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Downtown Newark, NJ

Office of Consumer Protection

Cyber Fraud Unit


Office of Consumer Protection
Cyber Fraud Unit
P.O. Box 45025
Newark, New Jersey 07101
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Alert

On July 3, 2023, Governor Murphy signed into law P.L. 2023, c.93, which, among other things, requires sellers of real property located in New Jersey to make certain additional disclosures concerning flood risks on the "Seller's Property Condition Disclosure Statement" ("Disclosure Statement").

On December 21, 2023, the Division of Consumer Affairs ("Division") published the amended version of the Disclosure Statement on its website which includes the new questions concerning flood risks required by the law. A copy of the amended Disclosure Statement is available here

Answering these new questions concerning flood risks is mandatory under the law, as now codified in NJSA 56:8-19.2.  Thus, effective March 20, 2024, all sellers of real property (including both residential and commercial property) must answer these questions (currently numbered 109-117 in the Disclosure Statement) before the purchaser becomes obligated under any contract for the purchase of the property.  This is the case regardless of whether the remainder of the Disclosure Statement is being completed.

The Division expects to promulgate updated regulations in accordance with the law as well.



The Cyber Fraud Unit advances the Division's consumer protection mandate by safeguarding New Jersey consumers' constitutional right to privacy in the digital age. Data security and data privacy are among the fastest-growing economic and personal concerns facing New Jersey consumers. Today, consumers provide sensitive personal information to merchants daily and with the expectation that the merchant will safeguard this information. While the vast majority of merchants operate lawfully, oftentimes there are those that seek to profit by misusing, unlawfully acquiring or unlawfully selling consumers' personal information.

As part of the Division's enforcement arm, the Unit enforces the New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act, which prohibits the use of unconscionable commercial practices and deception, including tracking consumers' online behavior and/or downloading malware onto consumers' computers without providing adequate notice to, and obtaining meaningful consent from, consumers. In some cases, the Unit enforces the New Jersey Computer Related Offenses Act (CROA), which prohibits, among other things, the purposeful or knowing and unauthorized access of New Jersey consumers' data, database, computer program, computer software or computer equipment; the federal Children's Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998 and regulations (COPPA) ;  the New Jersey Identity Theft Protection Act;  the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITECH), and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA). In addition, the Unit's investigators take an active role in educating consumers concerning how they can protect their personal information when using Internet-based technologies.


Consumer Alerts


Enforcement

2024

  • December 17, 2024
    Division of Law Recoveries for New Jersey Rose Nearly 37% in 2023
    Read More
  • November 14, 2024
    AG Platkin, Division of Consumer Affairs Reach Settlement with Dick’s Sporting Goods Resolving Allegations that Retail Chain Unlawfully Sold Large Capacity Magazines into New Jersey
    Read More
  • October 9, 2024
    Attorney General Platkin, Multistate Coalition Announce $52 Million Settlement for Marriott, Starwood Data Breaches
    Read More
  • October 8, 2024
    AG Platkin Sues TikTok for Unlawful Practices That Harm NJ Youth
    Read More
  • August 13, 2024
    Attorney General Platkin and Multistate Coalition Secure $4.5 Million from Enzo Biochem for Failing to Protect Health Data
    Read More
  • July 10, 2024
    AG Platkin: NJ Consumers Who May Have Been Affected by Change Healthcare Data Breach Should Act Now to Protect Their Information
    Read More
  • February 21, 2024
    AG Platkin: Bumble Inc. to Pay Civil Penalty and Change Public Disclosures to Resolve Allegations its Internet Dating Services Misrepresented Criminal Background Screening Policies
    Read More
  • Januay 25, 2024
    Indiana Firearms Dealer Will Stop Selling Large Capacity Magazines into New Jersey, Pay Penalty to Resolve Investigation into Illegal Online Sales
    Read More

2023

  • November 16, 2023
    AG Platkin: New Jersey to Receive $1.27 Million in Multistate Settlement with Morgan Stanley Over Data Security Incidents that Compromised Personal Information of Millions of Individuals Nationwide
    Read More
  • October 5, 2023
    AG Platkin Announces $49.5 Million Multistate Settlement with Blackbaud to Resolve 2020 Data Breach
    Read More
  • May 16, 2023
    AG Platkin Co-Leads $2.5-Million Multistate Settlement with EyeMed Over Data Breach that Compromised the Personal Information of Millions of Patients
    Read More

