Harold Moldoff, a long time volunteer Consumer Affairs Specialist for the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection and Antitrust Bureau, was presented with the Joseph D. Vaughan Award by the State Committee on Aging at a ceremony yesterday. The Vaughan Awards are given annually to an individual or couple from each county who have demonstrated outstanding leadership and volunteer service on behalf of older persons in the State. The awards were initiated in 1962 in memory of Joseph D. Vaughan, a New Hampshire legislator and an early advocate on behalf of the elderly. Representative Vaughan was instrumental in creating a state agency dedicated to the well being of senior citizens. This year, Miriam Eglintine and Paul Eglintine, daughter and grandson of the late Joseph Vaughan, attended the Vaughan Awards ceremony.

Harold is in his 12th year as a volunteer Consumer Affairs Specialist with the Consumer Protection and Antitrust Bureau of the New Hampshire Attorney General's Office. He responds to telephone calls and letters from consumers who believe they have been victimized by a business, organization or a company representative. Harold brings years of business experience to the position, and provides information and assistance to consumers throughout New Hampshire. It is thanks to volunteers like Harold that the Bureau’s Mediation Program recovered over a quarter of a million dollars for consumers last year.

Harold has also developed and presented educational programs to many consumer groups, including senior citizens and high school students, on issues ranging from identity theft and telemarketing scams, to how to avoid making a "lemon" used car purchase.

Attorney General Kelly Ayotte said, “Harold and the other volunteer Consumer Affairs Specialists are committed to the goals of the Consumer Protection and Antitrust Bureau. With the assistance of our volunteers, we can better arm New Hampshire residents with the tools necessary to be better consumers, and can assist consumers and businesses settle disputes.”

Information about the volunteer Consumer Affairs Specialist program is available at http://doj.nh.gov/consumer/mediation.html. The Consumer Protection and Antitrust Bureau maintains a consumer hotline at (603) 271-3641. It is staffed Monday through Friday from 8:00am to 5:00pm to assist consumers with questions about consumer related issues.