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La DPH De Delaware Informa Dos Casos Nuevos De Viruela Símica; El Riesgo Para El Público Permanece Bajo Date Posted: July 22, 2022
Governor Carney Formally Extends Public Health Emergency Date Posted: July 22, 2022
State Auditor McGuiness Finds Issues with Patients’ Trust Funds Date Posted: July 21, 2022
Delaware Division Of Public Health Reports Two New Cases Of Monkeypox; Risk To Public Remains Low Date Posted: July 21, 2022
Mud Mill Pond Boat Ramp to Close Temporarily for Dam Improvements Date Posted: July 21, 2022
Division of Small Business Awards EDGE Grants to 10 Delaware Companies Date Posted: July 21, 2022
UPDATING: DNREC Monitoring and Investigating Excess Pollution Emissions Caused by Delaware City Refinery Outage Date Posted: July 21, 2022
Governor John Carney Announces the Delaware Women’s Hall of Fame Inductees for 2022 Date Posted: July 21, 2022
Money Still Available for Foster Youth to Pursue Higher Education Date Posted: July 21, 2022
AG Jennings announces $34.2 million national settlement with Harris Jewelry Date Posted: July 20, 2022
DNREC, Woodlawn Trustees Preserve Access to Popular Trail Along Brandywine Creek Date Posted: July 20, 2022
State Auditor McGuiness Releases Special Report Analyzing Overdose Data Dashboard Date Posted: July 19, 2022
Historical Affairs programs in August 2022 Date Posted: July 18, 2022
Delaware Division of the Arts Announces First Round of Grants in Support of Arts Projects for Fiscal Year 2023 Date Posted: July 18, 2022
Heritage Commission Book of the Week: The Delaware Heritage Cookbook Date Posted: July 18, 2022
DPH Encourages Delawareans To Get A Booster Now To Protect Against BA.5, COVID-19 Variants; Don’t Wait Until Fall Date Posted: July 15, 2022
Hurricane Preparedness Is No Accident Date Posted: July 15, 2022
Hunters Reminded of Basic Hunter Education Course Requirements Date Posted: July 14, 2022
Governor Carney Announces Changes to Leadership Team Date Posted: July 13, 2022
DHSS Announces Organizations Selected to Operate Medicaid Managed Care Program Date Posted: July 12, 2022
DHSS Anuncia Organizaciones Seleccionadas para Operar el Programa de Atención Administrada de Medicaid Date Posted: July 12, 2022
After arriving in Delaware in 2017, spotted lanternfly now confirmed in Sussex County Date Posted: July 12, 2022
Delaware Division Of Public Health Reports First Case Of Monkeypox In State Date Posted: July 12, 2022
Wild Turkey Harvest Announced for Delaware’s 2022 Spring Hunting Season Date Posted: July 11, 2022
DE Heritage Commission Book of the Week: 100 Year History of the Pilot’s Association, Bay & River Delaware, 1896-1996 Date Posted: July 11, 2022
Recycled Cardboard Boat Regatta Set for Saturday, Aug. 6 on Nanticoke River Date Posted: July 8, 2022
Governor Carney Announces American Rescue Plan Act Housing Initiatives Date Posted: July 7, 2022
First State Students Earn 10 Top 10 Finishes at 2022 National Stem Conference Date Posted: July 7, 2022
Chautauqua Tent Shows To Take Place From Sept. 8–12, 2022 Date Posted: July 7, 2022
Delaware Heritage Commission Book of the Week is Delaware: A Guide to the First State Date Posted: July 6, 2022
DNREC, Habitat for Humanity Partner to Create Green Space in New Castle County’s Simonds Gardens Community Date Posted: July 6, 2022
Flag Lowering for the Victims of the Tragedy in Highland Park, IL Date Posted: July 5, 2022
Statement Regarding the Auditor of Accounts Date Posted: July 5, 2022
The Mezzanine Gallery to Exhibit “Smorgasbord” by Forest Z. Allread Date Posted: July 5, 2022
McGuiness Announces the Release of Two Reports Concerning Delaware’s Water Quality Funding Date Posted: July 3, 2022
Statement From AG Jennings On McGuiness Verdict Date Posted: July 1, 2022
Governor Carney Shares Highlights from Legislative Session Date Posted: July 1, 2022
