Erie County Division of Consumer Protection

05/27/2026

05/27/2026

05/18/2026

May is Older Americans Month. Seniors are often targets of online scams including phishing, vishing and romance scams. Share these easy tips to help the older people in your life stay safe online!
https://its.ny.gov/online-scams

05/13/2026

Be aware of check washing and keep your mail/checks safe from criminals with tips from the NYS Department of State Division of Consumer Protection.

Despite digital banking, many checks are still mailed, and criminals use specialized chemical solutions to alter these documents.

To protect your mail/checks:
✔Pick up your mail promptly after delivery. Do not leave mail in your mailbox overnight or for long periods of time.
✔If you are heading out of town, submit a USPS Hold Mail request asking your local Post Office to hold your mail until you return.
✔Use pens with indelible black ink so it is more difficult for a criminal to wash your checks

05/08/2026

If you or someone you know has been scammed, know that there is support and there is a community behind you. NCL is proud to be a part of the Scam Survivor Day Coalition on to uplift survivors, push for stronger consumer protections, and remind everyone: you are not alone and we are in your corner. https://ow.ly/91Js50YVKBc

05/05/2026

⚠️ Investment-related impersonation scams can be difficult to spot. In these schemes, scammers misuse the names of real, registered investment professionals or firms to appear legitimate. Learn about common tactics used to target investors and steps you can take to help protect yourself from imposter scams.

▶️ Learn more: https://bit.ly/3IETieI

05/01/2026

If you’re on social media, you know posts from friends and family might not be the only ones on your newsfeed — scammers are there too. FTC data shows that losses to scams on social media have been increasing dramatically since 2020 — people reported losing $2.1 billion to these scams in 2025 ...

04/29/2026

April is Financial Literacy Month, a time to take preventive steps to protect yourself from scams and identity theft.