Debt Shield Joins National Organizations to Sponsor Eighth Annual National Consumer Protection Week

Debt Shield, a Maryland-based debt settlement company, joined a group of federal, state, and local government agencies and national consumer advocacy organizations to launch the eighth annual National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW), February 5-11, 2006. NCPW empowers consumers by highlighting current consumer protection and education efforts in the fight against fraud in communities across the nation.

According to a survey by the Federal Trade Commission, nearly 25 million Americans – 11.2 percent of the adult population – experience consumer fraud each year. NCPW partner organizations will direct consumers to boost their marketplace savvy at www.consumer.gov/ncpw, where they can take the Grand Scam Challenge.

“Consumer protection is the name of the game,” said Mark Baylis, president of Debt Shield. “When your money’s at stake, you want a grand slam, not a grand scam.”

Baylis added that whether you’re investing in a business opportunity, buying or selling on an Internet auction, or looking for a scholarship, a home loan, or a great deal on a dream vacation, it pays to know how to spot a scam. Tips on a wide range of consumer protection issues are at www.consumer.gov/ncpw.

National organizers of this year’s NCPW are the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the Federal Citizen’s Information Center (FCIC), the U.S. Postal Service (USPS), the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the National Association of Consumer Agency Administrators (NACAA), the National Consumers League (NCL), AARP, the Better Business Bureau (BBB), Call for Action, the Consumer Federation of America (CFA), and the National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG).

“Debt Shield is proud to share the messages of this year’s National Consumer Protection Week campaign,” said Baylis. “We plan to give our clients the tools they need to recognize and avoid fraud and deception in the marketplace.”

About Debt Shield, Inc.

Debt Shield, Inc., is a debt settlement company dedicated to helping consumers resolve their unsecured debt through mutually agreeable and discounted lump sum settlements in consideration of legitimate financial hardships. By helping consumers avoid bankruptcy, Debt Shield provides a service for both debtors and creditors. For more information about Debt Shield, call 1-888-397-7546 or visit the website at www.debtshield.com.

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