Consumer Advisories - Financial Regulation
The Office of Financial Regulation occasionally issues advisories for consumers about the financial service industries or activities regulated the Office. Subscribe to our advisory emails.- Celebrating 2024 National Consumer Protection Week – March 4, 2024
- Cryptocurrency ATM Scams - December 18, 2023
- Guidance on Verifying Approved Locations – November 29, 2023
- Student Loan Forgiveness Scams – November 21, 2023
- Understanding Earned Wage Access Products – August 1, 2023
- Consumer Protections for Real Estate Listing Agreements – July 31, 2023
- Scam Alert: Fake Voyager Bankruptcy Website - July 28, 2023
- Celebrating 2023 National Consumer Protection Week - March 9, 2023
- Avoid Becoming a Victim of Student Loan Debt Relief Scams - October 18, 2022
- Information for Consumers About Debt Settlement Services and Student Loan Debt Relief - October 6, 2022
- Options for Consumers Impacted by the Bankruptcy of Voyager Digital, LLC - September 21, 2022
- Cryptocurrency: Potential Risks to Consumers - August 4, 2022
- Notice to Consumers: Court Decision on So-Called Convenience Fees - June 8, 2022
- Mortgage Late? Don’t Wait! – April 5, 2022
- Information for Consumers: Federal Student Loan Servicer Announcement – Granite State to Cease Servicing Federal Student Loans - September 9, 2021
- COVID-19 Information for Consumers: Federal Relief for Student Loan Borrowers with Privately Held FFEL Loans in Default - April 6, 2021
- Maryland Commissioner of Financial Regulation Publishes Student Loan Borrower “Bill of Rights” - October 22, 2020
- Debt Collection: Your Rights as a Maryland Consumer - September 30, 2020
- Beware of COVID-19 Financial Fraud and Scams - May 6, 2020
- COVID-19 Information for Consumers: Payment Relief for Student Loans - March 27, 2020
- COVID-19 Information for Consumers: Continuing Your Banking and Financial Services Activities - March 18, 2020; REVISED March 19, 2020
- Credit Freezes and Unfreezes Now Free for Consumers - October 1, 2018
Archived Consumer Advisories
- Information for Consumers about the Equifax Data Breach
- Information for Consumers About Ocwen
- Consumer Debt Collection Actions - Senate Bill 771, Effective October 1, 2016 - November 4, 2016
- Changes to Residential Mortgage Foreclosure Regulations and Forms - Effective Feb. 1, 2015 - January 30, 2015
- Resolution of NBRS Financial Banks Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - October 2014 (Word)
- Maryland Commissioner of Financial Regulation Announces $2 Million Settlement with Western Sky Financial, CashCall, Inc. and Others - June 23, 2014
- Virtual Currencies: Risks for Buying, Selling, Transacting, and Investing - April 24, 2014
- The White House Office of the Press Secretary: President Obama Announces New Steps to Provide Housing Relief to Veterans and Servicemembers - March 6, 2012
- Alert - Who's Calling? That Debt Collector Could Be a Fake - February 28, 2012 (Word)
- Alert - Multistate Mortgage Servicer Settlement - Scam Phone Calls and E-mails - February 24, 2012 (Word)
- Federal Reserve Board Press Release, November 1, 2011: Borrowers Who Believe They Were Financially Harmed During the Mortgage Foreclosure Process by Four Institutions in 2009 and 2010 Can Now Request an Independent Review...
- Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) News Release, November 1, 2011: Independent Foreclosure Review Underway
- Residential Mortgage Foreclosure Regulations (COMAR 09.03.12.01 - .12) - Notice of Intent to Foreclose, Loss Mitigation Affidavit and Related Documents - October 25, 2011 (Word)
- Residential Mortgage Foreclosure Regulations (COMAR 09.03.12.01 - .12) - Effective Dates - October 24, 2011 (Word)
- Advisory - Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Becomes Fully Operational - July 28, 2011 (Word)
- Advisory – House Bill 728: Residential Property Foreclosure: Required Documents – Timing of Mediation - June 14, 2011 (Word)
- Avoiding 'Card Skimming' at ATMs and Other Money Machines - OCC Advisory - June 1, 2011 (Word)
- Foreclosure Process Reform Bill - SB216/HB365 - December 14, 2009
- Emergency Mortgage Lender and Mortgage Loan Originator Regulations - July 1, 2009 (Word)
- Advisory: Attention Homeowners Facing Mortgage Difficulties – April 7, 2009 (Word)
- Attention Maryland Consumers Experiencing Credit Problems: Avoid Credit Services Businesses Making False Promises- November, 2008 (Word)
- Beware of High Cost "Economic Stimulus Payment" Anticipation Loans - March 10, 2008 (Word)
- Foreclosure Process Reform Bill - SB 216/HB 365 - April 3, 2008
- Credit Reporting Agencies Security Freezes 10-07 - October 10, 2007 (Word)
- Guidance on Nontraditional Mortgage Product Risks - October 4, 2006 (Word)