Delaware Division Of Public Health Recognized As A Healthy People 2030 Champion Date Posted: July 1, 2022
Treasurer Davis to Help Fund New Education Accounts Date Posted: July 1, 2022
Emergency Sirens Test on Tuesday, July 5 Date Posted: July 1, 2022
Two State Sponsored Savings Programs to Bring New Tax Deductions Date Posted: June 30, 2022
Governor Carney Signs Package of Gun Safety Legislation Date Posted: June 30, 2022
Statement from AG Jennings on Supreme Court’s Climate Ruling Date Posted: June 30, 2022
DelDOT Advises Travelers to Expect Heavy Traffic Over 4th of July Holiday Date Posted: June 30, 2022
DNREC Sinks Floating Casino Turned Commercial Scallop Vessel ‘Texas Star’ onto Delaware’s Artificial Reef System Date Posted: June 30, 2022
Delaware ParentCamp Transforms School and Family Engagement Date Posted: June 30, 2022
AG Jennings Wins Seaford Lawsuit Date Posted: June 29, 2022
Stray Cat in Smyrna Tests Positive for Rabies Date Posted: June 29, 2022
DNREC Launches New Residential Solar Pilot Program Date Posted: June 29, 2022
Delaware Office of Highway Safety (OHS) Announces “Not So Fast” Teen Driver Scholarship Winners Date Posted: June 28, 2022
Governor Carney Signs FY23 Budget Date Posted: June 28, 2022
Delaware Mortgage Relief Program Now Open Date Posted: June 28, 2022
DNREC and Nonprofit Partners Promote, Monitor Nesting Success of American Kestrels Date Posted: June 28, 2022
Delaware Emitirá Beneficios de Emergencia Mensuales el 30 de Junio Date Posted: June 28, 2022
Delaware Will Issue Monthly Emergency Benefits On June 30 Date Posted: June 28, 2022
DOL Announces New Director of Vocational Rehabilitation Date Posted: June 28, 2022
Brandywine Zoo’s Haechan the Pudu, Dies Date Posted: June 27, 2022
Secretary of State Announces Appointment of Director of the Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs Date Posted: June 27, 2022
Treasurer Davis Completes ARPA Funds Distribution Date Posted: June 27, 2022
Heritage Commission Book of the Week: Delaware’s Coastal Defenses Date Posted: June 27, 2022
Commissioner Navarro Announces Health Insurance Marketplace Expansion Date Posted: June 27, 2022
Governor Carney Formally Extends Public Health Emergency Date Posted: June 24, 2022
Governor Carney’s Statement on U.S. Supreme Court Ruling Date Posted: June 24, 2022
Statement from AG Jennings on Dobbs ruling Date Posted: June 24, 2022
DNREC Brandywine Watershed Report Details Wetland Health and Management Recommendations Date Posted: June 23, 2022
Historical Affairs programs in July 2022 Date Posted: June 23, 2022
Governor Carney’s Statement on Senate Confirmations of Nathan Cook, Kelly Hicks Sheridan Date Posted: June 22, 2022
Vacunas de COVID-19 Para Niños de 6 Meses a 5 Años Recibe Autorización Federal; Vacunas Desde de la Semana de Jun. 20 Date Posted: June 22, 2022
Secretary Magarik Announces Leadership Changes at Department of Health and Social Services Date Posted: June 22, 2022
DelDOT Observes National Pollinator Week Date Posted: June 22, 2022
Lawmakers Approve Treasurer’s Retirement Legislation Date Posted: June 22, 2022
DelDOT Marks Start of Route 1 and 16 Project Date Posted: June 21, 2022
Heritage Commission Book of the Week: The Journals of Rev. Lewis Wheeler Wells Date Posted: June 21, 2022
Gov. Carney, DNREC Dedicate Jason Beach a Historic Site at Trap Pond State Park Date Posted: June 20, 2022
COVID-19 Vaccines For Children 6 Months to 5 Years Receives Federal Authorization; DE Vaccines to Begin Week of June 20 Date Posted: June 18, 2022
DPH Prepares for CDC to Authorize Vaccines for Children Under 5; Urges Safety During Event-Filled Weekend Date Posted: June 18, 2022
DOJ, Wilmington PD Indict Gun Offenders on 75 Charges Date Posted: June 17, 2022
New Castle Court House Museum Date Posted: June 16, 2022
John Dickinson Plantation Receives Award of Excellence Date Posted: June 15, 2022
