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The Official Blog of the Massachusetts Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation
As the weather gets colder scams targeting utility customers may increase as consumers balance the costs of heating their homes with the need for warmth. Some scammers pretend to represent a major energy provider and claim that they will cut your electrical power, assess …Continue Reading Turning up the heat on utility scams
Most consumers have heard of the term “bait and switch,” but may not be aware when it happens to them. A sales representative may try to convince you to buy a different item than the one you came for, which may simply seem like a …Continue Reading Holiday Shopping Tips: Bait and Switch
The Holiday Season is upon us. Over the next few weeks as the holiday music plays and decorations are put up, consumers will be flocking to malls and websites hoping to purchase the perfect gift for their family member or friend. “Cyber Monday” refers to …Continue Reading Holiday Shopping Series: Cyber Monday
The Holiday Season is upon us. Over the next few weeks as the holiday music plays and decorations are put up, consumers will be flocking to malls and websites hoping to purchase the perfect gift for their family member or friend. In fact, …Continue Reading Holiday Shopping Series: Black Friday
The Holiday Season is upon us. Over the next few weeks as the holiday music plays and decorations are put up, consumers will be flocking to malls and websites hoping to purchase the perfect gift for their family member or friend. To be sure …Continue Reading Holiday Shopping Tips
It’s estimated that there are over 31,500 incidents of odometer fraud in Massachusetts every year. Odometer fraud occurs when a vehicle’s odometer is illegally altered to make it appear that the car has fewer miles on it than it actually does. Unsuspecting consumers then …Continue Reading Buying a Used Car? Watch out for Odometer Fraud
Virtual kidnapping scams aren’t just terrifying; they can be costly. A virtual kidnapping scam occurs when a scammer calls your number and tells you he has kidnapped your loved one. The scammer threatens injury or worse unless the victim pays a ransom. Most consumers …Continue Reading Virtual Kidnapping Scams
The Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation oversees the registration of contractors performing improvements or renovations on detached one to four family homes. Prior to performing work on such homes, a contractor must be registered as a Home Improvement Contractor (“HIC”). What some …Continue Reading Attention Homeowners: It’s not just your contractor that needs to be registered with us
This Veterans Day, the Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation, together with its regulatory agencies, acknowledges and extends sincere gratitude to all the men and women who have served our country. It is important to remind our veterans, active duty service members, and their families of …Continue Reading Veterans Day is November 11th
Irish retailer Primark announced on November 3, 2016 that skimmers were found on point-of-sale terminals in all five of their U.S. locations, including the Downtown Crossing, Boston location. According to Primark, the skimmers were discovered on October 17 and officials believe the devices may …Continue Reading The Primark Data Breach: What their customers need to know
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2016