The Vermont Secretary of State’s Office warned on Mar. 27 that scammers are sending fake emails pretending to be from the Office of Professional Regulation (OPR), targeting local businesses with phishing attempts.
These fraudulent emails claim to come from enforcement officials at OPR and often mention investigations or violations. Recipients are urged not to click on suspicious links, download attachments, or share sensitive information in response to these messages.
Officials advise anyone receiving such communications to verify that email addresses end in Vermont.gov, preview links by hovering over them before clicking, and watch for spelling errors including incorrect spellings of ‘Vermont.’ Those uncertain about the legitimacy of an email can contact the Secretary of State’s office at 802-828-2363 for confirmation.
In a related warning, the Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) reported scam texts and emails falsely claiming unpaid tolls. The DMV stated it never sends text messages demanding payment and encourages people who receive suspicious messages to call 802-828-2000 or report scams through the Federal Trade Commission’s website.
The National Federation of Independent Business represents hundreds of thousands of member businesses across various industries according to its official website. The organization advocates for small and independent business owners in public policy discussions at both federal and state levels according to its official website. Brad Close serves as president and chief executive officer per the official website.
The group determines its policy positions using a one-member, one-vote system according to its official website, extends advocacy efforts across all 50 states per its official site, and works actively in policy debates aimed at protecting small business rights according to its official website.