Growing Horseshoe Crab Population Supports Migratory Shorebirds along Delaware Bay, Including Threatened Red Knots Date Posted: June 15, 2022
Division of the Arts Opens Two Opportunities for Artists Date Posted: June 14, 2022
Delaware Mortgage Relief Program Approved By U.S. Department Of The Treasury Date Posted: June 14, 2022
Heritage Commission Book of the Week: GATH’s Literary Work and Folk Date Posted: June 13, 2022
Suspected Overdose Deaths for May in Delaware Set New Monthly High Total Date Posted: June 8, 2022
Student State Board of Education Member Application Due June 24 Date Posted: June 8, 2022
Delaware Natural Resources Police Youth Fishing Tournament Winners Announced Date Posted: June 8, 2022
Summer of Opportunity Date Posted: June 8, 2022
Funding Available for Tree-Planting Projects Date Posted: June 7, 2022
Heritage Commission Book of the Week: William Hare Master Potter Date Posted: June 6, 2022
DNREC to Present Living Shoreline Social Marketing Webinar June 16 Date Posted: June 6, 2022
Governor Carney Announces Judicial Nominations Date Posted: June 3, 2022
State Auditor McGuiness Releases The First of Nineteen Reports on Delaware’s Public School Staffing Levels Date Posted: June 3, 2022
DNREC to Propose Major Source Air Pollution Permit Renewal for Delaware City Refining Company Date Posted: June 3, 2022
Governor Carney, Members of the General Assembly Announce Gun Safety Package Date Posted: June 2, 2022
Delaware African and Caribbean Affairs Commission Celebrates National Caribbean-American Heritage Month Date Posted: June 2, 2022
New Website Helps Families Find Summer Opportunities for Their Children Date Posted: June 2, 2022
FREE New Castle History Camp, July 25–29, 2022 Date Posted: June 2, 2022
Prohibición ampliada de las bolsas de plástico para llevar en vigor el 1.° de julio de 2022 Date Posted: June 2, 2022
Enhanced Plastic Carryout Bag Ban in Effect July 1, 2022 Date Posted: June 2, 2022
Stay Cool, Hydrated, And Informed to Prevent Heat-Related Illness Date Posted: June 1, 2022
La DPH De Delaware Informa Dos Casos Nuevos De Viruela Símica; El Riesgo Para El Público Permanece Bajo Date Posted: July 22, 2022
Governor Carney Formally Extends Public Health Emergency Date Posted: July 22, 2022
State Auditor McGuiness Finds Issues with Patients’ Trust Funds Date Posted: July 21, 2022
Delaware Division Of Public Health Reports Two New Cases Of Monkeypox; Risk To Public Remains Low Date Posted: July 21, 2022
Mud Mill Pond Boat Ramp to Close Temporarily for Dam Improvements Date Posted: July 21, 2022
Division of Small Business Awards EDGE Grants to 10 Delaware Companies Date Posted: July 21, 2022
UPDATING: DNREC Monitoring and Investigating Excess Pollution Emissions Caused by Delaware City Refinery Outage Date Posted: July 21, 2022
Governor John Carney Announces the Delaware Women’s Hall of Fame Inductees for 2022 Date Posted: July 21, 2022
Money Still Available for Foster Youth to Pursue Higher Education Date Posted: July 21, 2022
AG Jennings announces $34.2 million national settlement with Harris Jewelry Date Posted: July 20, 2022
DNREC, Woodlawn Trustees Preserve Access to Popular Trail Along Brandywine Creek Date Posted: July 20, 2022
State Auditor McGuiness Releases Special Report Analyzing Overdose Data Dashboard Date Posted: July 19, 2022
Historical Affairs programs in August 2022 Date Posted: July 18, 2022
Delaware Division of the Arts Announces First Round of Grants in Support of Arts Projects for Fiscal Year 2023 Date Posted: July 18, 2022
Heritage Commission Book of the Week: The Delaware Heritage Cookbook Date Posted: July 18, 2022
DPH Encourages Delawareans To Get A Booster Now To Protect Against BA.5, COVID-19 Variants; Don’t Wait Until Fall Date Posted: July 15, 2022
Hurricane Preparedness Is No Accident Date Posted: July 15, 2022
Hunters Reminded of Basic Hunter Education Course Requirements Date Posted: July 14, 2022
