Consumer Protection Unit

The Consumer Protection Unit's primary duty is the enforcement of the Wyoming Consumer Protection Act, which prohibits unfair and deceptive acts and practices in consumer transactions.

Statute reference for the laws enforced by the Consumer Protection Unit:

W.S. 40-12-101 through 114 covers general consumer protection law.
W.S. 40-12-201 through 209 covers promotional advertising of prizes.
W.S. 40-12-301 through 305 covers telephone solicitation.
W.S. 40-12-401 through 404 covers commercial electronic mail.
W.S. 40-3-101 through 125 covers multilevel and pyramid distributorships.

For ease of consumer access, please click here or scroll down to view the above referenced statutes in their entirety.

( i ) "Person" means a natural person, corporation, trust, partnership, incorporated or unincorporated association or any other legal entity;

(ii) "Consumer transactions" means the advertising, offering for sale, sale or distribution of any merchandise to an individual for purposes that are primarily personal, family or household;

(iii) "Documentary material" means the original or a copy of any book, record, report, memorandum, paper, communication, tabulation, map, chart, photograph, mechanical transcription, other tangible document or recording, reproductions of information stored magnetically, file layout, code conversion tables or computer programs to convert file to readable printout, wherever situated;

(iv) "Examination" of documentary material includes the inspection, study or copying of any such material, and the taking of testimony under oath or acknowledgement with respect to any such documentary material or copy thereof;

(v) "Advertisement" includes the attempt by publication, dissemination, solicitation or circulation, whether oral, visual, written or otherwise, and whether in person, by telephone or by any other means to induce directly or indirectly any person to enter into any obligation or to acquire any title or interest in any merchandise;

(vi) "Merchandise" includes any service or any property, tangible or intangible, real, personal or mixed, or any other object, ware, good, commodity, or article of value wherever situated;

(viii) "Cure" as applied to an unlawful deceptive trade practice as defined in W.S. 40-12-105 means either:

(A) To offer in writing to adjust or modify the consumer transaction to which the unlawful deceptive trade practice relates to conform to the reasonable expectations of the consumer generated by such unlawful deceptive trade practice and to perform such offer if accepted by the consumer; or

(B) To offer in writing to rescind such consumer transaction and to perform such offer if accepted by the consumer.

(ix) "Uncured unlawful deceptive trade practice" means an unlawful deceptive trade practice as defined in W.S. 40-12-105:

(A) With respect to which a consumer who has been damaged by the unlawful deceptive trade practice has given notice to the alleged violator pursuant to W.S. 40-12-109; and

(I) No offer to cure has been made to such consumer within fifteen (15) days after such notice; or

(II) The unlawful deceptive trade practice has not been cured as to such consumer within a reasonable time after his acceptance of the offer to cure.

Unless otherwise agreed, when unsolicited merchandise is delivered to a person, he has a right to refuse such merchandise and is not obligated to return such merchandise to the sender. Such unsolicited merchandise is deemed an unconditional gift to the recipient, who may use it in any manner without any obligation to the sender. This section does not apply if there is evidence that the merchandise has been misdelivered , or if the delivered merchandise is offered as a good faith substitution for merchandise previously solicited by the recipient.

(a) For purposes of this section, "home solicitation sale" means the sale or lease of merchandise, other than farm equipment, for cash when the cash sales price, whether under a single sale or multiple sales, exceeds twenty-five dollars ($25.00) and in which the seller or a person acting for him engages in a personal solicitation of the sale at the residence of the buyer and the buyer's agreement or offer to purchase is there given to the seller or a person acting for him. A personal solicitation of a sale at the residence of the buyer includes contact with the buyer in person or by telephone. "Home solicitation sale" does not include:

(ii) A sale made subsequent to a personal contact or a telephone contact at the residence of the buyer but pursuant to negotiations between the parties at a business establishment at a fixed location where goods or services are offered or exhibited for sale;

(iii) A sale made pursuant to a telephone solicitation when the seller offers a full refund and right of cancellation for at least ten (10) days after receipt of the merchandise and the right of refund and cancellation is communicated during the initial telephone solicitation and is conspicuously displayed with the merchandise; or

(iv) A sale in which a consumer acquires use of property under a rental-purchase agreement as defined in W.S. 40-19-102(a )( xi), with an initial period of one (1) week or less, by placing a telephone call to a merchant and by requesting that specific property be delivered to the consumer's residence or such other place as the consumer directs and such rental-purchase agreement is consummated at the consumer's residence.

(b) Except as hereinafter provided, in addition to any right otherwise to revoke an offer, the buyer has the right to cancel a home solicitation sale until midnight of the third business day after the day on which the buyer signs an agreement or offer to purchase which complies with this part. Cancellation occurs when the buyer gives written notice of cancellation to the seller at the address stated in the agreement or offer to purchase. Notice of cancellation, if given by mail, is given when it is deposited in a mailbox properly addressed and postage prepaid. Notice of cancellation given by the buyer need not take a particular form and is sufficient if it indicates by any form of written expression the intention of the buyer not to be bound by the home solicitation sale.

(c) The buyer may not cancel a home solicitation sale if the buyer requests the seller to provide goods or services without delay because of an emergency and:

( i ) The seller in good faith makes a substantial beginning of performance of the contract before the buyer gives notice of cancellation; and

(ii) In the case of goods, the goods cannot be returned to the seller in substantially as good condition as when received by the buyer.

(d) The period within which cancellation may occur pursuant to this section shall not commence until the buyer is furnished a copy of the completed, approved and accepted contract, is given the name and address to which the notice of cancellation should be sent and is provided with a written statement of his right of cancellation. The statement of the buyer's right of cancellation shall comply with W.S. 40-14-253(b).

