Scam Alerts From the Office of Consumer Affairs 

No one likes to be scammed, duped, or taken advantage of at any time, let alone during a time of a global pandemic. The Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation has been working hard to stay ahead of the numerous covid-19 scams through scam alerts both on a national and local level. 

During a North Shore Happenings radio interview on 104.9, the North Shore Alliance recently had the opportunity to speak with Ed Palleschi, the  Undersecretary of the Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation in regards to the core programs his office is staying abreast of during this stressful time so that consumers can remain protected from people with malicious intent. 

What is the Office of Consumer Affairs? 

The Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation or OCABR is tasked with protecting and empowering consumers through advocacy and education, and seeks to ensure a fair playing field for the Massachusetts businesses its agencies regulate.

They do this within five main divisions within the office: 

• The Division of Banks, which helps homeowners and consumers gain access to sound, competitive, and accessible financial services
• The Division of Insurance, which reviews and approves insurance rates 
• The Division of Professional Licensure, which regulates licensing for schools, businesses, and trades
• The Division of Standards, which enforces accuracy of weights and measures; and
• The Telecommunication Division, which oversees cable companies. 

Scam Alerts for Massachusetts Residents & Seniors 

Undersecretary Palleschi gave our listeners a comprehensive list of ways that covid has been  impacting the typical consumer as well as some especially insidious methods scammers are using during this time to deceive seniors. 

Here are just a few of the consumer alerts he and his team have raised red flags for consumers to be wary of in the past year and a half. 

• Fraudulent covid testing sites and at-home tests
• Vaccination scams where callers claim you can gain quick access to the vaccine if you pay a fee
• Stimulus Check scams where consumers need to pay a fee to access the stimulus prior to others
• Get-Rich-Quick scams geared toward supporting companies regain losses during the pandemic
• Vaccination Identity Theft, where consumers should be wary of posting their personal and identifiable information on social media after getting the vaccine card
• Imposter Scams where seniors are being targeted by imposters posing as government groups such as the IRS, Medicare, or Social Security to gain access to their personal information 
• Phishing Scams where the elderly are encouraged to fill out emails with personal information by seemingly reputable companies 
• Bogus claim scams where fraudulent companies are claiming to have a covid cure for a cost
• Nursing home scams where seniors are duped out of their stimulus checks
• Deed Fraud Protection Scams

Resources For Residents 

If you feel you have a claim or have been fraudulently scammed, please contact the Office of Consumer Affairs 617-973-8787. If the office can not directly assist you they can help navigate you to a person or organization that can.