Governor Carney Announces Changes to Leadership Team Date Posted: July 13, 2022
DHSS Announces Organizations Selected to Operate Medicaid Managed Care Program Date Posted: July 12, 2022
DHSS Anuncia Organizaciones Seleccionadas para Operar el Programa de Atención Administrada de Medicaid Date Posted: July 12, 2022
After arriving in Delaware in 2017, spotted lanternfly now confirmed in Sussex County Date Posted: July 12, 2022
Delaware Division Of Public Health Reports First Case Of Monkeypox In State Date Posted: July 12, 2022
Wild Turkey Harvest Announced for Delaware’s 2022 Spring Hunting Season Date Posted: July 11, 2022
DE Heritage Commission Book of the Week: 100 Year History of the Pilot’s Association, Bay & River Delaware, 1896-1996 Date Posted: July 11, 2022
Recycled Cardboard Boat Regatta Set for Saturday, Aug. 6 on Nanticoke River Date Posted: July 8, 2022
Governor Carney Announces American Rescue Plan Act Housing Initiatives Date Posted: July 7, 2022
First State Students Earn 10 Top 10 Finishes at 2022 National Stem Conference Date Posted: July 7, 2022
Chautauqua Tent Shows To Take Place From Sept. 8–12, 2022 Date Posted: July 7, 2022
Delaware Heritage Commission Book of the Week is Delaware: A Guide to the First State Date Posted: July 6, 2022
DNREC, Habitat for Humanity Partner to Create Green Space in New Castle County’s Simonds Gardens Community Date Posted: July 6, 2022
Flag Lowering for the Victims of the Tragedy in Highland Park, IL Date Posted: July 5, 2022
Statement Regarding the Auditor of Accounts Date Posted: July 5, 2022
The Mezzanine Gallery to Exhibit “Smorgasbord” by Forest Z. Allread Date Posted: July 5, 2022
McGuiness Announces the Release of Two Reports Concerning Delaware’s Water Quality Funding Date Posted: July 3, 2022
Statement From AG Jennings On McGuiness Verdict Date Posted: July 1, 2022
Governor Carney Shares Highlights from Legislative Session Date Posted: July 1, 2022
Delaware Division Of Public Health Recognized As A Healthy People 2030 Champion Date Posted: July 1, 2022
Treasurer Davis to Help Fund New Education Accounts Date Posted: July 1, 2022
Emergency Sirens Test on Tuesday, July 5 Date Posted: July 1, 2022
Two State Sponsored Savings Programs to Bring New Tax Deductions Date Posted: June 30, 2022
Governor Carney Signs Package of Gun Safety Legislation Date Posted: June 30, 2022
Statement from AG Jennings on Supreme Court’s Climate Ruling Date Posted: June 30, 2022
DelDOT Advises Travelers to Expect Heavy Traffic Over 4th of July Holiday Date Posted: June 30, 2022
DNREC Sinks Floating Casino Turned Commercial Scallop Vessel ‘Texas Star’ onto Delaware’s Artificial Reef System Date Posted: June 30, 2022
Delaware ParentCamp Transforms School and Family Engagement Date Posted: June 30, 2022
AG Jennings Wins Seaford Lawsuit Date Posted: June 29, 2022
Stray Cat in Smyrna Tests Positive for Rabies Date Posted: June 29, 2022
DNREC Launches New Residential Solar Pilot Program Date Posted: June 29, 2022
Delaware Office of Highway Safety (OHS) Announces “Not So Fast” Teen Driver Scholarship Winners Date Posted: June 28, 2022
Governor Carney Signs FY23 Budget Date Posted: June 28, 2022
Delaware Mortgage Relief Program Now Open Date Posted: June 28, 2022
DNREC and Nonprofit Partners Promote, Monitor Nesting Success of American Kestrels Date Posted: June 28, 2022
Delaware Emitirá Beneficios de Emergencia Mensuales el 30 de Junio Date Posted: June 28, 2022
Delaware Will Issue Monthly Emergency Benefits On June 30 Date Posted: June 28, 2022
DOL Announces New Director of Vocational Rehabilitation Date Posted: June 28, 2022
Brandywine Zoo’s Haechan the Pudu, Dies Date Posted: June 27, 2022
Secretary of State Announces Appointment of Director of the Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs Date Posted: June 27, 2022