(e) Except as hereinafter provided, within ten (10) days after a home solicitation sale has been cancelled:

( i ) The seller must tender to the buyer any payments made by the buyer and any note or other evidence of indebtedness;

(ii) If the down payment includes goods traded in, the goods must be tendered in substantially as good condition as when received by the seller, and if the seller fails to tender the goods as provided by this subsection, the buyer may elect to recover an amount equal to the trade-in allowance stated in the agreement;

(iii) The seller may retain as a cancellation fee five percent (5%) of the cash price but not exceeding the amount of the cash down payment. If the seller fails to comply with an obligation imposed by this section, or if the buyer voids the sale on any ground independent of his right to cancel or revokes his offer to purchase, the seller is not entitled to retain a cancellation fee;

(iv) Until the seller has complied with the obligations imposed by this subsection, the buyer may retain possession of goods delivered to him by the seller and has a lien on the goods in his possession or control for any recovery to which he is entitled.

(f) Except as provided under subsection (e) of this section, within a reasonable time after a home solicitation sale has been cancelled or an offer to purchase revoked, the buyer upon demand must tender to the seller any goods delivered by the seller pursuant to the sale but he is not obligated to tender at any place other than his residence. If the seller fails to demand possession of the goods within thirty (30) days after cancellation or revocation, the goods become the property of the buyer without obligation to pay for them.

(g) The buyer has a duty to take reasonable care of the goods in his possession before cancellation or revocation and for thirty (30) days thereafter, during which time the goods are otherwise at the seller's risk.

(h) If the seller has performed any services pursuant to a home solicitation sale prior to its cancellation, the seller is entitled to no compensation except the cancellation fee provided in this section.

(a) A person engages in a deceptive trade practice unlawful under this act when, in the course of his business and in connection with a consumer transaction, he knowingly:

( i ) Represents that merchandise has a source, origin, sponsorship, approval, accessories or uses it does not have;

( ii ) Represents that he has a sponsorship, approval or affiliation he does not have;

( iii ) Represents that merchandise is of a particular standard, grade, style or model, if it is not;

( iv ) Represents that merchandise is available to the consumer for a reason that does not exist;

(v) Represents that merchandise has been supplied in accordance with a previous representation, if it has not; except that this subsection does not apply to merchandise supplied to the recipient by mistake or merchandise of equal or greater value supplied as a reasonably equivalent substitute for unavailable merchandise previously ordered by the recipient;

(vii) Makes false or misleading statements of fact concerning the price of merchandise or the reason for, existence of, or amounts of a price reduction;

(viii) Represents that a consumer transaction involves a warranty, a disclaimer of warranties, particular warranty terms, or other rights, remedies or obligations if the representation is false;

(ix) Represents that the consumer will receive a rebate, discount or other benefit as an inducement for entering into a consumer transaction in return for giving the supplier the names of prospective consumers or otherwise helping the supplier to enter into other consumer transactions, if receipt of the benefit is contingent upon an event occurring after the consumer enters into the transaction;

(xi) Advertises merchandise with intent not to supply reasonably expectable public demand, unless the advertisement discloses the limitation;

(xii) Represents that merchandise is original or new if he knows that it is deteriorated, damaged, altered, reconditioned, reclaimed, used or secondhand. For purposes of this subsection, the terms "original" or "new" include merchandise previously sold but returned within a reasonable time by the consumer for full credit if such merchandise is not damaged or deteriorated;

(xiii) Advertises under the guise of obtaining sales personnel when in fact the purpose of the advertisement is to sell merchandise to the sales personnel applicants;

(xiv) Employs "bait and switch" advertising which consists of an offer to sell merchandise which the seller does not intend to sell, which advertising is accompanied by one (1) or more of the following practices:

(B) False disparagement in any respect of the advertised merchandise or the terms of sale;

(C) Requiring undisclosed tie-in sales or other undisclosed conditions to be met prior to selling the advertised merchandise;

(D) Knowingly showing or demonstrating defective merchandise which is unusable or practicable for the purpose set forth in the advertisement;

(E) Accepting a deposit for the merchandise and subsequently charging the buyer for a higher priced item without his consent; or

(F) Willful failure to either make deliveries of the merchandise or to make a refund therefore .

Whenever the enforcing authority has reasonable cause to believe that any person has engaged in, is engaging in, or is about to engage in any practice which is unlawful under W.S. 40-12-104 or 40-12-105, and that proceedings would be in the public interest, he may bring an action in the name of this state against such person to restrain by temporary restraining order or preliminary or permanent injunction the use of such practice, upon the giving of appropriate notice to that person. The notice must state generally the relief sought and must be served in accordance with the Wyoming Rules of Civil Procedure. Before commencing any action, the enforcing authority shall give the person against whom proceedings are contemplated a reasonable opportunity to show why proceedings should not be instituted. The action may be brought in the district court of the county in which the person resides or has his principal place of business or in the district court of Laramie county , Wyoming . The district court may issue temporary restraining orders or preliminary or permanent injunctions, in accordance with the principles of equity, to restrain and prevent violations of this act. The court may make such additional orders or judgments as are necessary to compensate identifiable persons for actual damages or restoration of money or property, real or personal, which may have been acquired by means or any act or practice restrained. The remedies provided by this section, W.S. 40-12-108 and 40-12-111 shall be the exclusive remedies for violations of this act.

The enforcing authority may accept written assurance of voluntary compliance with respect to any practice believed to be violative of W.S. 40-12-105 from any person who is engaged or is about to engage in such practice. Such assurance is not considered an admission of violation for any purpose. Proof of failure to comply with the assurance of voluntary compliance is prima facie evidence of a violation of this act. Matters closed by virtue of the acceptance of an assurance of voluntary compliance may at any time be reopened by the enforcing authority for further proceedings in the public interest, pursuant to W.S. 40-12-106.

(a) A person relying upon an uncured unlawful deceptive trade practice may bring an action under this act for the damages he has actually suffered as a consumer as a result of such unlawful deceptive trade practice.

