The Consumer Assistance Council, Cape Cod’s consumer advocacy and educational
organization, is like the “9-1-1” for consumer problems. Working in cooperation with the
Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office, the CAC mediates disputes between consumers and
businesses, and advocates on behalf of consumers when they need help. Now in its 50 th year, our
Falmouth-based non-profit is staffed by volunteers who serve as Consumer Case Managers.
Our organization, whose services are free to consumers, handles all types of complaints. We deal
with local businesses like auto repair shops, contractors, retailers, service businesses, plus cell
phones, debt collection problems and internet sales issues. In the last few years, the CAC has
received 2,700 inquiries and has recovered more than $1.2 million for Cape Cod residents.
Scam losses in 2023 were estimated to be $12.5 billion nationally, with losses growing
dramatically every year. Globally, this is a $1.03 trillion industry. Massachusetts, one of the most
prosperous states with a great educational system, is Number 8 in the Top 10 of states with scam
losses.
To help protect yourself from being ripped-off, here are 10 useful tips to put into practice.
1, Guard your personal information, Never give out your Social Security number over the phone
or online unless you know for certain that the person requesting that information is legitimate
and needs the data. You do not need to give your SSN to your doctor or dentist.

2. Watch what you divulge on Facebook. If you have pictures of your dog, your grandchildren,
   your old school mates, your religious institution, and include their names, you are providing a
   feast for identity thieves. If you have photos of your birthday party and list the day of your birth,
   you are ripe for a rip-off.
3. Don’t trust your caller ID … or your callers! If you get a call from your bank or credit card
   company telling you there were questionable charges on your credit card, or from a government
   agency asking about your new Medicare card – HANG UP. Look up the correct number for the
   institution, and then call them back. Do not trust the number the caller gives you and don’t
   believe what you see on your caller ID — bad actors can fake those numbers.
4. Don’t open email pop-ups, files or hyperlinks sent by companies with which you do not do
   business. Doing so can infect your computer.
5. If you are getting calls from debt collectors about items you never purchased, check your
   credit card and bank statements. Your financial information may have been stolen and purchases
   made that you didn’t even realize.
6. You didn’t win! If you receive emails or calls congratulating you for winning a contest you
   didn’t enter, or won free merchandise from a store where you don’t shop, this is a scam. You will
   be asked to provide your Social Security number for gift tax purposes, or to use your credit card
   to pay $4.95 for shipping and handling. If you do either, you lose!
7. If you get a call from someone claiming to be a grandchild who is in a faraway location and
   needs money urgently for doctors or lawyers but doesn’t want their parents to know about it, this
   is a scam. The actors are so convincing that people often fall for this ruse. One Cape Cod
   grandma lost $30,000 in this scam. There have been dozens of other victims here.
8. There are many widows, widowers and divorced people on the Cape. They are targets for
   romance scams, where someone connects with you online and a relationship is built. This is
   what’s called a “long con,” because it takes months before the scammer springs the trap on the
   innocent victim. At some point, the distant romantic partner will either ask for money for some
   seemingly legitimate purpose, or they will let you in on a rock solid investment. You send them
   the money then they disappear. One Lower Cape woman lost $100,000 on a long con romance
   scam that took eight months to play out.
9. One of the meanest scams is the Puppy Dog con. You find a puppy online being sold by some
   out-of-state breeder or shelter. They want payment by wire transfer or gift cards. You send the
   money but you don’t get the puppy. There never was a puppy. If you look carefully, different
   puppy dog online scammers use pictures of the same dogs!
10. If you are asked for payment via gift card, or if a “friend” calls you from a store saying she
    forget her credit card so can you buy some gift cards and text her the numbers so she can
    complete her purchase, this is a scam. It doesn’t sound like a convincing one, but it works many
    times. One Sandwich resident lost $400 by buying gift cards for a scammer.
    These are but a few of the ways you can protect yourself from becoming a scam victim.
    If you are having a problem with a business, use the link on the Home Page of our website to
    reach the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection unit.