Tips to avoid holiday theft and scams
Here are some tips to avoid the common holiday scams.
Statesman Journal
The Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries is warning Spanish-speaking workers of a nationwide scam targeting people who filed workers’ compensation claims.
The Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services issued a warning about the scam in February, saying workers in nearby Idaho and Montana had been targeted.
On April 6, BOLI announced a confirmed case of the scam in Oregon. The agency did not immediately provide additional details about the confirmed case.
According to BOLI and DCBS, scammers contact workers by phone, email, video calls or social media apps like Facebook Messenger or WhatsApp to try to convince workers to appear at a sham online workers’ compensation hearing. The fake hearings may even feature people posing as judges or attorneys, BOLI said.
Workers are then told they have to pay money to receive benefits or a claim settlement.
BOLI Commissioner Christina Stephenson said in a press release the agency will never charge workers to file a wage claim or civil rights complaint, and will never ask workers to pay for benefits, hearings or settlements.
“When workers know their rights, they are less vulnerable to fraud,” Stephenson said in a statement. “We want every Oregonian to have the tools to spot these scams and protect themselves.”
BOLI listed potential signs of the scam, like:
- Requests for payment to receive benefits or settlements
- Messages or instructions via social media that claim to be from government agencies
- Pressure to act or pay immediately
If someone is unsure about a communication about their claim, they are encouraged to save screenshots or call details and to:
- Contact BOLI at BOLI_help@boli.oregon.gov
- Contact the Ombuds Office for Oregon workers at 800-927-1271
- Contact the Oregon Department of Justice’s fraud hotline at 877-877-9392
- Contact the Division of Financial Regulation at 888-877-4893 if someone claims to represent an insurance company and threatens you.
BOLI has also created a one-page information sheet about the scam in English and Spanish for awareness.
Dianne Lugo covers the Oregon Legislature and equity issues. Reach her at dlugo@statesmanjournal.com on X @DianneLugo or Bluesky @diannelugo.bsky.social.
Clinton Mora is a reporter for Trending Insurance News. He has previously worked for the Forbes. As a contributor to Trending Insurance News, Clinton covers emerging a wide range of property and casualty insurance related stories.