(b) Any person who is entitled to bring an action under subsection (a) of this section on his own behalf against an alleged violator of this act for damages for an unlawful deceptive trade practice may bring a class action against such person on behalf of any class of persons of which he is a member and which has been damaged by such unlawful deceptive trade practice, subject to and pursuant to the Wyoming Rules of Civil Procedure governing class actions, except as herein expressly provided. If the court determines that actual damages have been suffered by reason of the unlawful deceptive trade practice, the court shall award reasonable attorney's fees to the plaintiffs in a class action under this subsection, provided that such fees shall be determined by the amount of time reasonably expended by the attorney for the plaintiffs and not by the amount of the judgment. Any monies or property recovered in a class action under this subsection which cannot, with due diligence, be restored to consumers within one (1) year after judgment becomes final shall be returned to the party depositing the same.

No action may be brought under this act, except under W.S. 40-12-108, unless the consumer bringing the action gives within the following time limits notice in writing to the alleged violator of the act, (a) within one (1) year after the initial discovery of the unlawful deceptive trade practice, (b) within two (2) years following such consumer transaction, whichever occurs first, and unless the unlawful deceptive trade practice becomes an uncured unlawful deceptive trade practice as defined in this act. The notice required under this section shall state fully the nature of the alleged unlawful deceptive trade practice and the actual damage suffered therefrom . No action may be brought under this act, except under W.S. 40-12-108, unless said action is initiated within one (1) year after the furnishing of notice as required under this section.

( i ) Acts or practices required or permitted by state or federal law, rule or regulation or judicial or administrative decision;

(ii) Acts or practices by the publisher, owner, agent or employee of a newspaper, periodical, radio or television station or any other person without knowledge of the deceptive character of the advertisement in the publication or dissemination of an advertisement supplied by another.

40-12-111. Violations involving older persons or persons with disabilities; civil penalty.

( i ) "Person with disabilities" means any person who has a mental or educational impairment which substantially limits one (1) or more major life activities;

(ii) "Major life activities" means functions associated with the normal activities of independent daily living such as caring for one's self, performing manual tasks, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, learning and working;

(B) Any educational deficiency which substantially affects a person's ability to read and comprehend the terms of any contractual agreement entered into.

(b) Any person who willfully uses, or has willfully used, a method, act or practice in violation of this act which victimizes or attempts to victimize an older person or a person with disabilities, and commits such violation when the person knew or should have known that the conduct was unfair or deceptive, shall make restitution or reimbursement to the older person or person with disabilities including reasonable attorney fees and costs, and, in addition, is liable for a civil penalty of up to fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000.00) for each violation recoverable by the office of the attorney general.

(a) If, by inquiry by the enforcing authority or as a result of complaints, the enforcing authority has probable cause to believe that a person has engaged in, or is engaging in, an act or practice that violates this act, investigators designated by the Wyoming attorney general may administer oaths and affirmations, subpoena witnesses or matter, and collect evidence. Within five (5) days, excluding weekends and legal holidays, after the service of a subpoena or at any time before the return date specified therein, whichever is longer, the party served may file in the district court in the county in which the party resides or in which the party transacts business, or in the district court for the first judicial district of Wyoming, and serve upon the enforcing authority a petition for an order modifying or setting aside the subpoena. The petitioner may raise any objection or privilege which would be available under this act or upon service of a subpoena in a civil action. The subpoena shall inform the party served of the party's rights under this subsection.

(b) If matter that the enforcing authority seeks to obtain by subpoena is located outside the state, the person subpoenaed may make it available to the enforcing authority to examine the matter at the place where it is located. The enforcing authority may designate representatives, including officials of the state in which the matter is located, to inspect the matter on its behalf, and the enforcing authority may respond to similar requests from officials of other states.

(c) Upon failure of a person without lawful excuse to obey a subpoena and upon reasonable notice to all persons affected, the enforcing authority may apply to the district court for an order compelling compliance.

(d) The enforcing authority may request that an individual who refuses to comply with a subpoena on the ground that testimony or matter may incriminate the individual, be ordered by the court to provide the testimony or matter. Except in a prosecution for perjury, an individual who complies with a court order to provide testimony or matter after asserting a privilege against self-incrimination to which the individual is entitled by law shall not have the testimony or matter so provided, or evidence derived therefrom , received against the individual in any criminal investigation or proceeding.

(e) Any person upon whom a subpoena is served pursuant to this section shall comply with the terms thereof unless otherwise provided by order of the court. Any person who fails to appear with the intent to avoid, evade or prevent compliance in whole or in part with any investigation under this act or who removes from any place, conceals, withholds, mutilates, alters or destroys, or by any other means falsifies any documentary material in the possession, custody or control of any person subject to the subpoena, or knowingly conceals any relevant information with the intent to avoid, evade or prevent compliance is liable for a civil penalty of not more than five thousand dollars ($5,000.00), reasonable attorney's fees and costs.

(f) Whenever criminal or civil intelligence, investigative information or any other information held by any state or federal agency is available to the enforcing authority on a confidential or a similarly restricted basis, the enforcing authority, in the course of the investigation of any violation of this act, may obtain and use the information. Any intelligence or investigative information that is confidential or exempt under W.S. 16-4-201 through 16-4-205 retains its status as confidential or exempt.

(a) The enforcing authority, upon petition to the court, may recover, on behalf of the state, a civil penalty of not more than five thousand dollars ($5,000.00) from any person who violates the terms of a permanent injunction issued under W.S. 40-12-106.

(b) For purposes of this section, the court issuing an injunction shall retain jurisdiction, and the cause shall be continued.

(c) Except as provided in W.S. 40-12-111, any person or agent or employee of the person, who willfully uses, or has willfully used, a method or act, in violation of this act, is liable for a civil penalty of not more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000.00) for each violation. Willful violations occur when the person knew or should have known that the person's conduct was unfair or deceptive. This civil penalty may be recovered in any action brought under this act by the enforcing authority or the enforcing authority may terminate any investigation or action upon agreement by the person to pay a stipulated civil penalty. The enforcing authority or the court may waive any civil penalty if the person has previously made full restitution or reimbursement or has paid actual damages to the consumers who have been injured by the unlawful act or practice. If civil penalties are assessed in any litigation, the enforcing authority is entitled to reasonable attorney's fees and costs.

