iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Howard County Office of Consumer Protection @hococonsumer.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

OCP will be attending "Plan For Today, Protect Tomorrow Safeguarding the Golden Years", a forum on justice matters affecting seniors ages 50 and up. The program will offer information on a variety of topics, including guardianship, estate planning, housing, fraud, asset recovery, & AI technology.

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Howard County Office of Consumer Protection @hococonsumer.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Besides tips by #AARP turn on call blocking technology. Your cell & landline carrier have free apps/programs which interrupt/flag robocalls, unverified numbers, & numbers associated w/ scams. Check your cell phone for software updates w/ scam interruption tech. www.aarp.org/money/scams-...

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Howard County Office of Consumer Protection @hococonsumer.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

@pastatepolice.bsky.social warns this perennial favorite of domestic criminals who know how our local law enforcement officers speak. Criminals use a victim’s personal data to make contact posing as police or sheriff, & demand payment. Police never ask for untraceable methods of payment for fines.

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Howard County Office of Consumer Protection @hococonsumer.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

#HoCoGov Dept. of Planning & Zoning (DPZ) is warning #HoCoMD residents of an email scam where scammer impersonates DPZ staff, even its Director Lynda Eisenberg, & demand payment for forms. THIS IS A SCAM! Governments will NEVER demand wire transfer, peer-to-peer payment, or cryptocurrency.

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Howard County Office of Consumer Protection @hococonsumer.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

1/ Always be wary of unexpected calls claiming to be the FBI, IRS, MVA, Police, or other government agency--especially if money is at issue. #hocoscamsquad

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Howard County Office of Consumer Protection @hococonsumer.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Scammers exploit new eligibility or process changes. Check in with #HowardCountyHealthDepartment for more information on what these Medicaid changes mean for you.

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Howard County Office of Consumer Protection @hococonsumer.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

What to Know About Amazon’s New Scam Detection Tool: @aarp.org explains how the often impersonated company is using Alexa to help customers spot fraud www.aarp.org/money/scams-...

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Howard County Office of Consumer Protection @hococonsumer.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

Concert and sporting event tickets sell out fast but you find a good deal online for resale. Are they fake or real tickets? Is it a phishing scam? #ScamBusters tells you how to stay safer online when shopping for special event tickets. scambusters.org/ticket-event...

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Howard County Office of Consumer Protection @hococonsumer.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

#ScamAlerts Unused or dormant accounts might seem safe, but they can be easy targets for scammers. Criminals often target inactive accounts because users do not check them regularly for unauthorized activity. Read more from #ScamBusters scambusters.org/dormant-acco...

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Howard County Office of Consumer Protection @hococonsumer.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

1/ Pop-up ads can be annoying or online scams. Websites use pop-ups for promotions and discounts but cybercriminals use them for fake websites and fake pop-up messages to trick people into clicking on harmful links, installing unwanted software, or sharing personal information.

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Howard County Office of Consumer Protection @hococonsumer.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

Do you want to Stop Unwanted Calls, Mail, and More? #ConsumersCheckbook tells you how www.checkbook.org/washington-a...

Unknown call on cell phone with stop hand

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Howard County Office of Consumer Protection @hococonsumer.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

Maryland residents carrying student loan debt have until September 15 to apply for Maryland’s Student Loan Debt Relief Tax Credit for Tax Year 2026. #MDHigherEdComm has more 👇 onestop.md.gov/forms/studen...

Graphic with student, loan docs, laptop and financial imagery

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Howard County Office of Consumer Protection @hococonsumer.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

The #IRS warns of digital assets scam sending fake IRS letters directing you to enroll your cryptocurrency in a non-existent “Digital Asset Compliance Portal.” Do not scan the QR code or give personal/financial information. Stay alert and report these scams at www.irs.gov/scams

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Howard County Office of Consumer Protection @hococonsumer.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

If someone instructs you to use a #CryptoATM, gift cards, or an unfamiliar app to move money, pause before you pay. These unusual money transfer methods are major red flags for #fraud. Learn more from #CFTC at: www.cftc.gov/Learn.../Adv...

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Howard County Office of Consumer Protection @hococonsumer.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

Your phone rings with a FaceTime call from an unknown email address or number. It may be a wrong number or a scam. Criminals will engage you, see your face or get info. These calls could potentially be part of a larger effort to manipulate, harass, scam, or get data. scambusters.org/facetime-cal...

