Throughout the week, BBBs around the country will conduct consumer education outreach tied to this year's NCPW theme, "Financial Literacy: Earning a Lifetime of Dividends."

"Every financial decision has some impact on your quality of life. BBBs believe that providing the right tools to consumers can help them make smart decisions in the marketplace, protect them from being defrauded and contribute to a better financial future for their families," said Ken Hunter, president and CEO of the Council of Better Business Bureaus, the umbrella organization for the nation's Better Business Bureaus.

Funded by a membership base of more than 300,000 businesses, the BBB system provides more than 41 million instances of service each year to consumers seeking information to make a wise purchasing decision or assistance with resolving marketplace disputes.

"BBBs know the importance of financial literacy and have for many years provided pre-purchase resources to consumers. Consumers who lack a basic knowledge of financial products, financial planning and financial services are easy targets for scam artists and dishonest merchants," Hunter said.

He encouraged consumers to take a Financial Literacy quiz, posted at www.bbb.org, to assess their knowledge of various financial transactions.

"If you find you're deficient in specific areas or could use an all-round financial tune-up, click on the 'Consumer/Business Tips' section of our site to visit the BBB consumer library," Hunter said.

The BBB offers consumers several hundred articles on automobile sales and repairs, common scams, computer/Internet purchases, family-related topics, finance/credit issues, personal health, giving to charity, home ownership and maintenance, insurance and various other products and services. Consumers can also visit the bbb.org site to check out a business or charity, request assistance with a dispute against a business, or find out how to contact their local Better Business Bureau.

Additional resources for people interested in improving their level of financial literacy is available on the NCPW web site at www.consumer.gov/ncpw, and the web sites of other NCPW participating organizations, which include the Federal Trade Commission, Federal Citizen Information Center, Federal Communications Commission, U.S. Postal Service, National Association of Consumer Agency Administrators, National Consumers League, AARP, Consumer Federation of America, and National Association of Attorneys General.

If you are a consumer who is seeking additional information, or need assistance with a complaint against a business, please contact your local BBB or visit the BBB web site (www.bbb.org).