This act shall not prohibit actions under other statutory or common-law provisions against conduct or practices similar to those declared to be unlawful by W.S. 40-12-105. However, the remedies provided in this act are the exclusive remedies for actions brought pursuant to this act.

(ii) "Prize notice" means a notice given to an individual in this state that satisfies all of the following:

(A) Is or contains a representation that the individual has been selected or may be eligible to receive a prize;

(B) Conditions receipt of a prize on a payment from the individual or requires or invites the individual to make a contact to learn how to receive the prize or to obtain other information related to the notice.

(B) A notice informing the individual that he has been awarded a prize as a result of his actual prior entry in a game, drawing, sweepstakes or other contest, if the individual is awarded the prize stated in the notice.

(iv) "Solicitor" means a person who represents to an individual that the individual has been selected or may be eligible to receive a prize;

(A) A price at which the solicitor or sponsor can demonstrate that a substantial number of the prizes have been sold by a person other than the solicitor or sponsor in the trade area in which the prize notice is given; or

(B) If the solicitor or sponsor is unable to satisfy subparagraph (A) of this paragraph, no more than one and five-tenths (1.5) times the amount the solicitor or sponsor paid for the prize.

If a solicitor represents to an individual that the individual has been selected or may be eligible to receive a prize, the solicitor shall not request, and the solicitor or sponsor shall not accept, a payment from the individual in any form before the individual receives a written prize notice that contains all of the information required under W.S. 40-12-203(a) presented in the manner required under W.S. 40-12-203(b) through (f).

(a) A written prize notice shall contain all of the following information presented in the manner required under subsections (b) through (f) of this section:

(ii) The verifiable retail value of each prize the individual has been selected or may be eligible to receive;

(iii) If the notice lists more than one (1) prize that the individual has been selected or may be eligible to receive, a statement of the odds the individual has of receiving each prize;

(iv) Any requirement or invitation for the individual to view, hear or attend a sales presentation in order to claim a prize, the approximate length of the sales presentation and a detailed description of the property or service that is the subject of the sales presentation. The description of the property or service shall include the price of the property or service, the size of the property, length of the service and any other information required to make an informed determination as to the value of the property or service;

(v) Any requirement that the individual pay shipping or handling fees or any other charges to obtain or use a prize;

(vi) If receipt of the prize is subject to a restriction, a statement that a restriction applies, a description of the restriction and a statement containing the location in the notice where the restriction is described; and

(b) The verifiable retail value and the statement of odds required in a written prize notice under paragraphs (a )( ii) and (iii) of this section shall be stated in immediate proximity to each listing of the prize in each place the prize appears on the written prize notice and shall be in the same size and boldness of type as the prize, and provided:

( i ) The statement of odds shall include, for each prize, the total number of prizes to be given away and the total number of written prize notices to be delivered. The number of prizes and written prize notices shall be stated in Arabic numerals. The statement of odds shall be in the following form: ".... ( number of prizes) out of .... written prizes notices"; and

(ii) The verifiable retail value shall be in the following form: "verifiable retail value: $.... ".

(c) If an individual is required to pay shipping or handling fees or any other charges to obtain or use a prize, the following statement shall appear in immediate proximity to each listing of the prize in each place the prize appears in the written prize notice and shall be in not less than ten (10) point boldface type: "YOU MUST PAY $.... IN ORDER TO RECEIVE OR USE THIS ITEM".

(d) The information required in a written prize notice under paragraph (a )( iv) of this section shall be on the first page of the written prize notice in not less than ten (10) point boldface type. The information required under paragraphs (a )( vi) and (vii) of this section shall be in not less than ten (10) point boldface type.

(e) If a written prize notice is given by a solicitor on behalf of a sponsor, the name of the sponsor shall be more prominently and conspicuously displayed than the name of the promoter.

( i ) Place on an envelope containing a written prize notice any representation that the person to whom the envelope is addressed has been selected or may be eligible to receive a prize;

(ii) Deliver a written prize notice that contains language, or is designed in a manner, that would lead a reasonable person to believe that it originates from a government agency, public utility, insurance company, consumer reporting agency, debt collector or law firm unless the written prize notice originates from that source;

(iii) Represent directly or by implication that the number of individuals eligible for the prize is limited or that an individual has been selected to receive a particular prize unless the representation is true.

(a) If a prize notice requires or invites an individual to view, hear or attend a sales presentation in order to claim a prize, the sales presentation shall not begin until the solicitor does all of the following:

( i ) Informs the individual of the prize, if any, that has been awarded to the individual; and

(ii) If the individual has been awarded a prize, delivers to the individual the prize or the item selected by the individual under W.S. 40-12-205 if the prize is not available.

(a) A solicitor who represents to an individual in a written prize notice that the individual has been awarded a prize shall provide the prize to the individual unless the prize is not available. If the prize is not available, the solicitor shall provide the individual with any one (1) of the following items selected by the individual:

( i ) Any other prize listed in the written prize notice that is available and that is of equal or greater value;

(ii) The verifiable retail value of the prize in the form of cash, a money order or a certified check;

(iii) A voucher, certificate or other evidence of obligation stating that the prize will be shipped to the individual within thirty (30) days at no cost to the individual.

(b) If a voucher, certificate or other evidence of obligation delivered under paragraph (a )( iii) of this section is not honored within thirty (30) days, the solicitor shall deliver to the individual the verifiable retail value of the prize in the form of cash, a money order or a certified check. The sponsor shall make the payment to the individual if the solicitor fails to do so.

(a) Except as provided by subsection (b) of this section, any individual who violates this article is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not more than seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), imprisonment for not more than six (6) months, or both, for each violation.

