Howard County Office of Consumer Protection

Office of Consumer Protection helps protect Howard County consumers resolve disputes and enforces consumer laws. Links provided by OCP do not mean endorsements.

[Howard County Office of Consumer Protection @HoCoConsumer]

Be especially wary of new friends through social media, investment advice, and great prices on luxury brands. #ScamAlert #hocoscamsquad

[FTC @FTC]

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: https://t.co/1Qfly58uDa

[Howard County Office of Consumer Protection @HoCoConsumer]

The #advisoryboardonconsumerprotection has a new Consumer Quiz. Let us know how you did in the comments.
https://t.co/1WIlcDgorM

[Howard County Office of Consumer Protection @HoCoConsumer]

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: https://t.co/2Mr1qwa5x2

[Howard County Office of Consumer Protection @HoCoConsumer]

Enjoyed meeting consumers at @RepSarahElfreth's Maryland Third Congressional District Constituent Resource Fair in Howard County yesterday!

[ACLgov @ACLgov]

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. https://t.co/sB3BZcQMNU #MFPW #MedicareFraudPreventionWeek

[FTC @FTC]

Asked to enter your email address and password to open a party invite? That’s a scam. Learn more: https://t.co/GHBKOfTtkJ

[Howard County Office of Consumer Protection @HoCoConsumer]

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:
https://t.co/CQn4pZnzKE

[Howard County Office of Consumer Protection @HoCoConsumer]

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!

[Howard County Office of Consumer Protection @HoCoConsumer]

Seminario web @HCEDA
Registra https://t.co/eELwUKzdEq

[Howard County Office of Consumer Protection @HoCoConsumer]

#scamalert #hocoscamsquad

[FTC @FTC]

How to spot and avoid business coaching scams: https://t.co/Swj57RYkgz

[Herb Weisbaum @TheConsumerman]

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. https://t.co/U1ykoj9ah7

[Medicare.gov @MedicareGov]

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. https://t.co/h92HXu5rLw

[Howard County Office of Consumer Protection @HoCoConsumer]

#scamalert Alerta de estafa

[Maryland Insurance (MIA) @MD_Insurance]

Attention: Scam Alert! The State of Oregon has alerted Maryland agencies about a workers’ compensation scam targeting injured Spanish-speaking workers. Read more here: https://t.co/yalk66J5sL

[Howard County Office of Consumer Protection @HoCoConsumer]

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. https://t.co/3atWRVRKCf...

[Howard County Office of Consumer Protection @HoCoConsumer]

#ScamAlert #hocoscamsquad

[CFTC @CFTC]

Government imposter scams are on the rise. Beware of fraudsters posing as @CFTC officials. If they do any of the following, it’s a scam! Read more tips at https://t.co/1vRidMnMlt.

[Reader's Digest @readersdigest]

If you received an odd email from Evite, you need to need to review a few things first. https://t.co/jT3EesEWUB

[Howard County Office of Consumer Protection @HoCoConsumer]

As you plan your Summer getaway, here are some tips and tricks to avoiding travel challenges and scams.

[Consumers' Checkbook @CheckbookOrg]

World conflicts & AI-fueled scams are making travel harder than ever. Our next guest on @MyConsumerpedia is @chriselliotts, founder of @elliottdotorg. We break down today's travel challenges & how to navigate them while getting the best prices. Listen now!
https://t.co/BRGORyaoZL

[FTC @FTC]

Cybercriminals target companies of all sizes. Learn how to reduce the risk of a cyberattack: https://t.co/2Kaxu0Xyr6 #SmallBusinessWeek

[Howard County Office of Consumer Protection @HoCoConsumer]

There's still time to register!

[Howard County Office of Consumer Protection @HoCoConsumer]

Learn from local experts on how to get and read your credit report, understand your credit score, dispute errors, and how to freeze your credit. Understand your rights a consumer when dealing with creditors, debt collectors and data furnishers. Details below 👇
RSVP: 410-313-0380

[Social Security OIG @TheSSAOIG]

🚨 Scam Smart Tip
Stay one step ahead of scammers.
#ScamSmart #FraudPrevention #SocialSecurity