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Division of Consumer Affairs

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Undercover Operation: 23 Unlicensed Moving Companies Facing Fines In NJ Totaling $125K, AG Says Undercover Operation: 23 Unlicensed Moving Companies Facing Fines In NJ Totaling $125K, AG Says
Undercover Operation: 23 Unlicensed Moving Companies Facing Fines In NJ Totaling $125K, AG Says Twenty-three unlicensed movers have been issued notices of violation and assessed civil penalties totaling $125,000, New Jersey officials said. The penalties were the results of "Operation Safe Move," a state-led undercover operation targeting movers doing business without being licensed by the Division, as required by law, New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin said (scroll for a list of companies and what they're being fined). The civil enforcement investigation was conducted over a three-day period in June, in which investigators with the Division’s Office of Consumer Protectio…

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by Cecilia Levine
Police & Fire
Jersey Shore Pulmonologist Accused Of Sexually Abusing Child Surrenders Medical License: AG Jersey Shore Pulmonologist Accused Of Sexually Abusing Child Surrenders Medical License: AG
Jersey Shore Pulmonologist Accused Of Sexually Abusing Child Surrenders Medical License: AG A Wall Township doctor agreed to give up his license after he was indicted and accused of sexually abusing a child for more than a decade, authorities said. Cornelius Gallagher voluntarily released his medical license through a temporary court order on Monday, Sept. 9, Attorney General Matthew Platkin said in a news release on Thursday, Sept. 12.  According to the Andreozzi and Foote law firm, Gallagher was a pulmonologist for Shore Pulmonary. He also was previously associated with Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Riverview Medical Center, and Ocean…

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by Chris Spiker
News
Directors Of Fallen Officers Charity Went To Disney, Pocketed $200,000, Jersey AG Charges Directors Of Fallen Officers Charity Went To Disney, Pocketed $200,000, Jersey AG Charges
Directors Of Fallen Officers Charity Went To Disney, Pocketed $200,000, Jersey AG Charges Operators of a Jersey Shore-based charity to benefit the families of law enforcement officers killed or injured in the line of duty helped themselves instead, state authorities charged. The National Police Relief Association and several of its board members went to dinner and to Walt Disney World on the dimes of donors while directly pocketing more than $200,000, Acting New Jersey Attorney General Andrew J. Bruck said. Meanwhile, families of slain officers got a grand total of $14,000, he said. “It’s disgusting that people would raise money for fallen and injured law enforcement officers o…

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by Jerry DeMarco
News
Doc Accused Of Reckless, Harmful Breast, Penile Enlargement Injections In NJ, NY, CT, PA Doc Accused Of Reckless, Harmful Breast, Penile Enlargement Injections In NJ, NY, CT, PA
Doc Accused Of Reckless, Harmful Breast, Penile Enlargement Injections In NJ, NY, CT, PA An internist with little formal training has been recklessly injecting a hazardous dermal filler into patients seeking breast and penis enhancements -- often with extremely harmful results -- at dozens of offices in New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Connecticut, authorities charged. Toting the product around in duffle bags, Dr. Muhammad A. Mirza of Cedar Grove has seen up to 30 patients a day in what some described as a “small storage closet” and “closet area with a bench,” Acting New Jersey Attorney General Andrew J. Bruck said Tuesday. Some patients said that Mirza didn't wear a mask…

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by Jerry DeMarco
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State Asks Judge To Stop Purported Animal Charity Run By Wyckoff Woman That Raised Millions State Asks Judge To Stop Purported Animal Charity Run By Wyckoff Woman That Raised Millions
State Asks Judge To Stop Purported Animal Charity Run By Wyckoff Woman That Raised Millions A Wyckoff woman raised millions of dollars by falsely claiming an organization she founded that places rescue dogs as service animals is a charity, said state authorities who’ve gone to court to shut her down. Janice Wolfe has “unlawfully raised millions of dollars since 2008 without registering Merlin’s Kids as a charitable organization,” state Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal said Friday. Wolfe’s fundraising included “false and misleading claims” about the services provided by both Merlin’s Kids and an affiliated for-profit company, United K9 Professional Inc., he said. Meanwhile, tens …

