Office of Consumer Protection helps protect Howard County consumers resolve disputes and enforces consumer laws. Links provided by OCP do not mean endorsements.
Joined January 2010
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200 Photos and videos
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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How to spot a CAPTCHA scam: consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-al…
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#ScamAlert A former chair of our #AdvisoryBoardOnConsumerProtection tipped us off to a returning scam. Be on the alert for fake subscription renewal messages. Here's more from @IDTheftCenter on the scam #hocoscamsquad
idtheftcenter.org/post/subsc…
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Our Office was pleased to speak at Consumer Federation of America's #ConsumerAssembly about the ways we help our consumers and tenants on a daily basis.
States and local govt are on the front line of the affordability crisis. Join consumer protection leaders from #Maryland, #NewYorkCity, and Washington, #DC as they discuss innovative approaches to protecting consumers and lowering costs. #ConsumerAssembly
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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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Be especially wary of new friends through social media, investment advice, and great prices on luxury brands. #ScamAlert #hocoscamsquad
New FTC data show people have lost billions to social media scams. Social media was the costliest fraud contact method in 2025 and reported losses increased eightfold since 2020: bit.ly/4sTXk7v
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The #advisoryboardonconsumerprotection has a new Consumer Quiz. Let us know how you did in the comments.
canva.link/t2wu0bnfc099h43
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Join @consumeraction 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/#re…
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Enjoyed meeting consumers at @RepSarahElfreth's Maryland Third Congressional District Constituent Resource Fair in Howard County yesterday!
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Get ready for Medicare Fraud Prevention Week, June 1-5. Join us in the fight against Medicare fraud. Visit ACL’s MFPW webpage to access ready-to-share resources, including graphics, videos, and social media content. acl.gov/events-and-observanc… #MFPW #MedicareFraudPreventionWeek
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Asked to enter your email address and password to open a party invite? That’s a scam. Learn more: bit.ly/4o6tU5l
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1/ Need help with a local, state, or federal issue? Then join us at Maryland’s Third Congressional District Constituent Resource Fair hosted by @RepSarahElfreth on Thursday, May 28th at 5:30 PM!
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2/Our team will be one of many ready to connect you with services our offices can deliver for you – all in one place. To RSVP and learn more about our resource fair, check out the link below:
eventbrite.com/e/md-03-const…
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How to spot and avoid business coaching scams: bit.ly/3RwoPa9
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Howard County Office of Consumer Protection retweeted
May 15
Dealing with Debt Collectors: Get a call from someone claiming to be a debt collector, and it’s easy to panic. Is the caller a legit or a scammer? It’s important to know the rules and your rights. bit.ly/438mipf
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Howard County Office of Consumer Protection retweeted
May 7
Medicare won’t call you unless you contact Medicare first.
Phone scammers try to pose as Medicare to steal your Medicare Number, birthdate, or Social Security Number. If you’re not sure about a caller, hang up and report it to 1-800-MEDICARE. Medicare.gov/fraud
ALT A photo of an older woman looking concerned with her hand on her chin while talking on a cell phone in her kitchen. Overlay text: Not sure who's calling? Don't share your Medicare Number!
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#scamalert Alerta de estafa
Attention: Scam Alert! The State of Oregon has alerted Maryland agencies about a workers’ compensation scam targeting injured Spanish-speaking workers. Read more here: insurance.maryland.gov/Consu…
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AI can remove all the red flags. Always remember "Pause. Question. Protect." We are the last line of defense against these criminals. Watch as
@OpShamrock explains how AI can turbocharge criminal activity. operationshamrock.org/librar…...
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