(b) Whoever intentionally violates this article is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000.00), imprisonment for not more than one (1) year, or both. A person intentionally violates this article if the violation occurs after the attorney general or a district attorney has notified the person by certified mail that the person is in violation of this article.

( i ) Bring an action for temporary or permanent injunctive or other relief in any court of competent jurisdiction for any violation of this article. The court may, upon entry of final judgment, award restitution when appropriate to any person suffering loss because of a violation of this article if proof of the loss is submitted to the satisfaction of the court;

(ii) Bring an action in any court of competent jurisdiction for the penalties authorized under W.S. 40-12-206.

(a) In addition to any other remedies, a person suffering pecuniary loss because of a violation by another person of this article may bring an action in any court of competent jurisdiction and shall recover all of the following:

( i ) The greater of five hundred dollars ($500.00) or twice the amount of the pecuniary loss;

The provisions of this article shall not apply to the sale or purchase, or solicitation or representation in connection therewith, of goods from a catalog or of books, recordings, video cassettes, periodicals and similar goods through a membership group or club which is regulated by the federal trade commission through a contractual plan or arrangement such as a continuity plan, subscription arrangement, or a single sale or purchase series arrangement under which the seller ships goods to a consumer who has consented in advance to receive the goods and the recipient of the goods is given the opportunity, after examination of the goods, to receive a full refund of charges for the goods or unused portion thereof, upon return of the undamaged goods or unused portion of the goods.

( i ) "Caller identification service" means a type of telephone service or system which allows telephone subscribers to see the telephone numbers from which incoming telephone calls are dialed;

(ii) "Consumer" means an actual or prospective purchaser, lessee or recipient of consumer goods or services;

(iii) "Consumer goods or services" means any real property or any tangible or intangible personal property or any services which are marketed and intended to be used for personal, family or household purposes, including, without limitation, any such property intended to be attached to or installed in any real property without regard to whether it is so attached or installed, as well as cemetery lots and timeshare estates;

(iv) "Doing business in this state" refers to businesses which conduct telephonic sales calls from a location in Wyoming or from other states or nations to consumers located in Wyoming ;

(vi) "Established business relationship" means a prior or existing relationship formed by a voluntary two-way communication between a seller or telephone solicitor and a consumer with or without an exchange of consideration, on the basis of an inquiry, application, purchase or transaction by the consumer regarding products or services offered by such seller or telephone solicitor which relationship has not been previously terminated by either party;

(vii) "Merchant" means a person who, directly or indirectly, offers or makes available to consumers any consumer goods or services;

(viii) "National do-not-call list" means the list maintained by the Telephone Preference Service of the Direct Marketing Association, Inc., Farmingdale , New York , or its successor organization;

(ix) "Telephonic sales call" means a call made by a telephone solicitor to a consumer, for the purpose of soliciting a sale of any consumer goods or services, for the purpose of soliciting an extension of credit for consumer goods or services, or for the purpose of obtaining information that will or may be used for the direct solicitation of a sale of consumer goods or services or an extension of credit for such purposes;

(x) "Telephone solicitor" means any natural person, business entity or a subsidiary or affiliate thereof, doing business in this state, who makes or causes to be made a telephonic sales call, including, but not limited to, calls made by use of automated dialing devices;

(xi) "Unsolicited telephonic sales call" means a telephonic sales call other than a call made:

(B) Primarily in connection with an existing debt or contract, payment or performance of which has not been completed at the time of the call;

(D) By a telephone solicitor or merchant making less than two hundred twenty-five (225) unsolicited calls per year.

(a) Any telephone solicitor or merchant who makes an unsolicited telephonic sales call to a residential or mobile telephone number shall disclose at the outset of the conversation and in a clear and conspicuous manner to the person receiving the call, the following information:

(ii) The identity of the telephone solicitor or merchant and a telephone number and address at which the telephone solicitor or merchant may be contacted;

(b) No telephone solicitor or merchant shall willfully make or cause to be made any unsolicited telephonic sales call to any residential, mobile or telephonic paging device telephone number more than sixty (60) days after the number for that telephone appears in the national do-not-call list. This subsection does not apply to any person who calls an actual or prospective seller or lessor of real property when the call is made in response to a yard sign or other form of advertisement placed by the seller or lessor .

(c) No telephone solicitor or merchant who makes an unsolicited telephonic sales call to the telephone line of a residential subscriber in this state shall knowingly utilize any method to block or otherwise circumvent the subscriber's use of a caller identification service.

(d) No telephone solicitor shall initiate any unsolicited telephonic sales call to a consumer before the hour of 8 a.m. or after 8 p.m. local time at the consumer's location.

(a) No telephone solicitor or merchant shall make or knowingly allow a telephonic sales call to be made if the call involves an automated system for the selection or dialing of telephone numbers or the playing of a recorded message when a connection is completed to a number called.

(b) Subsection (a) of this section does not prohibit the use of an automated telephone dialing system with live messages if:

( i ) The calls are made or messages given solely in response to calls initiated by the persons to whom the automatic calls or live messages are directed;

(ii) The telephone numbers selected for automatic dialing have been screened to exclude any telephone subscriber who is included on the national do-not-call list and any unlisted telephone number; or

(iii) The call is to a consumer with whom the caller had an established business relationship.

(a) The enforcing authority shall investigate any complaints received concerning violations of this article. If, after investigating any complaint, the enforcing authority finds that there has been a willful violation of this article, the enforcing authority may bring an action to impose a civil penalty and to seek other relief, including injunctive relief, as the court deems appropriate against the telephone solicitor or merchant. The civil penalty imposed shall be as follows:

(ii) For the second violation, not to exceed two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500.00);

(iii) For the third and subsequent violations, not to exceed five thousand dollars ($5,000.00) per violation.