Treasurer Davis Completes ARPA Funds Distribution Date Posted: June 27, 2022
Heritage Commission Book of the Week: Delaware’s Coastal Defenses Date Posted: June 27, 2022
Commissioner Navarro Announces Health Insurance Marketplace Expansion Date Posted: June 27, 2022
Governor Carney Formally Extends Public Health Emergency Date Posted: June 24, 2022
Governor Carney’s Statement on U.S. Supreme Court Ruling Date Posted: June 24, 2022
Statement from AG Jennings on Dobbs ruling Date Posted: June 24, 2022
DNREC Brandywine Watershed Report Details Wetland Health and Management Recommendations Date Posted: June 23, 2022
Historical Affairs programs in July 2022 Date Posted: June 23, 2022
Governor Carney’s Statement on Senate Confirmations of Nathan Cook, Kelly Hicks Sheridan Date Posted: June 22, 2022
Vacunas de COVID-19 Para Niños de 6 Meses a 5 Años Recibe Autorización Federal; Vacunas Desde de la Semana de Jun. 20 Date Posted: June 22, 2022
Secretary Magarik Announces Leadership Changes at Department of Health and Social Services Date Posted: June 22, 2022
DelDOT Observes National Pollinator Week Date Posted: June 22, 2022
Lawmakers Approve Treasurer’s Retirement Legislation Date Posted: June 22, 2022
DelDOT Marks Start of Route 1 and 16 Project Date Posted: June 21, 2022
Heritage Commission Book of the Week: The Journals of Rev. Lewis Wheeler Wells Date Posted: June 21, 2022
Gov. Carney, DNREC Dedicate Jason Beach a Historic Site at Trap Pond State Park Date Posted: June 20, 2022
COVID-19 Vaccines For Children 6 Months to 5 Years Receives Federal Authorization; DE Vaccines to Begin Week of June 20 Date Posted: June 18, 2022
DPH Prepares for CDC to Authorize Vaccines for Children Under 5; Urges Safety During Event-Filled Weekend Date Posted: June 18, 2022
DOJ, Wilmington PD Indict Gun Offenders on 75 Charges Date Posted: June 17, 2022
New Castle Court House Museum Date Posted: June 16, 2022
John Dickinson Plantation Receives Award of Excellence Date Posted: June 15, 2022
Growing Horseshoe Crab Population Supports Migratory Shorebirds along Delaware Bay, Including Threatened Red Knots Date Posted: June 15, 2022
Division of the Arts Opens Two Opportunities for Artists Date Posted: June 14, 2022
Delaware Mortgage Relief Program Approved By U.S. Department Of The Treasury Date Posted: June 14, 2022
Heritage Commission Book of the Week: GATH’s Literary Work and Folk Date Posted: June 13, 2022
Suspected Overdose Deaths for May in Delaware Set New Monthly High Total Date Posted: June 8, 2022
Student State Board of Education Member Application Due June 24 Date Posted: June 8, 2022
Delaware Natural Resources Police Youth Fishing Tournament Winners Announced Date Posted: June 8, 2022
Summer of Opportunity Date Posted: June 8, 2022
Funding Available for Tree-Planting Projects Date Posted: June 7, 2022
Heritage Commission Book of the Week: William Hare Master Potter Date Posted: June 6, 2022
DNREC to Present Living Shoreline Social Marketing Webinar June 16 Date Posted: June 6, 2022
Governor Carney Announces Judicial Nominations Date Posted: June 3, 2022
State Auditor McGuiness Releases The First of Nineteen Reports on Delaware’s Public School Staffing Levels Date Posted: June 3, 2022
DNREC to Propose Major Source Air Pollution Permit Renewal for Delaware City Refining Company Date Posted: June 3, 2022
Governor Carney, Members of the General Assembly Announce Gun Safety Package Date Posted: June 2, 2022
Delaware African and Caribbean Affairs Commission Celebrates National Caribbean-American Heritage Month Date Posted: June 2, 2022
New Website Helps Families Find Summer Opportunities for Their Children Date Posted: June 2, 2022
FREE New Castle History Camp, July 25–29, 2022 Date Posted: June 2, 2022
Prohibición ampliada de las bolsas de plástico para llevar en vigor el 1.° de julio de 2022 Date Posted: June 2, 2022
Enhanced Plastic Carryout Bag Ban in Effect July 1, 2022 Date Posted: June 2, 2022
