Colorado
Real estate problems move up to 3rd on Colorado’s Top 10 consumer complaint list
Consumer complaints and inquiries filed with the state surged 20% last year, with housing-related and imposter scams driving much of the increase, according to an annual update from Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser.
The attorney general’s office received 24,473 complaints last year, which surpassed the previous record of 20,390 set in 2023. The top category with around 1,670 complaints in each of the past two years involves retail sales — everything from defective products to impossible-to-cancel subscriptions.
Professional services represented the second biggest category of complaints and unlike retail, which was flat, incidents rose by nearly 30%. Complaints in that area centered on warranties, shoddy workmanship, and problems tied to legal and other professional services.
Real estate sales and services complaints, which had ranked 10th on the 2023 list, shot up to the third spot, going from 520 to 1,272 complaints, a 145% increase.
Consumer advocates have focused more attention on questionable practices like the use of algorithms that reduce rent competition and undisclosed charges or junk fees that zing renters after the fact, such as fees for package delivery or for moving out. Weiser has pursued action against real estate companies like RealPage and GreyStar alleging their practices harm consumers. The increase in complaints may reflect greater awareness as well as firms trying to push the limits of acceptable behavior.
Consumers also appear to be struggling more with imposter scams and business impersonations, where complaints went from 808 to 1,205, or more than 50%. Banks, government agencies, tech support, online retailers, delivery firms — the list of businesses being impersonated is long.
Weiser notes that the prevalence of social media accounts combined with the rise of artificial intelligence technology now allows scammers to take voice recordings or photos and use them to craft highly customized and believable messages.
More broadly, scammers can gain personal information, such as the name of a target’s bank, and then combine it with a spoofed or false caller I.D. number, overcoming the normal caution people might show.
“Stay nervous,” Weiser advised. “When someone contacts you by phone, text, or social media, don’t assume what is being said is real. You have to start from the opposite assumption. Assume it isn’t true.”
His advice is to hang up or ignore an email or text and then directly contact the supposed source of the call if there is any doubt. Don’t use the number provided in a text, email or showing up on the caller ID.
Weiser notes that the record number of complaints not only points to too many consumers being treated unfairly but also to greater public awareness of the website his office runs to gather complaints StopFraudColorado.gov. He also noted that his office has been able to secure $500 million in “refunds, restitution, credits, and debt relief for Colorado consumers” since he took office.
The Colorado Public Interest Research Group, or CoPIRG, also released a list of tips on Monday to help consumers better secure their data. One is to store sensitive financial documents in the cloud, which can prove especially helpful in the event of a disaster or an emergency evacuation.
Given how much sensitive personal data is floating around on the dark web after data breaches, consumers are urged to freeze credit reports with all three national bureaus. That will block attempts by scammers to set up new credit lines or loans under a victim’s name. The task takes about 30 minutes and is free of charge, but fewer than one in 10 consumers have ever implemented a freeze. U.S. PIRG provides a guide on how to freeze a credit report.
Under the Colorado Privacy Act, consumers have the right to install a browser tool that automatically blocks the sale of personal data by any websites visited. For Google Chrome, the extension is called Privacy Badger. CoPIRG has a guide on how to install and use the extensions.
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Colorado
Julian Lewis Says Deion Sanders’ Colorado ‘Wasn’t Really Looking at Defenses Much’ Last Season
Colorado quarterback Julian Lewis made a stunning admission that could explain the team’s 3-9 finish to the 2025 season.
While speaking to ESPNU at Big 12 media days, Lewis was asked what the biggest difference was between last year and this year, and he revealed that the Deion Sanders-coached Buffaloes typically didn’t watch film during his first season with the team.
“My play, I’m actually looking at the defenses now,” Lewis said. “Last year, we wasn’t really looking at defenses much, just kind of high school free-balling, just out there playing football. But it’s a lot bigger than that now, so it should be fun.”
Before taking a redshirt year, Lewis played in four games as a true freshman with two starts and threw for 589 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions while completing 55.3 percent of his passes. He should fare even better this season with the benefit of film study.
Lewis will enter the 2026 campaign as Colorado’s starting quarterback, so he will have the opportunity to show his improvements when the Buffaloes open the year against Georgia Tech on Sept. 3.
State and federal agencies are starting to reopen public lands, state wildlife areas and a segment of the Colorado River that were closed in light of the Snyder Fire in Mesa County.
Stage 2 fire restrictions — banning all open fire or flames, including charcoal grills and wood-burning stoves — remain in effect as extreme fire danger, spurred on by hot and dry conditions, persists across the region.
The Snyder Fire started on Friday, June 26, when several smaller fires burning on the Colorado-Utah border combined. As of July 7, the fire was 98% contained after burning over 30,200 acres and killing three wildland firefighters.
With fire activity decreasing and containment increasing, Colorado Parks and Wildlife and the Bureau of Land Management shared their plans Tuesday to reopen lands impacted by the wildfire.
Parks and Wildlife said in a news release that it, alongside the Bureau of Land Management, had lifted the closure for public access and downstream recreation on the Colorado River, starting at the James M. Robb-Colorado River State Park in Fruita and extending to the Utah state line. It also reopened the boat ramp at the Fruita section of the James M. Robb-Colorado River State Park in Fruita to downstream traffic.
The state agency’s Horsethief State Wildlife Area in Fruita and the Loma Boat Launch State Wildlife Area also reopened.
The BLM said in a news release that all lands within the perimeter of the Snyder Fire burn area remain closed to ensure public and firefighter safety.
“The burned landscape — including vegetation — remains dynamic and unpredictable as it naturally recovers from the fire impacts. This order is effective immediately and will remain in effect until the order is rescinded,” the BLM said.
Both agencies also warned that fire danger remains extremely elevated and Stage 2 fire restrictions are in place.
A map of current federal and state fire restrictions is available on the Rocky Mountain Area Interagency Fire Restriction Dashboard or by visiting DFPC.Colorado.Gov/sections/wildfire-information-center. The Colorado Trails Explorer (or COTREX) app also has wildfire closure alerts.
Under current conditions, Parks and Wildlife advised the following actions to prevent sparking wildfires:
- Use established rings: Where permitted, only build campfires inside permanent metal fire rings in designated campgrounds.
- Clear nearby debris: Remove all dry grass, leaves and pine needles within a 10-foot radius of any flame.
- Drown and stir: Extinguish fires completely with water, stir the ashes, and ensure the debris is cold to the touch.
- Watch campfires constantly: Never leave a fire or portable stove unattended. If you see an unattended fire, call 911.
- Keep vehicles off brush: Avoid parking or idling cars on tall, dry grass where hot exhaust systems can ignite a fire.
- Secure towing equipment: Ensure trailer safety chains do not drag and spark against asphalt. Check them at every stop.
The BLM added that under its Stage 2 restrictions, smoking is prohibited except in an enclosed vehicle or building, a developed recreation site, or while stopped in an area at least three feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable materials.
Gas-powered stoves or grills with a shut-off valve are still allowed in cleared areas under this stage.
Violating Stage 2 fire restrictions by lighting a campfire is a Class 2 misdemeanor. Violators face an immediate citation, a mandatory court appearance, steep fines and potential jail time. Additionally, you can be held financially liable for all fire suppression costs and property damage if the campfire sparks a wildfire.
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