(b) An action under this section may be brought in the district court of the county in which the telephone solicitor or merchant resides or had its principle place of business or in the district court of Laramie county Wyoming. The civil penalty provided under this section may be recovered in any action brought under this article by the enforcing authority, or the enforcing authority may terminate any investigation or action upon agreement by the telephone solicitor or merchant to pay a stipulated civil penalty. The enforcing authority or the court may waive any civil penalty if the telephone solicitor or merchant has previously made full restitution or reimbursement or has paid actual damages to the consumers who have been injured by the violation.

(c) In any civil litigation resulting from a transaction involving a violation of this article, the prevailing party, after judgment in the trial court and exhaustion of all appeals, if any, shall receive reasonable attorney's fees and costs from the nonprevailing party.

(d) The remedies provided by this section are not exclusive and shall not preclude the imposition of any other relief or criminal penalties provided by law.

(e) It shall be an affirmative defense to an action brought by an enforcing authority for a violation of W.S. 40-12-302(b) that the person called a consumer listed on the national do-not-call list as a result of a good faith error.

Each telephone solicitor or merchant making unsolicited telephonic sales calls and doing business in this state shall file with the attorney general of this state a statement giving notice of this fact and designating the secretary of state of this state its agent for service of process, unless a lawful resident is designated as agent for service of process, for any alleged violation of this article. The written notice shall further set forth the intention of the telephone solicitor or merchant to abide by the provisions of this article. Compliance with this section shall not subject any telephone solicitor or merchant to the provisions or consequences of any other statute of this state.

( i ) "Assist the transmission" means actions taken by a person to provide substantial assistance or support which enables any person to formulate, compose, send, originate, initiate or transmit a commercial electronic mail message when the person providing the assistance knows or consciously avoids knowing that the initiator of the commercial electronic mail message is engaged or intends to engage in any practice that violates this article;

(ii) "Commercial electronic mail message" means an electronic mail message sent for the purpose of promoting real property, goods or services for sale or lease. It does not mean an electronic mail message to which an interactive computer service provider has attached an advertisement in exchange for free use of an electronic mail account, when the sender has agreed to such an arrangement;

(iii) "Electronic mail address" means a destination, commonly expressed as a string of characters, to which electronic mail may be sent or delivered;

(v) "Initiate the transmission" refers to the action by the original sender of an electronic mail message, not to the action by any intervening interactive computer service that may handle or retransmit the message, unless such intervening interactive computer service assists in the transmission of an electronic mail message when it knows or consciously avoids knowing that the person initiating the transmission is engaged or intends to engage in any act or practice that violates this article;

(vi) "Interactive computer service" means any information service, system or access software provider that provides or enables computer access by multiple users to a computer server, including specifically a service or system that provides access to the internet and such systems operated or services offered by libraries or educational institutions;

(vii) "Internet domain name" refers to a globally unique, hierarchical reference to an internet host or service, assigned through centralized internet naming authorities, comprising a series of character strings separated by periods, with the right-most string specifying the top of the hierarchy;

(viii) "Service provider" means an entity offering the transmission, routing or providing of connections for digital online communications between or among points specified by a user, of material of the user's choosing, without modification to the content of the material sent or received.

(a) No person may initiate the transmission, conspire with another to initiate the transmission or assist the transmission of a commercial electronic mail message from a computer located in Wyoming or to an electronic mail address that the sender knows or has reason to know is held by a Wyoming resident, or to an address that the sender knows or has reason to know is located in a state or other jurisdiction with laws similar to this state's laws regarding commercial electronic mail, that:

( i ) Uses a third party's internet domain name without permission of the third party, or otherwise misrepresents or obscures any information in identifying the point of origin or the transmission path of a commercial electronic mail message; or

(b) For purposes of this section, a person knows that the intended recipient of a commercial electronic mail message is a Wyoming resident if that information is available, upon request, from the registrant of the internet domain name contained in the recipient's electronic mail address.

(c) For purposes of this article, a service provider does not assist in the transmission of a commercial electronic mail message in violation of this article if:

( i ) The activity which violates this article was not directed by the service provider or its agent;

(ii) The service provider does not receive a financial benefit directly attributable to the violation of this article by one (1) of its customers; and

(iii) The service provider does not provide the equipment or complete management of systems found to have an open mail relay.

(a) The enforcing authority shall investigate any complaints received concerning violations of this article. If, after investigating any complaint, the enforcing authority finds that there has been a violation of this article, the enforcing authority may bring an action to impose a civil penalty and to seek other relief, including injunctive relief. The civil penalty imposed shall be as follows:

(ii) For the second violation, not to exceed two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500.00);

(iii) For the third and subsequent violations, not to exceed five thousand dollars ($5,000.00) per violation.

(b) An action under this section may be brought in the district court of the county in which a commercial electronic mail message that violates this article has been received or in the district court of Laramie county , Wyoming . The civil penalty provided under this section may be recovered in any action brought under this article by the enforcing authority, or the enforcing authority may terminate any investigation or action upon agreement with the person violating this article to pay a stipulated civil penalty.

(d) The remedies provided by this section are not exclusive and shall not preclude the imposition of any other relief or criminal penalties provided by law.

40-12-404. Immunity from liability for blocking of commercial electronic mail by interactive computer service.

(a) An interactive computer service may, upon its own initiative, block the receipt or transmission through its service of any commercial electronic mail that it reasonably believes is, or will be, sent in violation of this article.

(b) No interactive computer service may be held liable for any action voluntarily taken in good faith to block the receipt or transmission through its service of any commercial electronic mail which it reasonably believes is, or will be, sent in violation of this article.

This act [ 40 -3-101 through 40-3-125] may be cited as the "Wyoming Multilevel and Pyramid Distributorship Act."