Stay Cool, Hydrated, And Informed to Prevent Heat-Related Illness Date Posted: June 1, 2022
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Department of Justice | Department of Justice Press Releases | News | Date Posted: Wednesday, July 20, 2022
Attorney General Kathy Jennings, through the Fraud Division’s Consumer Protection Unit and in connection with 17 other states and the FTC, has secured a recovery of $34.2 million for more than 46,000 servicemembers and veterans nationwide who were deceived and defrauded by jewelry retailer Harris Jewelry.
Harris Jewelry used deceptive marketing tactics to lure active-duty servicemembers to their financing program, falsely claiming that investing in this program would improve servicemembers’ credit scores. Instead, servicemembers were tricked into obtaining high-interest loans on overpriced, poor quality jewelry that saddled them with thousands of dollars of debt and worsened their credit. The 18-state agreement requires Harris Jewelry to refund tens of thousands of servicemembers for warranties they were tricked into purchasing, to stop collecting millions of dollars of debt, to correct bad credit scores, and dissolves all of Harris Jewelry’s businesses. This agreement also requires Harris Jewelry to pay $1 million to all 18 states.
“Harris Jewelry’s conduct was unconscionable,” Attorney General Jennings said. “Instead of the honor, respect, and support owed to all who are serving and have served our country, Harris Jewelry preyed on those populations for a cheap buck. Today’s agreement serves as a stark reminder to those, like Harris Jewelry, who would do so that neither Delaware nor her sister states and commonwealths will allow such conduct to go without consequence. It is also a reminder to all of us of the debt we all owe to this country’s servicemembers and veterans.”
Harris Jewelry, headquartered in Hauppauge, New York, operated retail stores near and on military bases around the country. Their business model was designed to primarily target and servicemembers. A multi-state investigation led by New York found that local servicemembers were enticed into retail stores through a marketing scheme, dubbed “Operation Teddy Bear,” in which Harris Jewelry advertised teddy bears in military uniforms with promises of charitable donations. That investigation found that no legal contract was actually signed between Harris Jewelry and the charity it claimed to support. Moreover, consumers were often given varying and conflicting information about the amount donated to the charity. Sometimes they were told all the proceeds would be donated, other times they were told only a portion would be donated.
In addition, Harris Jewelry offered servicemembers predatory lending contracts that were marketed to servicemembers as a way to build or improve their credit scores. The credit advanced to servicemembers through the Harris Program was not based on a consumers’ credit score, potential income, or other legitimate factors that banks consider. Rather, it was based on a servicemember’s branch of service, the amount of time they have remaining on the term of enlistment, and the category of merchandise they purchased. Servicemembers were led to believe that they were investing in the Harris Program and the jewelry they purchased was a gift from Harris Jewelry.
The jewelry itself was significantly overpriced and poor quality. The investigation found that the company dramatically inflated the retail price of its products, generally by multiplying its wholesale cost by six or seven times, and in some cases 10 times the wholesale cost. For example, Harris Jewelry purchased its popular Mother’s Medal of Honor at $77.70 but sold it at $799. The jewelry was not worth the price and consumers often reported stones falling out, chains breaking, and the finish fading.
