OKLAHOMA CITY – Attorney General Mike Hunter today hosted the eleventh annual Consumer Protection Day to raise awareness of scams and fraud and named the 2018 Consumer Champion.
Opening the event, Attorney General Hunter spoke about the important work being done by the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Unit on behalf of Oklahomans.
“In 2017, our team of attorneys, investigators and support staff in the consumer protection unit received nearly 20,000 complaints and recovered close to $250,000 for victims and over $135,000 in criminal restitution,” Attorney General Hunter said. “Our team works overtime to protect Oklahomans from fraud and help make them whole after they become victims.”
Receiving the 2017 Brad Edwards Consumer Champion Award was BancFirst Vice President and Operational Security Officer Sharon Lewis-Williams.
“Through her career and volunteer service, Sharon Lewis-Williams has spent her life in service to others,” Attorney General Hunter said. “She is a passionate advocate for the elderly and exemplifies the meaning and spirit of this award.”
Lewis-Williams has assisted financial institutions and Oklahoma consumers recovering from fraud for more than 30 years in various capacities. She has been with BancFirst for more than 13 years, serving as the operational security officer responsible for managing the operational loss prevention, detection, investigation and recovery efforts for over 100 statewide locations.
Prior to her current role, Lewis-Williams served over 20 years with the Central Oklahoma Clearing House Association, managing the trade association and the development of a comprehensive fraud alert system for Oklahoma financial institutions and law enforcement agencies.
She also serves as the first Vice President of the Oklahoma Chapter of the International Association of Financial Crimes Investigators; as a member of Oklahoma City Metro Area Fraud Investigators Association; the Oklahoma County Coalition Against Financial Exploitation of the Elderly; and the Oklahoma Bankers Association Bank Fraud and Security Council.
Lewis – Williams was nominated by Oklahoma Banker’s Association Executive Vice President of the Fraud Division Elaine Dodd and Oklahoma City Police Department Triad Coordinator Sheryl Presley.
Dodd, who is a previous recipient of the Consumer Champion Award said Lewis-Willaims’ commitment to excellence and passion for helping others made her an easy nominee.
“Sharon is a tireless advocate and no one is more deserving of this award,” Dodd said. “Her dedication to protecting Oklahomans, especially her work with the elderly, our most vulnerable population, is an inspiration and is admirable. I am proud to call her a trusted friend and colleague.”
Other Consumer Protection Day events included free shredding from MIDCON Shredding and representatives from partnering agencies, who passed out free information on how to protect Oklahoma families and loved ones from fraud and scams. Organizations included: AARP, Oklahoma Corporation Commission, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Department of Consumer Credit, Oklahoma Insurance Department, Better Business Bureau and the FBI.
The Brad Edwards Consumer Award winner is chosen based on exemplary consumer service by initiating consumer advocacy programs, actively participating in activities or taking action that protects or benefits Oklahoma consumers. The award announcement is held annually with Consumer Protection Day.
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Attorney General Hunter gives welcome at the 2018 Consumer Protection Day.
Attorney General Hunter congratulates the 2018 Consumer Champion Sharon Lewis-Williams, who has worked at BancFirst for more than 13 years as an Operational Security Officer
Attorney General Hunter welcomes AARP's Fraud Fighters and thanks them for their service.