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Mass Consumer Affairs Blog
The Official Blog of the Massachusetts Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation
The Massachusetts Do-Not-Call Registry allows consumers to stop receiving certain telephone solicitations simply by signing-up and providing their telephone number. Established in 2003, the law requires telephone solicitors, list-brokers, and telemarketers to register with the Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation, subscribe to the Do-Not-Call Registry, and remove registered telephone numbers of consumers from their call lists.
Food festivals. Wine and Beer festivals. Music festivals. Art festivals. There is no shortage of ways for consumers to partake in a favorite activity this summer. However, scammers have begun to take advantage of individuals wishing to attend a festival by creating phony websites and “selling” tickets to events that don’t actually exist.
As the Times Square Ball dropped, the clock struck midnight and we ushered in the year 2016, more than 40 percent of Americans had a New Year’s resolution in mind, according to the most recent Marist Poll. However, if like many Americans your resolution …Continue Reading New Year’s resolution involve exercise? Be aware of red flags BEFORE you sign up for a health club membership
Legislation passed by Congress and signed into law in 2015 requires the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to begin the process of issuing new Medicare cards that do not display Social Security numbers. The law requires HHS to issue modernized cards …Continue Reading Federal Government Phasing-Out Social Security Numbers on Medicare Cards
The Office of Consumer Affairs & Business Regulation along with The Department of Public Utilities would like to inform consumers of a phone scam that is affecting Massachusetts residents. Residents are receiving calls from a business that is claiming to be a solar developer, …Continue Reading Department of Public Utilities phone scam circulating in MA
Data Privacy Series: Spoofing Your bank emails you stating that a large, unauthorized charge had just been made to your account and asks you to verify your identity by providing your account number. Do you respond? Or say a site like PayPal emails you indicating …Continue Reading Data Privacy Series: Spoofing
Committing fraud by stealing credit and debit card numbers continues to be a major data security issue and only seems to be growing worse. But there is an effort underway by the payment card industry to include chip technology in payment cards to make …Continue Reading EMV and Chip Technology – Protecting Your Payment Cards
With the Federal Reserve Bank expected to increase interest rates, many homeowners are considering refinancing their home. Scammers are taking advantage of this by offering cheap interest rates that require an upfront fee. They are also targeting homeowners who may be late on their mortgage …Continue Reading Home Refinancing Scam
President’s Day is this Monday, and many consumers may be looking to purchase or lease new and used cars. This two part series on car purchasing and leasing will provide tips on how you can get the right car and be protected under the Lemon …Continue Reading Purchasing a USED car? Here’s what the Lemon Law means for you.
The Massachusetts Item Pricing Law was written to ensure that food retailers remained consistent and accurate in how they charge consumers. Since its last update in 2013, the law has been extended to cover consumer-use price scanners and automated check out systems. The Division of …Continue Reading All I Want for Christmas is Price Scanning Accuracy
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2016