Scammed Out of Money? Consumer Protection Office Recovers More Than $208,000 in 2025

Getting scammed by a dishonest business can leave residents with a pounding headache, and a major hole in their bank account. Fortunately, Orange County has a resource to help ease the financial and emotional stress. In 2025, Orange County’s Consumer Protection Office recovered a total of $208,644.44 to customers who lost money due to fraudulent or unfair business practices.

As the County recognizes National Consumer Protection Month in March, it’s important for residents to know their options if they fall victim to a scam.

“Last fiscal year, we received 1,255 complaints,” said Steven Bulinski, Program Supervisor for the Consumer Protection Office. “Many complaints involve business activities like retail sales, which may not be regulated, so we’ll forward a copy of the complaint to the business and ask them to respond. By contacting the business and bringing both parties together, we are often able to help resolve the consumer’s complaint.”

Functions of Orange County’s Consumer Protection Office include education and community outreach, dispute resolution for non-regulated business activities, and enforcement of Orange County’s trespass towing ordinance. Trespass towing refers to the removal of vehicles from private property without the owner’s consent, such as store parking lots or apartment complexes. While Consumer Protection is often able to help resolve disputes, the office does not provide legal advice, represent consumers in legal actions, or force a business to provide a specific resolution.

“Consumers don’t always know where to submit their complaint, so it can be difficult,” said Bulinski. “We determine if it’s a county, state, or federal issue, and we work in partnership with state offices, so if a consumer files a complaint with our office, we get it to the proper place.”

A major goal of the office is proactive consumer education. Workshops and seminars are offered to teach residents how to monitor bank accounts for suspicious activity, spot or avoid identity theft, and recognize scam emails and phone calls.

“It’s much easier to prevent something than to try and repair things after the damage has been done,” added Bulinski. “As an Orange County service, we want to make sure we protect all our residents and their finances. We work to maintain a good, happy, healthy consumer environment for everyone.”

How to request a Speaker or File a Complaint

The Consumer Protection Office offers speakers for meetings and events on topics including:

• Unfair business practices
• Fraud prevention
• Professional licensing
• Identity theft

To request a speaker, call 407-836-4200 or email FraudHelp@ocfl.net.

To file a complaint, you may:

• Submit a Complaint Form Online
• Submit a Towing Complaint Form Online

What Happens After You File a Complaint?

Once your complaint is received, it is assigned to staff for review. The office may:

• Contact you for additional information
• Request a response from the business involved
• Refer the complaint to the appropriate state or federal agency
• Conduct a site visit to ensure compliance with applicable laws

If you believe you are a victim of fraud or unfair business practices, file a complaint with the Orange County Consumer Protection Office.