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by Jerry DeMarco
News
COVID-19, Black Friday A 'Super Bowl' Combo For Newest Scams, Here's How To Not Get Beat COVID-19, Black Friday A 'Super Bowl' Combo For Newest Scams, Here's How To Not Get Beat
Covid-19, Black Friday A 'Super Bowl' Combo For Newest Scams, Here's How To Not Get Beat WATCH OUT: The combination of COVID-19 and Black Friday creates the ultimate game for criminals who are skilled at robbing online customers blind, New Jersey's top law enforcer warned. The opportunities for cashing in at your expense this week is "like the Super Bowl for cyber criminals," New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal said. "They are good at the game and have had time to practice and rehearse each play.”  Grewal and the Division of Consumer Affairs warned consumers to watch out for new online scams and a slew of cyber-attacks as the holiday shopping season kicks off on w…

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by Jerry DeMarco
News
'Rotten' Apple Pays NJ $3 Million To Settle iPhone Rip-Off Complaint 'Rotten' Apple Pays NJ $3 Million To Settle iPhone Rip-Off Complaint
'Rotten' Apple Pays NJ $3 Million To Settle iPhone Rip-Off Complaint New Jersey is getting more than $3 million from Apple as part of a settlement of charges that it hid and lied about a defect with million of iPhones that made customers buy new ones, authorities announced Wednesday. A multi-state investigation led to a complaint accusing the electronics giant of hiding unexpected power-offs (UPOs), battery health and performance issues, as well as software upgrades that slowed down or “throttled” performance, state Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal said. Apple doesn't admit to any violations of the law under the $113 million settlement reached with 34 state…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
Rubbing People The Wrong Way: More Massage Therapists Lose Licenses In NJ Rubbing People The Wrong Way: More Massage Therapists Lose Licenses In NJ
Rubbing People The Wrong Way: More Massage Therapists Lose Licenses In NJ New Jersey authorities this week revoked the license of the ninth massage therapist in the past year for “inappropriate and unwanted sexual contact” with a client who literally put her trust in his hands. John R. Popper, 48, of Little Egg Harbor was convicted earlier this year of harassment by offensive touching for placing his hand on a client’s vagina during a massage at Hand and Stone spa in Somers Point. In turn, the state Board of Massage and Bodywork Therapy permanently barred him from working as a massage therapist in New Jersey ever again because he “engaged in professional miscond…

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by Jerry DeMarco
News
New Rules: Here Are The Guidelines For NJ's Personal Care Businesses New Rules: Here Are The Guidelines For NJ's Personal Care Businesses
New Rules: Here Are The Guidelines For NJ's Personal Care Businesses New Jersey's personal care businesses are going to look a whole lot different. Set to reopen after the COVID-19 shutdown June 22, the salons and parlors will be operating under a new set of standards, released by the state's Division of consumer Affairs. The guidelines apply to beauty salons, barber shops, makeup shops, day and medical spas (not saunas, steam rooms or bathing facilities), electrology facilities, hair braiding shops, massage parlors, nail salons, tanning salons and tattoo parlors. Screening customers and staff no more than 24 hours before a scheduled appointment and immed…

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by Cecilia Levine
News
COVID Price Gouging Prompts 3,000 NJ Complaints, 500 AG Warnings, 90 Subpoenas COVID Price Gouging Prompts 3,000 NJ Complaints, 500 AG Warnings, 90 Subpoenas
COVID Price Gouging Prompts 3,000 NJ Complaints, 500 AG Warnings, 90 Subpoenas New Jersey authorities are continuing an ongoing crackdown on price gougers during the coronavirus pandemic. The state Division of Consumer Affairs has issued at least 514 cease-and-desist letters and 89 subpoenas to businesses reported to have violated laws during the pandemic, state Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal said Wednesday. The state has so far received 2,978 complaints involving 1,800 businesses related to the COVID-19 emergency, Grewal said.  About 90 percent of the complaints involve inflated prices for surgical masks, hand sanitizer, disinfectant spray and wipes, food, b…