2022

  • November 14, 2022
    Forty Attorneys General Announce Historic Settlement with Google over Location Tracking Practices
    Read More
  • November 7, 2022
    NJ to Receive Roughly $500K from $16M Settlements Over 2012 and 2015 Experian Data Breaches
    Read More
  • July 26, 2022
    Acting AG Platkin Co-Leads $8 Million Settlement with Wawa Inc. over Data Breach that Compromised Millions of Payment Cards in New Jersey
    Read More
  • June 22, 2022
    Acting AG Platkin Announces Settlement with Carnival Cruise Line over 2019 Data Breach that Compromised Personal Information from its Employees and Customers
    Read More
  • May 18, 2022
    Acting AG Platkin Reaches Settlement with Real Estate and Financial Group over Data Breach and Inadequate Cybersecurity Measures
    Read More
  • March 31, 2022
    Acting AG Platkin: State Secures Judgment for over $175,000 against Florida Company for Selling Large Capacity Ammunition Magazines into NJ
    Read More

2021

  • November 10, 2021
    Acting AG Bruck Reaches Settlement with Two Printing Companies over Improper Disclosures of Protected Health Information
    Read More
  • October 29, 2021
    Acting AG Bruck Urges New Jerseyans to Make Cybersecurity a Priority as Data Breaches, Online Threats to Children Continue to Rise Amid the Ongoing COVID-19 Pandemic
    Read More
  • October 12, 2021
    Acting AG Bruck Announces Settlement with Fertility Clinic over Cybersecurity Lapses and Data Breach
    Read More
  • March 18, 2021
    AG Grewal Announces First-in-the-Nation Settlement with Ghost Gun Company
    Read More
  • March 11, 2021
    AG Grewal Announces Multistate Settlement with American Medical Collection Agency Over 2019 Data Breach
    Read More
  • January 11, 2021
    AG Grewal Announces that Florida Company Agrees to Stop Selling Large Capacity Ammunition and to Pay $135,000 to Settle Lawsuit over Sales into New Jersey
    Read More

2020

  • December 23, 2020
    AG Grewal Announces NJ’s Participation in $2.4 Million Settlement over Sabre Hospitality Solutions Data Breach
    Read More
  • December 18, 2020
    AG Grewal Joins $2 Million Settlement with Online Retailer CafePress over 2019 Data Breach
    Read More
  • November 24, 2020
    AG Grewal Announces Settlement with Home Depot over Data Breach that Compromised Personal Data of Millions – NJ to Receive more than $579,000 Share of $17.5 Million Settlement
    Read More
  • November 24, 2020
    AG Grewal Announces Settlement with Home Depot over Data Breach that Compromised Personal Data of Millions – NJ to Receive more than $579,000 Share of $17.5 Million Settlement
    Read More
  • November 2, 2020
    AG Grewal Announces ShopRite, Wakefern to Pay $235,000 and Improve Data Security in Settlement over Privacy Lapses at Supermarket Pharmacies
    Read More
  • October 20, 2020
    AG Grewal Kicks Off Cybersecurity Awareness Month by Urging Vigilance as Data Breaches, Internet Fraud, and Online Threats to Children Rise During COVID Emergency
    Read More
  • October 8, 2020
    AG Grewal: NJ Reaches Settlement with Community Health Systems over Data Breach
    Read More
  • September 10, 2020
    Nevada Firearms Dealer Will Stop Selling Large Capacity Ammunition Magazines into New Jersey and Pay $50,000 to Settle Lawsuit After Illegal Online Sales to Undercover State Investigators
    Read More
  • September 3, 2020
    AG Grewal: NJ Resolves Anthem Data Breach Investigation for Over $500,000 and Policy Changes at the Health Insurance Company
    Read More
  • August 22, 2020
    Division of Consumer Affairs Brings First Action to Enforce State’s Fantasy Sports Law
    Read More

2019

  • October 31, 2019
    NJ Announces New “Cyber Savvy Youth”  Initiative to Keep Kids Safe Online and Releases Annual Statistics on Cyber Breaches
    Read More
  • August 22, 2019
    AG Grewal Announces New Agreement with Telecom Companies To Combat Illegal and Unwanted Robocalls  
    Read More
  • June 19, 2019
    Attorney General Grewal Files First State Lawsuit Against Company for Selling Large Capacity Magazines into NJ  
    Read More
  • March 22, 2019
    AG Grewal Files First State Lawsuit Against “Ghost Gun”  Company for Offering Untraceable Guns in NJ  
    Read More

2018

  • December 10, 2018
    New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs Announces Settlement with EmblemHealth Over Sensitive Personal Information Breach 
    Read More
  • November 2, 2018
    Defunct Georgia Vendor Responsible for Exposing Virtua Medical Group Patient Files Online Agrees to $200,000 Settlement  
    Read More
  • October 23, 2018
    NJ Releases Annual Statistics on Cyber Breaches; Reminds Residents to Protect their Online Privacy During National Cybersecurity Awareness Month  
    Read More
  • October 10, 2018
    AG Grewal Reaches Settlement with Aetna over Privacy Violations  
    Read More
  • September 26, 2018
    AG Grewal Announces Historic Settlement Resolving Uber Data Breach  
    Read More
  • August 3, 2018
    Operator of Teen Social Website Breached by Hacker Agrees to Close Site and Reform Practices to Settle Allegations it Violated Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act  
    Read More
  • June 6, 2018
    Third-party Energy Supplier IDT Energy, Inc. Enters into $1.36 Million Settlement with the State to Resolve Allegations It Preyed on Consumers During the Harsh Winter of 2014​  
    Read More
  • May 8, 2018
    NJ Division of Consumer Affairs Announces $100,000 Settlement with App Developer Resolving Investigation Into Alleged Violations of Children’s Online Privacy Law  
    Read More
  • April 4, 2018
    Virtua Medical Group Agrees to Pay Nearly $418,000, Tighten Data Security to Settle Allegations of Privacy Lapses Concerning Medical Treatment Files of Patients  
    Read More

2017

  • November 17, 2017
    N.J. Residents Deceived into Paying Scammers via Western Union Can Apply for Compensation from Settlement Fund  
    Read More
  • Octob​er 30, 2017
    NJ Releases Annual Statistics on Cyber Breaches for the First Time  
    Read More
  • September 15, 2017
    New Jersey Joins Multi-State Call for Equifax to Disable Fee-Based Monitoring Services, Reimburse Fees for Security Freezes 
    Read More
  • February 17, 2017
    Horizon Blue Cross/Blue Shield of New Jersey Agrees to Pay $1.1 Million, Tighten Data Security to Settle Allegations of Privacy Lapses Concerning Personal Information of Policyholders  
    Read More
  • February 6, 2017
    New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs, Federal Trade Commission Reach $2.5 Million Settlement with Smart TV Manufacturer to Settle Allegations of Invasive Data Collection  
    Read More

2015

  • September 9, 2015
    New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs Obtains Settlement with Mobile App Developer That Allegedly Collected Consumer Information without Notice and Consent in Violation of State Law  
    Read More
  • June 29, 2015
    New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs, Federal Trade Commission, Reach Settlement with Developer of Mobile App that Allegedly Hacked New Jersey Smartphones with Harmful Malware  
    Read More
  • May 26, 2015
    New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs Obtains Settlement with Developer of Bitcoin-Mining Software Found to Have Accessed New Jersey Computers Without Users' Knowledge or Consent  
    Read More

2013

  • November 23, 2013
    Acting Attorney General Announces Settlement Resolving Allegations That Maker of "Dokobots"   App Violated Children's Online Privacy Rules  
    Read More
  • November 21, 2013
    Acting Attorney General Announces Settlement Resolving Allegations Data Company Engaged in Online "History Sniffing"  
    Read More
  • November 19, 2013
    Acting Attorney General Announces $1 Million Settlement Resolving Consumer Fraud, Unlawful Access Claims Against Online Gaming Company  
    Read More
  • November 18, 2013
    New Jersey Joins Multi-State Settlement that Resolves Allegations Google Breached Privacy Settings on Safari Browsers  
    Read More
  • July 25, 2013
    New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs Obtains Million-Dollar Settlement with Online Advertising Company Accused of Overriding Consumers' Privacy Settings Without Consent  
    Read More

Consumer Briefs


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Last Modified: 12/18/2024 5:24 AM