( i ) "Multilevel distribution companies" means any person, firm, corporation or other business entity which sells, distributes or supplies for a valuable consideration, goods or services through independent agents, contractors or distributors, at different levels wherein such participants may recruit other participants, and wherein commissions, cross-commissions, bonuses, refunds, discounts, dividends or other considerations in the program are, or may be, paid as a result of the sale of such goods or services or the recruitment, actions or performances of additional participants;

(ii) "Multilevel distribution marketing plan" means any agreement for a definite or indefinite period, either expressed or implied, in which a person agrees, for a valuable consideration, to distribute goods or services of a multilevel distribution company to members of the public or to persons who occupy different levels in the multilevel distribution company's distribution system;

(iii) "Distributor" means any independent contracted person, agent, employer or participant who has agreed to perform, at one (1) or more levels in a multilevel distribution marketing plan, the functions of distributing the goods or services of the multilevel distribution company or the recruitment of subordinate distributors or both functions;

(iv) "Resalable condition" means products that will pass without objection in the trade, or are still fit for the ordinary purposes for which the products are used;

(v) "Referral sale" means any inducement offered to a person, for the purpose of selling a product or service, which is the opportunity to receive compensation without exercising a bona fide and commensurate responsibility for the sale of the product or service to the ultimate customer; or any offer to a person of an opportunity to receive compensation related to the recruitment of third persons who will be entitled to substantially similar recruiting opportunities when the offer is used as an inducement for the payment of an entrance fee, given toward a purchase or other consideration, except for the actual cost of necessary sales materials by the persons to whom the offer is made;

(vi) "Endless chain" means any scheme or plan for the disposal or distribution of property or services whereby a participant pays a valuable consideration for the chance to receive compensation for introducing one (1) or more additional persons into participation in the scheme or plan or for the chance to receive compensation when the person introduced by the participant introduces a new participant;

(vii) "Documentary material" means the original or a copy of any book, record, report, memorandum, paper, communication, tabulation, map, chart, photograph, mechanical transcription, other tangible document or recording, reproductions of information stored magnetically, file layout, code conversion tables, computer programs to convert file to readable printout, wherever situate.

No person may contrive, prepare, set up, propose or operate an endless chain or referral sale.

Every multilevel distribution company shall provide in its contract of participation that the contract may be cancelled for any reason at any time by a participant upon notification in writing to the company of his election to cancel. If the participant has purchased products while the contract of participation was in effect, all unencumbered products in a resalable condition then in the possession of the participant shall be repurchased by the multilevel distribution company. The repurchase shall be at a price of not less than ninety percent (90%) of the original net cost to the participant returning such goods, taking into account any sales made by or through such participant prior to notification to the company of the election to cancel.

(a) No multilevel distribution company, nor any participant, shall require participants in its marketing program to purchase products or services or pay any other consideration in order to participate in the marketing program unless the multilevel distribution company agrees in writing:

( i ) To repurchase all or part of any products which are unencumbered and in a resalable condition at a price of not less than ninety percent (90%) of the original net cost to the participant, taking into account any sales made by or through such participant prior to notification to the company of election to cancel;

(ii) To repay not less than ninety percent (90%) of the original net cost of any services purchased by the participants; or

(iii) To refund not less than ninety percent (90%) of any other consideration paid by the participant in order to participate in the marketing program.

(a) No multilevel distribution company or participant in its marketing program shall:

( i ) Operate or, directly or indirectly, participate in the operation of any multilevel marketing program wherein the financial gains to the participants are primarily dependent upon the continued, successive recruitment of other participants and where sales to nonparticipants are not required as a condition precedent to realization of the financial gains;

(ii) Offer to pay, pay or authorize the payment of any finder's fee, bonus, refund, override, commission, cross-commission, dividend or other consideration to any participant in a multilevel marketing program solely for the solicitation or recruitment of other participants therein;

(iii) Offer to pay, pay or authorize the payment of any finder's fee, bonus, refund, override, commission, cross-commission, dividend or other consideration to any participant in a multilevel marketing program in connection with the sale of any product or service unless the participant performs a bona fide supervisory, distributive, selling or soliciting function in the sale or delivery of the product or services to the ultimate consumer; or

(iv) Offer to pay, pay or authorize the payment of any finder's fee, bonus, refund, override, commission, cross-commission, dividend or other consideration to any participant:

(A) If payment thereof is or would be dependent on the element of chance dominating over the skill or judgment of the participant;

(B) If no amount of judgment or skill exercised by the participant has any appreciable effect upon any finder's fee, bonus, refund, override, commission, cross-commission, dividend or other consideration which the participant may receive; or

(C) If the participant is without that degree of control over the operation of the plan as to enable him substantially to affect the amount of finder's fee, bonus, refund, override, commission, cross-commission, dividend or other consideration which he may receive or be entitled to receive.

Multilevel distribution companies shall not represent directly or by implication that participants in a multilevel marketing program will earn or receive any stated gross or net amount, or represent in any manner the past earnings of participants. A written or verbal description of the manner in which the marketing plan operates shall not, standing alone, constitute a representation of earnings, past or future. Multilevel distribution companies shall not represent directly or by implication, that it is relatively easy to secure or retain additional distributors or sales personnel or that all or substantially all participants will succeed.

Nothing in W.S. 40-3-101 through 40-3-125 shall apply to acts or practices permitted under the laws of this state or under rules, regulations or decisions interpreting the laws, or to any person who has procured a license as provided by W.S. 39-17-106(a) or (b).

Each multilevel distribution company numbering among its participants any resident of this state shall file with the state's attorney general a statement giving notice of this fact and designating the secretary of state of this state its agent for service of process for any alleged violation of this act [ 40 -3-101 through 40-3-125]. The written notice shall further set forth the intention of the multilevel distribution company to abide by the provisions of this act. Compliance with this section shall not subject any multilevel distribution company to the provisions or consequences of any other statute of this state.

Any multilevel distribution company, which fails to comply with W.S. 40-3-109 is deemed to have thereby appointed the secretary of state its agent for service of process for any alleged violation of this act [ 40 -3-101 through 40-3-125].

