Consumer Justice

The Consumer Justice Bureau of the District Attorney’s Office focuses primarily on cases involving fraud (and other economic crimes), environmental violations, and unfair business practices.

The Division pursues both criminal and civil prosecutions and is divided into the following units:

The attorneys and inspectors who work in the Consumer Protection Unit investigate and handle cases involving economic crimes and prosecute civil and criminal cases.

This Unit focuses on cases involving:

deceptive advertising,

employer fraud,

tax evasion, 

unlicensed contracting,

complex Ponzi schemes,

and unfair business practices.

The Environmental Protection Unit of the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office investigates and prosecutes, both civilly and criminally, a wide variety of violations of environmental laws that were designed to protect Alameda County residents and the air, waters, lands, and wildlife. Enforcement of these environmental laws and regulations also serves to prevent violators from gaining an unfair business advantage over competitors who adhere to the rules.

Some of the settlements in these cases require violators to pay into a fund managed by the Alameda County Fish and Game Commission. The monies from this fund are granted to local environmental organizations that use the money locally for a variety of programs designed to improve the environment of Alameda County, including the education of youth in the county on environmental issues.

This Unit focuses on cases involving mortgage fraud.

Find tips to Avoid Real Estate Fraud in a multiple languages: 

English, 

Spanish, 

Chinese, 

Farsi, 

Get educated with our H.E.L.P. program in English

How Do I File a Complaint?

  • Drop by our office at Oakport Street
  • Call for a complaint form: (510) 383-8600
  • Download a complaint form online and follow the directions.

** Please note that due to the complexity of real estate fraud cases, we cannot take complaints over the phone.

These cases include fraud in the following areas:

workers’ compensation,

automobile insurance,

annuity and life insurance,

and health care.

Organized Retail Theft

You should contact CJB directly if you wish to make a complaint involving any of the crimes listed above.

Address: 7677 Oakport Street, Suite 650, Oakland, CA 94621

Phone: (510) 383-8600
Fax: (510) 383-8615
Email: askcepd-da@acgov.org