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• 3/30/2020 AG Tong DCP, Commissioner Seagull Warn Connecticut Residents of Potential Stimulus Check Scams

  Attorney General William Tong and Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection Commissioner Michelle H. Seagull today warned Connecticut residents to be on the lookout for potential scams involving future stimulus checks from the federal government.

• 3/30/2020 Attorney General Tong Seeks Permanent Injunction to Protect National Guard Funds, Economy from Illegal Border Wall Diversion

  Attorney General William Tong and six attorneys general today filed a motion for partial summary judgment seeking to permanently block the Trump Administration from illegally diverting $3.8 billion in taxpayer funds to build an unnecessary and unwanted border wall. At a time when the entire nation is focused on responding to the COVID-19 crisis, the unlawful diversion adds unnecessary strain on already stressed state economies, and pulls funding from National Guard units on the front lines of the pandemic response.

• 3/28/2020 Attorney General Tong Statement Regarding Trump Quarantine Comment

  Attorney General William Tong issued the following statement regarding President Donald Trump’s comments regarding a regional quarantine.

• 3/27/2020 Attorney General Tong Joins Multistate Coalition Urging Trump Administration to Ease Restrictions and Allow Medical Professionals to Research Solutions to COVID-19 Pandemic

  Attorney General William Tong today joined a coalition of 15 attorneys general led by California in sending a letter to President Trump and the Department of Health and Human Services calling on the Administration to end its research ban on fetal tissue to aid the nation’s medical response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

• 3/26/2020 Attorney General Tong, Lt. Gov. Bysiewicz and DCP Commissioner Seagull Warn Residents of Scam Connecting 2020 Census to Future Coronavirus Stimulus Checks

  Attorney General William Tong, Lieutenant Governor Susan Bysiewicz, and Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection Commissioner Michelle H. Seagull are urging residents to be aware of scams connecting the 2020 Census responses to potential future stimulus checks for Americans due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

• 3/26/2020 Attorney General Tong and DCP Commissioner Seagull Release Guidance for Charitable Giving During COVID-19 Pandemic

  Attorney General William Tong and Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection Commissioner Michelle H. Seagull released the following guidance for charitable giving during the COVID-19 pandemic.

• 3/26/2020 Attorney General Tong Joins Multistate Coalition Urging Emergency Relief for Federal Student Loan Borrowers in Response to Coronavirus Pandemic

  Attorney General William Tong joined a coalition of 27 attorneys general from around the nation calling on the U.S. Department of Education to take emergency measures to aid federal student loan borrowers during the COVID-19 emergency.

• 3/25/2020 AG Tong Urges Online Retailers to Rigorously Monitor Price Gouging

  Attorney General William Tong today issued letters to Amazon, Facebook, Ebay, Walmart, and Craigslist urging the online retailers to rigorously monitor price-gouging by sellers on their platforms.

• 3/25/2020 AG Tong Calls on Amazon and Whole Foods to Increase Paid Leave to Employees During Covid-19 Emergency

  Attorney General William Tong today called on Amazon and Whole Foods to increase paid sick and family leave provided to their employees during the COVID-19 public health emergency.

• 3/24/2020 Attorney General Tong, DCP Commissioner Seagull Warn Consumers, Medicare and Medicaid Beneficiaries of Fraudulent Covid-19 At-home Testing Kits

  Attorney General William Tong and Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection (DCP) Commissioner Michelle H. Seagull are warning consumers about scammers who may try to capitalize on fears of the COVID-19 pandemic by marketing and selling fake at-home testing kits for coronavirus.

• 3/24/2020 AG Tong Urges Trump to Immediately Prioritize Production Of Protective Gear and Testing Supplies

  Attorney General William Tong today joined 16 attorneys in a letter urging President Donald Trump to fully utilize the Defense Production Act to immediately prioritize the production of masks, ventilators, and other critical items needed by health care workers, first responders, and law enforcement across the United States.

• 3/20/2020 Attorney General Tong Praises Utilities for Reconnecting Customers During Emergency

  Attorney General William Tong thanked Eversource, United Illuminating, Connecticut Natural Gas and Southern Connecticut Gas today after being told the utilities will reconnect customers disconnected for nonpayment prior to the COVID-19 emergency moratorium.

• 3/20/2020 AG Tong Demands Suspension of Public Charge Rule During Crisis

  In a letter to federal immigration officials, Attorney General William Tong joined a coalition of 18 attorneys general demanding that the Trump Administration clearly and unequivocally suspend its “Public Charge” rule during the COVID-19 crisis.

• 3/20/2020 Office of the Attorney General Fully Operational as Majority of Workers Move to Telework Status

  Attorney General William Tong announced today that the Office of the Attorney General is fully operational as the majority of workers shift to telework status.

• 3/19/2020 Attorney General Tong Seeks Information from Amazon Following Price Gouging Complaint

  Attorney General William Tong today sent a letter to Amazon seeking information from the online retailer regarding efforts to detect and combat price gouging during the COVID-19 pandemic. The letter follows a complaint from a Connecticut consumer who recently attempted to purchase two types of 3M face masks through Amazon. The consumer was charged nearly $400 in shipment fees for two small boxes of face masks with a retail value of under $100. The letter seeks information regarding the specific reported transaction, as well as procedures and practices being deployed by Amazon to prevent price gouging and protect consumers. “Consumers, especially under current conditions, should not be charged unreasonable sums for such health-related products. With the size of its market share, Amazon plays a crucial role in deterring price gouging, and assisting law enforcement in bringing predatory sellers to account,” the letter states. To date, the Office of the Attorney General has received 110 complaints regarding price hikes on basic supplies like hand sanitizer, disinfectant wipes and toilet paper since Gov. Ned Lamont declared civil preparedness and public health emergencies on March 10. In addition to today’s letter to Amazon, the Office of the Attorney General has sent letters as part of its aggressive investigations and law enforcement efforts to multiple Connecticut retailers both large and small in response to consumer price gouging complaints. As states across the country continue with efforts to address the COVID-19 outbreak, many states like Connecticut have declared a state of emergency. These declarations have triggered price gouging statutes which are designed to protect consumers from unscrupulous retailers seeking to profit from this public emergency. Anyone who suspects price gouging should file a complaint with the Office of the Attorney General online at https://www.dir.ct.gov/ag/complaint/. To read a full copy of the Office of the Attorney General’s letter to Amazon, click here.