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Howard County Office of Consumer Protection @hococonsumer.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

The #FBI warns that scammers are spoofing their main phone numbers and encouraging you to download an encrypted application to continue conversations. Report these calls to the #FBI at IC3.gov

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Howard County Office of Consumer Protection @hococonsumer.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

Unfortunately, older Americans are frequently targeted by scammers. This #SeniorCitizensDay, review the #AmericanBankersAssocation's 14 red flags for elder financial abuse: aba.social/47aMLTA

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Howard County Office of Consumer Protection @hococonsumer.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

The Howard County Landlord Tenant Publication is live and translatable in various languages using the website's translate feature. Need a direct hyperlink to a specific language? Just give us a call. www.howardcountymd.gov/consumer-pro...

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Howard County Office of Consumer Protection @hococonsumer.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

Are ads on social media vetted or checked for scams? No and criminals are capitalizing. Here’s what to know by #federaltradecommission: consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-ale...

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Howard County Office of Consumer Protection @hococonsumer.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

The Howard County Office of Consumer Protection has moved! You can now find the office at 9820 Patuxent Woods Drive, Columbia. Questions: Reach us at Consumer@howardcountymd.gov, 410-313-6420 or 410-313-3820 (Chinese, Korean or Spanish voicemail).

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Howard County Office of Consumer Protection @hococonsumer.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

Good rule of thumb: tech support won’t reach out to you first, says #NationalCybersecurityAlliance. So be skeptical of every unsolicited call, email, text, and pop-up, especially if they claim your device has a problem. Read for more tips on tech support scams: hubs.la/Q04qmQdL0

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Howard County Office of Consumer Protection @hococonsumer.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

"A scam is not a trick you failed to spot — it is a sales pipeline executed by trained people: a lead list, a scripted open, qualifying questions, an emotional pitch, rehearsed objection handling, and a hard close." Read a blogger's comparison of scam compounds to old school sales techniques👇

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Howard County Office of Consumer Protection @hococonsumer.bsky.social · 22/07/2026

1/ The Federal Reserve Financial Services' fraud survey found that debit (not credit) card fraud was the type of payment fraud most reported by financial institutions, with 75% of institutions reporting attempts. It estimated it resulted in 40% of total payment fraud losses-up 4% year over year.

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Howard County Office of Consumer Protection @hococonsumer.bsky.social · 17/07/2026

Online ads are annoying. Fake ones that spread malware are even worse. Learn more about malvertising (malicious advertising) from #NationalCybersecurityAlliance and how to avoid it: hubs.la/Q04ptNvd0

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Howard County Office of Consumer Protection @hococonsumer.bsky.social · 17/07/2026

What if identity theft hits your credit card, your email, and your mortgage all at the same time? That could happen. Read #IDTheftResourceCenter 2026 Trends in Identity Report to learn how to protect yourself: idtheft.center/4oU2nok

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Howard County Office of Consumer Protection @hococonsumer.bsky.social · 10/07/2026

1/A local consumer reported that the old Jailhouse Jingle or *72 Prison scam may be coming back. An inmate calls collect from jail and tricks you into dialing a number starting with *72.

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Howard County Office of Consumer Protection @hococonsumer.bsky.social · 09/07/2026

1/ #hocoscamsquad discussed an increase in fake insurance claims by providers you have never met. Please review your EOBs and challenge any claims for services and devices you have not received. Read more below from #bbbgreaterMD & @mdinsuranceadmin.bsky.social 👇

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Howard County Office of Consumer Protection @hococonsumer.bsky.social · 02/07/2026

1/ Digital payment apps have changed how we send and receive money, making transactions faster and easier. However, this convenience has also opened the door for scammers to take advantage of people.

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Howard County Office of Consumer Protection @hococonsumer.bsky.social · 26/06/2026

1/Debt collection scams are increasing. Scammers pretend to be real debt collectors to trick you into paying debts they don't owe. These scams can be convincing & aggressive, causing financial harm. It’s important to recognize the warning signs & know how to protect yourself. 👇

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Howard County Office of Consumer Protection @hococonsumer.bsky.social · 25/06/2026

When buying or selling thru online marketplaces (Facebook, Nextdoor, etc.) know that the person who contacts you may be a criminal looking to get money or account access. #Scambusters gives you some tips on how to buy/sell safely. #hocoscamsquad #ScamAlert scambusters.org/facebook-mar...

