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Throughout the pandemic, state and federal governments developed policies to protect residents facing job loss and other COVID-19 related hardships. Among those orders were moratoriums placed on home evictions. When the state’s pause on evictions expired on October 17, 2020, the federal moratorium established by the Centers for …Continue Reading Eviction Moratorium to Expire This Month
This year for the first time, Juneteenth will be celebrated as a state holiday. Governor Baker signed this into law on July 24, 2020, to recognize “the continued need to ensure racial freedom and equality.” Juneteenth is an annual celebration commemorating the end of slavery …Continue Reading New State Holiday “Juneteenth Independence Day”
Around the world, the elderly population is growing at a substantially faster rate than that of younger demographics. This burgeoning population of aging consumers faces greater risk of fraud from scammers and those who seek to take advantage of them. June 15th is World Elder …Continue Reading World Elder Abuse Awareness Day 2021
Distribution of the approved COVID-19 vaccines is well underway, but fraudsters are gaining access to vaccine-related data almost as fast as the rollout. According to the latest numbers from the Department of Public Health (DPH), more than 4 million people in Massachusetts have received at …Continue Reading FRAUD ALERT: COVID-19 Vaccine Survey Scam
Staying connected has taken on a whole new meaning due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The orders to shelter in place over the past year have created a surge in our digital landscape. This transition happened quickly and caused some to be left behind as work, …Continue Reading The Federal Communications Commission Offers New Emergency Broadband Benefit
The Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles’ (RMV) vehicle inspection stations are back online after a state-wide outage from March 30, 2021 to April 17, 2021, caused by a malware attack. Affected consumers who were unable to access inspection resources during the outage are now eligible …Continue Reading Massachusetts Lemon Law Rights Adjusted Following State-Wide Vehicle Inspection Station Outage
Balancing a checkbook, making sure your expenses can be covered with your income, and saving for a rainy day emergency are all examples of financial literacy, or the ability to understand and effectively manage your personal finances. April is National Financial Literacy Month, a time …Continue Reading Financial Literacy Month 2021
Tax Day is quickly approaching, and this year more Americans are planning on filing their taxes online, according to McAfee’s 2021 Consumer Security Mindset Report. Filing taxes electronically is a more convenient and efficient process but may open you up to scammers hoping to steal …Continue Reading Protect Yourself Against Scams this Tax Season
There is no place like home. Or in this case, there is no better place to shop than close to home. Keeping small businesses in the Commonwealth alive and running has never been safer, easier, or more important. The My Local MA initiative, championed by …Continue Reading Buy Here: My Local MA Promotes Patronizing Businesses Close to Home
An informed consumer is an empowered consumer. Whether making cost-effective decisions or ones that help you avoid scammers, navigating the financial landscape can be overwhelming. But we are on your side – that’s why the Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation (OCABR) is proud …Continue Reading National Consumer Protection Week 2021
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2021