When it appears to the attorney general that a person has engaged in, or is engaging in, any practice declared to be unlawful by this chapter or by other provisions of law, including chapter 50-22, 51-12, 51-13, 51-14, 51-16.1, or 51-18, or when the attorney general believes it to be in the public interest to investigate whether a person in fact has engaged in, is engaging in, or is about to engage in, any unlawful practice under this chapter or other provisions of law, including chapter 50-22, 51-12, 51-13, 51-14, 51-16.1, or 51-18, the attorney general may:
1. Require that person to file, on forms the attorney general prescribes, a statement or report in writing, under oath or otherwise, of all the facts and circumstances concerning the sale or advertisement of merchandise by that person, as well as other data and information the attorney general may determine necessary.2. Examine under oath any person in connection with the sale or advertisement of any merchandise.3. Examine any merchandise or sample thereof, record, book, document, account, or paper as the attorney general may determine necessary.4. Pursuant to an order of a district court impound any merchandise or sample thereof, record, book, document, account, or paper material to that practice and retain the same in the attorney general's possession until the completion of all proceedings undertaken under this section or in the courts.