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Howard County Office of Consumer Protection @hococonsumer.bsky.social · 22/06/2026

There is still time to register for Maryland Department of Labor #OfficeofFinancialRegulation student loan webinar wsac-wa-gov.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

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Howard County Office of Consumer Protection @hococonsumer.bsky.social · 18/06/2026

On-demand transportation services make it easy to get a ride quickly. However, scammers take advantage of these services and find new ways to trick passengers and drivers. Read this week's #Scambusters for more scambusters.org/on-demand-tr...

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Howard County Office of Consumer Protection @hococonsumer.bsky.social · 17/06/2026

1/ Join Maryland's #OfficeofFinancialRegulation for an "Understanding Foreclosure and Your Options" webinar 📅 Date: Tuesday, June 23 🕑 Time: 2 – 3:15 p.m. ET 💻 Location: Virtual 👇

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Howard County Office of Consumer Protection @hococonsumer.bsky.social · 17/06/2026

1/ Beware of scammers impersonating organizations or individuals to lure people into scams. #secgov warns that they may pretend to be government agencies or employees, or legitimate investment professionals. #StopGovImposters

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Howard County Office of Consumer Protection @hococonsumer.bsky.social · 10/06/2026

Maryland renters should know about a new state law about air conditioning in apartment buildings. #MDLegalAid notes that apartment buildings with 10 or more units must have air conditioning systems that can keep apartments at 80°F or lower from June 1 through September 30.

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Howard County Office of Consumer Protection @hococonsumer.bsky.social · 08/06/2026

Fraud investigators are getting more and more reports from consumers who have received fake CAPTCHA requests. Do you know how to spot them? See tips by #FTC consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-ale...

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Howard County Office of Consumer Protection @hococonsumer.bsky.social · 04/06/2026

We can talk about all the various story lines behind the scams, about AI turbocharging customized scams, but you only need to learn 3 steps to keep safe. These 3 steps will get in front of virtually all common scams. #scamalert #hocoscamsquad

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Howard County Office of Consumer Protection @hococonsumer.bsky.social · 03/06/2026

Be especially wary of new friends through social media, investment advice, and great prices on luxury brands. See the #FTC report. #ScamAlert #hocoscamsquad www.ftc.gov/news-events/...

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Howard County Office of Consumer Protection @hococonsumer.bsky.social · 01/06/2026

The #advisoryboardonconsumerprotection has a new Consumer Quiz. Let us know how you did in the comments. canva.link/t2wu0bnfc099...

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Howard County Office of Consumer Protection @hococonsumer.bsky.social · 29/05/2026

Join Consumer Action for an upcoming webinar, "Not Buying It: Protecting consumers from deceptive ads and misinformation." Learn how you can help protect yourself, your family and community. June 30, 2026 at 1:00 pm EDT Register: register.gotowebinar.com#register/123...

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Howard County Office of Consumer Protection @hococonsumer.bsky.social · 29/05/2026

Enjoyed meeting consumers at Congresswoman Sarah Elfreth's Maryland Third Congressional District Constituent Resource Fair in Howard County yesterday!

Photo of Rep. Sarah Elfreth and OCP staff

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Howard County Office of Consumer Protection @hococonsumer.bsky.social · 29/05/2026

Have you received an unexpected “You’re invited” texts & emails from people you don't know or haven't spoken to in years? They're likely a phishing scam to get your email login credentials or a special pass code to open them. Learn more about this scam at: bit.ly/3S7Bb8W

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Howard County Office of Consumer Protection @hococonsumer.bsky.social · 21/05/2026

1/ Need help with a local, state, or federal issue? Then join us at Maryland’s 3rd Congressional District Constituent Resource Fair hosted by #RepSarahElfreth on 5/28 at 5:30 PM! My team will be one of many ready to connect you with services our offices can deliver for you – all in one place.

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Howard County Office of Consumer Protection @hococonsumer.bsky.social · 14/05/2026

If you open a letter with a plastic Medicare card in it, don't "activate it." This is a scam. Medicare is not sending plastic Medicare cards. Report this to the SMP.

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