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by Jon Craig
News
BEWARE: Coronavirus Scammers Calling, Texting, Emailing, Visiting Victims BEWARE: Coronavirus Scammers Calling, Texting, Emailing, Visiting Victims
Beware: Coronavirus Scammers Calling, Texting, Emailing, Visiting Victims As if there wasn’t enough to worry about: Authorities are warning New Jereyans to beware of coronavirus scams. Stay alert and be wary of any call, text, email or stranger at your door, state Attorney Gurbir S. Grewal and officials with the state Division of Consumer Affairs said. Among their warnings: Representatives from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention aren’t going door-to-door for any reason, so be sure not to let anyone in who claims to be from the CDC and make sure you call police immediately; There are countless in-store or online advertisements for products that claim…

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by Jerry DeMarco
News
Authorities Pursue 600+ Price-Gouging Complaints In NJ: Got Any? Authorities Pursue 600+ Price-Gouging Complaints In NJ: Got Any?
Authorities Pursue 600+ Price-Gouging Complaints In NJ: Got Any? New Jersey authorities reported 619 coronavirus-related price gouging complaints from throughout the state as of Tuesday – all of which they said are being investigated. The state Division of Consumer Affairs already was sending 82 cease-and-desist and warning letters to businesses following complaints from customers, Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal said. The number of complaints more than doubled in just five days, when customers in New Jersey had filed 270, Grewal said. Retailers are accused of unfairly raising prices on surgical masks, hand sanitizers, disinfectant sprays and wipes, a…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
Store Owner Charged With Endangerment For Selling Homemade Sanitizer That Burned Bergen Boys Store Owner Charged With Endangerment For Selling Homemade Sanitizer That Burned Bergen Boys
Store Owner Charged With Endangerment For Selling Homemade Sanitizer That Burned Bergen Boys Authorities on Tuesday charged the owner of a Bergen County 7-Eleven with child endangerment for selling a sanitizer she mixed herself using a commercial cleanser that ended up burning four local boys. Manisha Bharade, 47, Wood-Ridge also was charged with deceptive business practices before being released on a summons pending court action. Bharade mixed "commercially available foaming sanitizer, which was not meant for resale," with water in pump bottles -- unwittingly causing a harmful chemical reaction -- then sold them for $2.50 each at her store in River Vale, authorities said. “She w…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
Store Owner Charged With Endangerment For Selling Homemade Sanitizer That Burned Bergen Boys Store Owner Charged With Endangerment For Selling Homemade Sanitizer That Burned Bergen Boys
Store Owner Charged With Endangerment For Selling Homemade Sanitizer That Burned Bergen Boys UPDATE: Authorities on Tuesday charged the owner of a Bergen County 7-Eleven with child endangerment for selling a sanitizer she mixed herself using a commercial cleanser that ended up burning four local boys. Manisha Bharade, 47, Wood-Ridge also was charged with deceptive business practices before being released on a summons pending court action. Bharade mixed "commercially available foaming sanitizer, which was not meant for resale," with water in pump bottles -- unwittingly causing a harmful chemical reaction -- then sold them for $2.50 each at her store in River Vale, authorities said.…

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by Jerry DeMarco
News
NJ Authorities Ask Consumers To Report Coronavirus Price Gougers NJ Authorities Ask Consumers To Report Coronavirus Price Gougers
NJ Authorities Ask Consumers To Report Coronavirus Price Gougers Authorities asked New Jersey residents Thursday to report any local merchants charging exorbitant amounts for virus-killing cleaning supplies, hand sanitizer and other products. They also threatened to nail gougers. The state Division of Consumer Affairs sent warning letters Thursday to 10 retailers suspected of significantly inflating prices of items associated with the current concerns related to COVID-19, Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal said. The letters warned retailers that New Jersey’s Consumer Fraud Act (CFA) protects consumers from "gross and unreasonable inflation of the pr…

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by Jerry DeMarco