(a) If the attorney general has reason to believe that a person has engaged in activity which violates the provisions of this act [ 40-3-101 through 40-3-125], he shall make an investigation to determine if this act has been violated, and, to the extent necessary for this purpose, may administer oaths or affirmations, and, upon his own motion or upon request of any party, may subpoena witnesses, compel their attendance, adduce evidence, and require the production of any matter which is relevant to the investigation, including the existence, description, nature, custody, condition and location of any books, documents or other tangible things and the identity and location of persons having knowledge of relevant facts or any other matter reasonably calculated to lead to the discovery of admissible evidence.

(b) If the person's records are located outside this state, the person at his option shall either make them available to the attorney general at a convenient location within this state or pay the reasonable and necessary expenses for the attorney general or his representative to examine them at the place where they are maintained. The attorney general may designate representatives, including comparable officials of the state in which the records are located, to inspect them on his behalf.

(c) Upon failure without lawful excuse to obey a subpoena or to give testimony and upon reasonable notice to all persons affected thereby, the attorney general may apply to the district court for an order compelling compliance.

(a) Service of any type of process authorized by this act [ 40 -3-101 through 40-3-125] shall be personal within this state, but if such personal service cannot be obtained, substituted service may be made in the following manner:

(iv) By registered or certified mail to the last known place of business, residence or abode of such persons for whom it is intended;

(v) As to any person other than a natural person, in the manner provided in the rules of civil procedure as if a complaint or other pleading which institutes a civil action has been filed; or

(vi) By such service as a district court may direct in lieu of personal service within this state.

An action under this act [ 40 -3-101 through 40-3-125] may be brought in the district court of the county in which the alleged violator resides or has his place of business or in the district court of Laramie county, Wyoming .

The attorney general may, whenever it appears to him that any person has engaged or is about to engage in any act or practice constituting a violation of any provision of this act [ 40 -3-101 through 40-3-125] or any rule or order hereunder, bring an action in the name of the people of the state in a district court to enjoin the acts or practices or to enforce compliance with this act or any rule or order hereunder. Upon a proper showing, a permanent or preliminary injunction or restraining order shall be granted. The court shall not require the attorney general to post a bond. This section is not deemed to be exclusive of the remedies available to the state and the criminal penalties found in this act may also apply to individuals who are the subject of an action brought under this section.

The attorney general, upon petition to the court, may recover, on behalf of the state, a civil penalty of not more than five thousand dollars ($5,000.00) per violation from any person who violates the terms of an injunction issued under W.S. 40-3-114.

In the enforcement of this act [ 40-3-101 through 40-3-125], the attorney general may accept an assurance of voluntary compliance with respect to any act or practice alleged to be violative of this act from any person who has engaged in, is engaging in or is about to engage in such act or practice.

The court shall retain jurisdiction in any case where an injunction is entered or a consent agreement is reached or an assurance of voluntary compliance is agreed upon.

The court may make such additional orders or judgments as may be necessary to restore to any person in interest any monies or property, real or personal, which the court finds to have been acquired by means of any act or practice committed in violation of this act [ 40 -3-101 through 40-3-125]. Such additional relief may include the appointment of a receiver whenever it appears to the satisfaction of the court that the defendant threatens or is about to remove, conceal or dispose of his property to the damage of persons to whom restoration would be made under this act.

Any receiver appointed pursuant to W.S. 40-3-118 has the power to sue for, collect, receive and take into his possession all the goods and chattels, rights and credits, monies and effects, land and tenements, books, records, documents, papers, choses in action, bills, notes and property of every description derived in violation of this act [ 40-3-101 through 40-3-125] by any multilevel distribution company or any distributor in any multilevel distribution marketing plan sponsored by such company, including property which has been commingled with company or distributor property, if it cannot be identified in kind because of such commingling, and to sell, convey and assign the same and hold and dispose of the proceeds thereof under the direction of the court.

In any action brought pursuant to this act [ 40 -3-101 through 40-3-125], if the court finds that any person has engaged in prohibited activities in willful violation of or in reckless disregard for any provision of this act, the attorney general or county attorney in any county in which the violation occurred, upon petition to the court, may recover, on behalf of the state, a civil penalty of not more than two thousand dollars ($2,000.00) per violation. For purposes of this section, a willful or reckless disregard occurs when the party committing the violation knew or should have known that his conduct was a violation of this act.

40-3-121. Property acquisition and disposition remedy available in action for private remedy.

The remedy provided by W.S. 40-3-119 is available to any person in any action brought for a private remedy against any multilevel distribution company or any distributor in the multilevel distribution marketing plan sponsored by the company.

Any person who willfully violates any provision of this act [ 40-3-101 through 40-3-125], or who willfully violates any rule or order under this act, shall upon conviction be fined not more than five hundred dollars ($500.00) or imprisoned in a county jail for not more than one (1) year, or be punished by both such fine and imprisonment, but no person may be imprisoned for the violation of any rule or order if he proves that he had no knowledge of the rule or order. Nothing in this act limits the power of the state to punish any person for any conduct which constitutes a crime under any other statute.

No action shall be maintained to enforce any liability created under this act [ 40 -3-101 through 40-3-125] unless brought before the expiration of three (3) years after the act or transaction constituting the violation or the expiration of one (1) year after the discovery by the plaintiff of the fact constituting the violation.

Nothing in this act [ 40 -3-101 through 40-3-125] shall in any way affect causes of action arising under other laws of this state or under the common law brought by any private person.

If a part of this act [ 40 -3-101 through 40-3-125] is invalid, all valid parts that are severable from the invalid part remain in effect. If a part of this act is invalid in one (1) or more of its applications, the part remains in effect in all valid applications that are severable from the invalid applications.

Links, Site Information, Web Policy State of Wyoming Home Internet and Web Privacy Policy Best viewed with Netscape 3 , MS Internet Explorer 3 or Opera 3.6 or later versions Get Adobe Acrobat Reader

Links, Site Information, Web Policy

State of Wyoming Home
Internet and Web Privacy Policy
Best viewed with Netscape 3 , MS Internet Explorer 3 or Opera 3.6 or later versions
Get Adobe Acrobat Reader