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office (MSAGO) are joining forces to send a message to crooked contractors that bad business won’t be tolerated in the Magnolia State and violators will be prosecuted. “Mississippi has been hit hard by storms in 2013, everything from tornadoes to hail storms, causing an increase in out-of-state contractors moving to the state looking for work,” said Attorney General Hood.  “Many of these contractors are unlicensed or fraudulent.” “We caution storm victims not to make a bad situation worse by hiring the first contractor who comes along,” said Stephanie Sills Lee, Executive Director for the MSBOC.  “Take your time and protect yourself against con artists who will take your money and run or from incompetent contractors who will perform shoddy work.” A conviction for Home Repair Fraud could result in up to ten years behind bars.  The MSAGO and the MSBOC both intend to prosecute, to the fullest extent of the law, anyone caught committing home repair fraud. “There are a lot of honest contractors out there, but a disaster really brings out the crooks trying to take advantage of those already in a vulnerable position,” said Attorney General Hood.  “That’s why we are joining forces with the Board of Contractors to send the message that we are united in our fight against crooked contractors.” Some tips recommended by both agencies to protect yourself from crooked contractors: * Hire only licensed and bonded contractors.  Ask to see the license and verify the bond. * Use Mississippi contractors if you can.  * Verify the contractor’s license by checking online at http://www.msboc.us * Be wary of supposed contractors who come to your home soliciting business. Most reputable contractors will be busy and won’t need to solicit business. * Always get more than one estimate.  Three bids are recommended. * Request references and talk with those references. * Put all your terms in writing. A copy of a “model contract” can be found at http://www.agjimhood.com * As a backup, videotape the discussion with the contractor concerning the terms of the transaction/contract. “Following recent storms, we have had our disaster response teams out pushing information and following up on complaints,” said Lee.  “We hope by joining forces with the Attorney General’s Office that we can keep some storm-damaged residents from being victimized by an unscrupulous contractor.” Consumers can check a contractor’s qualifications or file a complaint with the MSBOC by calling 1-800-880-6161 or by visiting http://www.msboc.us  Cons.umers can file a complaint with the MSAGO by calling 1-800-281-4418 or by visiting http://www.agjimhood.com  A co.py of the Attorney General’s “Consumer Tips for Storm Victims” can also be downloaded at http://www.agjimhood.com  More. resources and tips can be found on both agency’s websites.  Consumers, Consumer Scams, Featured, Press Releases, 2013-04-22T10:19:01+00:00