Harris offered servicemembers protection plans on the jewelry, which they claimed was optional but was added to nearly all eligible transactions without their awareness. The costs of the protection plans ranged from $39.99 to $349.99, depending on the retail price of the item. In some instances, the cost of the protection plan exceeded the wholesale cost Harris paid for the item. Protection plans were added to a consumer’s retail installment contract as a routine practice without disclosure.
With the inflated purchase price, protection plans, taxes, shipping and handling fees, teddy bears, and other fees, servicemembers were charged more than they were initially told. Using the $799 Mother’s Medal of Honor as an example, servicemembers were charged $79.99 for a protection plan, taxes, and other fees, bringing the total principal cost to $974.31. At a 14.99 percent interest rate over a 10-month period, the total amount paid by a servicemember ended up being $1,039.26 for the Mother’s Medal of Honor.
In essence, Harris Jewelry used charity pleas as a marketing tactic to dupe servicemembers into signing high-priced, deceptive in-house financing contracts for vastly overpriced jewelry. The jewelry was poor quality, the prices were highly inflated, the finance contracts had hidden fees, and the payments were directly tied to the military pay days.
According to today’s consent order, Harris Jewelry violated the FTC Act, the Truth in Lending Act, the Electronic Fund Transfer Act, the Military Lending Act, the Holder Rule, and state laws in connection with jewelry sales and financing to members of the military.
Specifically, the states and the FTC alleged that Harris Jewelry had done all of the following:
Today’s agreement requires Harris Jewelry to stop collecting $21,307,229 in outstanding debt that is held by 13,426 servicemembers and to provide $12,872,493 in refunds to 46,204 servicemembers who paid for protection plans. Harris Jewelry is also required to vacate judgments against 112 consumers totaling $115,335.64 and delete any negative credit entries reported to consumer reporting agencies.
Servicemembers and veterans who entered into a predatory financing loan with Harris Jewelry between January 2014 and July 2022 will be eligible for restitution to the extent they paid for warranties. An independent monitor will be installed to oversee the relief and contact eligible servicemembers and veterans. Eligible servicemembers and veterans will receive an email and a letter in the mail notifying them of this agreement and their eligibility. Servicemembers will then have to claim their restitution.
The 17 states joining Delaware and the FTC in today’s agreement are California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Nevada, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Washington.
The matter was handled by DAG Jordan Braunsberg and Paralegal Zuri Ramsey of the Fraud Division’s Consumer Protection Unit.
Keep up to date by receiving a daily digest email, around noon, of current news release posts from state agencies on news.delaware.gov.
Here you can subscribe to future news updates.
Department of Justice | Department of Justice Press Releases | News | Date Posted: Wednesday, July 20, 2022
Attorney General Kathy Jennings, through the Fraud Division’s Consumer Protection Unit and in connection with 17 other states and the FTC, has secured a recovery of $34.2 million for more than 46,000 servicemembers and veterans nationwide who were deceived and defrauded by jewelry retailer Harris Jewelry.
Harris Jewelry used deceptive marketing tactics to lure active-duty servicemembers to their financing program, falsely claiming that investing in this program would improve servicemembers’ credit scores. Instead, servicemembers were tricked into obtaining high-interest loans on overpriced, poor quality jewelry that saddled them with thousands of dollars of debt and worsened their credit. The 18-state agreement requires Harris Jewelry to refund tens of thousands of servicemembers for warranties they were tricked into purchasing, to stop collecting millions of dollars of debt, to correct bad credit scores, and dissolves all of Harris Jewelry’s businesses. This agreement also requires Harris Jewelry to pay $1 million to all 18 states.
“Harris Jewelry’s conduct was unconscionable,” Attorney General Jennings said. “Instead of the honor, respect, and support owed to all who are serving and have served our country, Harris Jewelry preyed on those populations for a cheap buck. Today’s agreement serves as a stark reminder to those, like Harris Jewelry, who would do so that neither Delaware nor her sister states and commonwealths will allow such conduct to go without consequence. It is also a reminder to all of us of the debt we all owe to this country’s servicemembers and veterans.”
