Howard County Office of Consumer Protection

Criminals take advantage of catastrophic events by exploiting our willingness to help. Whether a natural disaster, international crisis, health or animal causes, or personal tragedy campaigns, criminals will be there. See tips on spotting, avoiding and reporting at
scambusters.org/charity-scam...

It's back to school season. Do you know how to set up your college kid for fiscal success? Have you heard about recent back to school scams? In this month's Newsletter, you can read all about these tips and the rise of crypto scams and how to report them.
conta.cc/44LMQhJ

2/2/Read more about how criminals can walk right up your door and try to convince you to let them into your home, and into your wallet. Always ask to see their door-to-door license issued by our Office. scambusters.org/door-to-door...

1/Scammers can come right to your door. They can pretend to be:
🛑 Pavers doing work in your neighborhood
🛑 Roofers offering free checks
🛑 Contractors with "extra" materials
🛑 Charities using kids to sell candy or magazines
🛑 Utilities offering to save you money

Thanks to the US Secret Service for its presentation to our Scam Squad about how crypto is misused by fake sheriffs (jury duty scam), fake prospective college roommates (sextortion), by fake customer service agents (Coinbase siphoning) & how the Service helps recover them if reported right away.

There's an opening on the Advisory Board on Consumer Protection. If you live in Howard County and have worked on behalf of consumers in a volunteer, advocacy, or similar capacity, you are invited to apply!

www.howardcountymd.gov/News070125f

There's still time to register for this informative and FREE event. Please tag anyone who'd be interested!

2/ (a) Create strong passphrases with the use of a password manager or passkey system; and (b) Use MFA (Face ID, thumbprint, code generator, etc.) whenever your apps or accounts offer it.

1/ Cyber researchers recently reported 16 BILLION login credentials leaked online leading to a "blueprint for mass exploitation." What can consumers do if they suspect they are compromised? Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency provides tips on how to secure your accounts:

Gambling scams lure victims in with promises of big jackpots, bonuses, or better odds of winning. Do you know what to watch for? #ScamBusters provides some red flags
scambusters.org/gambling-lot...

2/ 2/ Also check out our tip sheet on evaluating solar options. www.howardcountymd.gov/sites/defaul...

1/ Are you considering rooftop solar? Be wary when hearing pitches of amazing cost savings, tax credits, or "free" systems. See the comments for links to resources if you're considering rooftop solar.

🚨 CONSUMER ALERT by Maryland Attorney General: Scammers are using fake Facebook ads using well-known investors to trick you into investment schemes. These scams cost victims millions of dollars. If an investment seems too good to be true, it probably is. Stay vigilant & protect your money.

Fifty years ago today the Office of Consumer Protection was created. For 50 years we have helped consumers and local business resolve disputes, made sure that businesses competed on a level playing field, and advised consumers of their rights. Here's to another 50 years of service!

Registration is now open! bit.ly/3SqM9na

2/ The @bbb-us.bsky.social describes a few of these schemes www.bbb.org/.../31970-bb.... as does @lifehacker.com lifehacker.com/money/tariff...

1/🚨SCAM ALERT: Tariff Scams
Tariffs are blamed for price hikes on past orders & shipping delays. Imposters pretend to be the government or shippers asking YOU to pay tariffs. There are no "tariff relief" payments. These are but a few of the scams capitalizing on the news cycle. Questions? Call us!

Do you know about the new MD gift card law? It requires training for retailers selling cards, new signage (below), teaching employees how to spot/report scams, & how to make the cards harder to drain. For more information, see the recent Guidance www.marylandattorneygeneral.gov/CPD%20Docume...

Can your car have its identity stolen? Yes! If you're buying used, you should also watch out for VIN cloning. Criminals will swap out the VIN# of stolen cars with VIN#s of clean cars. National Insurance Crime Bureau provides tips on how to spot this crime.

www.nicb.org/news/blog/ni...

How old is your home internet router? Is it still getting patches and updates? If not, it is vulnerable to hackers, warns the #FBI.
www.ic3.gov/PSA/2025/PSA...

Watch out for "free roof" offers. The #MarylandInsuranceAdministration is reminding consumers to proceed with caution when approached by roofing contractors with unsolicited offers to inspect your roof for damage in order to generate an insurance claim. insurance.maryland.gov/Consumer/Doc...

Federal workers should watch out for these scams targeting job seekers Job scams are among the most common and financially damaging schemes, according to the Better Business Bureau.

For @thebaltimorebanner.com, I'm writing stories for federal workers and anyone else facing job uncertainty right now. Here's one on avoiding employment scams, which use fake job postings to extract money and personal info from job seekers. www.thebaltimorebanner.com/economy/ripp...

🚨🚨Consumer Alert: Scammers are targeting Marylanders with lost pets, pretending to be from local animal shelters and demanding money for emergency care. Shelters will not ask for money this way. www.marylandattorneygeneral.gov/press/2025/0...

SCAM ALERT: Social Security scams are coming to emails. This scam requires you to click on a link or image, which downloads malware and remotely connects criminals to your computer. Once connected, they can steal passwords, banking access, etc.

The FBI – Federal Bureau of Investigation issued a warning about scammers posing as health insurance companies offering phony discounted medical insurance by email, text or phone.
www.ic3.gov/PSA/2025/PSA...

Scanning random QR codes can open the door to malware or stolen information. Always ensure the code comes from a trusted source. #MCPNews #FraudFriday #ScamSquad

Are "unsubscribe" or "opt-out" links safe? Maybe. Maybe not. In this week's #scambusters read about how these links can be used for phishing or malware, what you should look for to spot fake unsubscribe links, and what to do instead. #ScamSquad
scambusters.org/unsubscribe-...

Scam Glossary The FCC scam glossary describes robocall scams, spoofing scams and related consumer fraud, which the FCC tracks through complaints filed by consumers, news reports, and notices from other government a...

Also for #scamsurvivorday, brush up on the Scam Glossary by the Federal Communications Commission
www.fcc.gov/scam-glossary

We will be at the Festival this weekend. Tickets are still available.
The Chrysalis, Merriweather Park at Symphony Woods
10431 Little Patuxent Parkway Columbia, MD 21044
www.eventbrite.com/e/2025-aapi-...

National Scam Survivor Day seeks to end the stigma associated with scams and give you the voice to share your stories. #ScamSquad partner BBB of Greater Maryland also has a Toolkit for you to use if you've been defrauded: scamsurvivaltoolkit.bbbmarketplacetrust.org