Celebrate the 10th annual consumer protection week tomorrow in Downtown Honolulu by learning more ways to be a smart shopper at an education fair.

State consumer protection education specialist Jackie Choy said the fair will include a lot of free information from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the King Kalakaua Building's courtyard, 335 Merchant St., which is also right next to the Downtown post office.

The main focus is consumer and financial issues, with special attention placed on information for seniors, Choy said. The event offers tips that range from college savings to buying a used car to taxes.

"Financially savvy consumers are likely to make smarter decisions about managing their money, using credit wisely, and building a solid financial foundation," she said.

According to the Federal Trade Commission, consumers conduct or are involved in some type of financial transaction requiring an educated decision every day: shopping for a mortgage or auto loan; understanding and reconciling credit card statements and telephone bills; choosing savings and retirement plans; comparing health insurance policies; understanding their credit report and how it affects their ability to get credit and on what terms; and simply deciding how to pay for a purchase.

One of the new booths this year will help people track down bank accounts they may have lost track of, she said.

The "unclaimed properties" program is run by the state Department of Budget and Finance. "We can help people find their money that they thought they lost forever," Choy said.

That's right, a government agency trying to give you money! Of course, it's your money, but still. Choy said it works like this: Say, you used to live on Maui but moved to Honolulu and forgot about that $150 you left in a checking account. If the bank couldn't locate you, that money goes to unclaimed property.

The state Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs is working with various agencies to put on the fair, Choy said. A key continuing partner is the U.S. Postal Service with warnings about a variety of scams.

Postal Inspector Kristine Kearney said fake check scams are a huge problem. Her general advice to anyone who receives a check in the mail that they weren't expecting from someone they don't know? "It's a scam. There's no legitimate reason that somebody's going to send you a check and ask you to wire money."

Kearney said the scams range from the banker in Nigeria e-mail to European lottery offers to more sophisticated swindles. "We've seen elderly people send their entire life savings trying to win the lottery in some other country," she said.

Most times, the folks running these scams are just counting on a few people falling for their deceptive story. "They're basically just blanketing and may send out 10,000 e-mails. If just three people respond, it's worth their while," she said.

Kearney warns of a recent upswing in a type of fraud in which scammers respond to legitimate classified postings for jobs, cars or roommates. They send a bogus check, then some "emergency" forces them to cancel the full deal and they ask you to send back a portion of the amount.

After you deposit the check the "funds" will show up in your account, and can be drawn on before the check clears. However, it may take weeks for the bank to discover that the check is fake, especially if it is from an overseas bank.

"You are responsible for any check or money order you deposit to your account. If it turns out to be counterfeit, or is returned unpaid for any reason, you are fully responsible for the loss," Kearney said.

So why did the bank allow you to withdraw the money?

Federal law requires banks to make deposited funds available within one to five business days. Just because you can withdraw cash from your account shortly after depositing a check or money order doesn't mean the check you deposited is good.

Choy warned that Downtown parking for the consumer fair is very limited.

And if all the free information isn't enough, Choy said, there's another treat available: free popcorn

Reach Robbie Dingeman at rdingeman@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2429.