Harris Jewelry, headquartered in Hauppauge, New York, operated retail stores near and on military bases around the country. Their business model was designed to primarily target and servicemembers. A multi-state investigation led by New York found that local servicemembers were enticed into retail stores through a marketing scheme, dubbed “Operation Teddy Bear,” in which Harris Jewelry advertised teddy bears in military uniforms with promises of charitable donations. That investigation found that no legal contract was actually signed between Harris Jewelry and the charity it claimed to support. Moreover, consumers were often given varying and conflicting information about the amount donated to the charity. Sometimes they were told all the proceeds would be donated, other times they were told only a portion would be donated.
In addition, Harris Jewelry offered servicemembers predatory lending contracts that were marketed to servicemembers as a way to build or improve their credit scores. The credit advanced to servicemembers through the Harris Program was not based on a consumers’ credit score, potential income, or other legitimate factors that banks consider. Rather, it was based on a servicemember’s branch of service, the amount of time they have remaining on the term of enlistment, and the category of merchandise they purchased. Servicemembers were led to believe that they were investing in the Harris Program and the jewelry they purchased was a gift from Harris Jewelry.
The jewelry itself was significantly overpriced and poor quality. The investigation found that the company dramatically inflated the retail price of its products, generally by multiplying its wholesale cost by six or seven times, and in some cases 10 times the wholesale cost. For example, Harris Jewelry purchased its popular Mother’s Medal of Honor at $77.70 but sold it at $799. The jewelry was not worth the price and consumers often reported stones falling out, chains breaking, and the finish fading.
Harris offered servicemembers protection plans on the jewelry, which they claimed was optional but was added to nearly all eligible transactions without their awareness. The costs of the protection plans ranged from $39.99 to $349.99, depending on the retail price of the item. In some instances, the cost of the protection plan exceeded the wholesale cost Harris paid for the item. Protection plans were added to a consumer’s retail installment contract as a routine practice without disclosure.
With the inflated purchase price, protection plans, taxes, shipping and handling fees, teddy bears, and other fees, servicemembers were charged more than they were initially told. Using the $799 Mother’s Medal of Honor as an example, servicemembers were charged $79.99 for a protection plan, taxes, and other fees, bringing the total principal cost to $974.31. At a 14.99 percent interest rate over a 10-month period, the total amount paid by a servicemember ended up being $1,039.26 for the Mother’s Medal of Honor.
In essence, Harris Jewelry used charity pleas as a marketing tactic to dupe servicemembers into signing high-priced, deceptive in-house financing contracts for vastly overpriced jewelry. The jewelry was poor quality, the prices were highly inflated, the finance contracts had hidden fees, and the payments were directly tied to the military pay days.
According to today’s consent order, Harris Jewelry violated the FTC Act, the Truth in Lending Act, the Electronic Fund Transfer Act, the Military Lending Act, the Holder Rule, and state laws in connection with jewelry sales and financing to members of the military.
Specifically, the states and the FTC alleged that Harris Jewelry had done all of the following:
Today’s agreement requires Harris Jewelry to stop collecting $21,307,229 in outstanding debt that is held by 13,426 servicemembers and to provide $12,872,493 in refunds to 46,204 servicemembers who paid for protection plans. Harris Jewelry is also required to vacate judgments against 112 consumers totaling $115,335.64 and delete any negative credit entries reported to consumer reporting agencies.
Servicemembers and veterans who entered into a predatory financing loan with Harris Jewelry between January 2014 and July 2022 will be eligible for restitution to the extent they paid for warranties. An independent monitor will be installed to oversee the relief and contact eligible servicemembers and veterans. Eligible servicemembers and veterans will receive an email and a letter in the mail notifying them of this agreement and their eligibility. Servicemembers will then have to claim their restitution.
The 17 states joining Delaware and the FTC in today’s agreement are California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Nevada, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Washington.
The matter was handled by DAG Jordan Braunsberg and Paralegal Zuri Ramsey of the Fraud Division’s Consumer Protection Unit.
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