The Louisiana Attorney General’s Office is warning the public of online promotions that mislead consumers to believe they can receive money from a settlement reached between the nation’s four largest tobacco companies and attorneys general from 46 states and territories.

It is important for consumers to understand that if an advertisement sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Louisiana consumers should be on guard that if a promotion is promising free money, it may not be legitimate.

The Attorney General’s Office has received numerous inquiries about online promotions claiming individuals can sign up to receive Master Settlement Agreement (MSA) payments. The advertisements mislead consumers to believe that they can claim thousands of dollars per month from the tobacco settlement through a special program.

While these ads emphasize claiming and receiving funds, the truth is consumers are actually prompted to purchase a subscription in order to learn more about how to receive the money.

The order form asks consumers for their personal information and a credit card number; and as we often warn — once consumers provide credit card numbers, it may be difficult to cancel and obtain a refund.
Louisiana consumers need to know that despite a promotion’s assertion, settlement funds obtained through the MSA are not available to individuals.

The Louisiana Legislature dedicated our MSA revenue to the Millennium Trust, which supports the Taylor Opportunity Program Scholarship (TOPS), as well as the Louisiana Fund; these monies are dedicated to the health and education of our citizens.

For more information on the Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement, contact Louisiana Attorney General’s Landry’s Tobacco Enforcement Unit by phone at 800-241-9311 or by email at TobaccoDOJ@ag.louisiana.gov.

Consumers who have received these advertisements and wish to file a complaint may do so by calling the Consumer Protection Hotline at 800-351-4889 or by visiting www.agjefflandry.com.

— Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry