We joined Fairfax County Consumer Affairs and many other local federal and county agencies from the DMV at #MWCOG to discuss a regional scam awareness campaign. Three simple words can serve as a powerful scam interruption tool: Pause. Question. Protect. #hocoscamsquad

The #IRS has issued its 2026 Dirty Dozen of common tax scams. Read up and stay protected! #hocoscamsquad #ScamAlert

www.irs.gov/newsroom/dir...

2/ Ask for their OCP solicitor ID, get their business card, but do NOT show them your bill no matter how aggressive they get or story they tell about getting fired. If they have your BGE account number, they can switch your supplier without you knowing it. That is "slamming." #hocoscamsquad

#scamalert from @MD_MVA: If you received a suspicious text, please delete it immediately! The MVA will never reach out via text asking for personal information or payment. #hocoscamsquad

Fake Online Training Scams Social media is flooded with ads for online courses and training programs. While some are legitimate, many are scams. Learn to recognize the warning signs before signing up.

2/ Not all online training programs are legitimate. Scammers promote fake courses and misleading certifications. #hocoscamsquad Read more 👇
scambusters.org/training-sca...

Sometimes scams are "low tech" see how parking tickets may be a scam. #ScamAlert #HoCoScamSquad See this alert by #bbb www.bbb.org/article/scam...

Free Offer Scams – How to Spot Fake Giveaways This article explains how free-offer scams work, common warning signs, and how to protect yourself.

2/ Before you click “claim now,” learn how free offers are used as a powerful tool for fraud and how to spot the warning signs before it’s too late. #hocoscamsquad
scambusters.org/free-gift-sc...

#ScamAlert Have you heard of "brushing" scams? It could be a package you never ordered. It may seem like a free gift. But what is really happening? Read on to learn about a common scheme to validate fake reviews you may be relying on #hocoscamsquad
scambusters.org/brushing-sca...

#ScamAlert Bitcoin ATM fraud hits record $333.5 million per FBI – Federal Bureau of Investigation #hocoscamsquad asks that you tell your friends and family NOT to trust an emergency call steering them to *any* crypto ATMs. Protect your hard-earned money.
www.operationshamrock.org/library/2026...

#ScamAlert Scammers or fake vendors can exploit tap-to-pay and NFC transactions to steal money from your credit card or mobile wallet. Here's what you need to know about "ghost tapping" and how to stop them. #hocoscamsquad
www.zdnet.com/article/this...

#ScamAlert Can the systems set up in your iPhone be used against you in a phishing scam? Yes.... your iPhone is not immune to sophisticated scams. See how the scheme operates using Apple's built-in support measures. #hocoscamsquad

medium.com/@eric.moret/...
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#ScamAlert AI is turbocharging scams by making them easier to launch and removing common red flags. With social engineering, voice cloning, and scams specifically tailored to you, AI is changing the game. #hocoscamsquad Read more at:
scambusters.org/ai-scams.html

#ScamAlert Fake Push Notifications: Criminals now use fake phone alerts to trick you into clicking and engaging. For more read the #ScamBusters article👇. #hocoscamsquad
scambusters.org/fake-push-no...

Connecting your bank account to apps comes with benefits and conveniences. But do you know the risks as well? #Scambusters spells out the pros and cons of linking bank accounts, and scams to avoid. #hocoscamsquad
scambusters.org/linking-bank...

The SSA recently announced that it will require in-person or online identity verification for certain services beginning April 14. Criminals are already capitalizing on the confusion. #hocoscamsquad Learn more from
@nationalconsumers.bsky.social fraud.org/scammers-are...

Getting fooled isn't always funny or in good fun. Learn how to spot and avoid being fooled by criminals and scammers. #HoCoScamSquad
www.howardcountymd.gov/consumer-pro...