Vermont Government Imposters 

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Government imposter scams were among the top scams reported to the Consumer Assistance Program by Vermonters in 2025. These scams take many forms, with fraudsters posing as federal or state agency.  

Vermonters have reported many DMV imposter scams threatening license revocation due to outstanding driving violations. Similarly, a wave of Economic Services imposters last fall prompted a statewide scam alert.  

SCAM ALERT: 3SquaresVT and EBT Card Phishing. Scammers are phishing for personal info of 3SquaresVT recipients, threatening suspension of EBT cards. Do not engage!

In the new year, scammers are again targeting recipients of 3SquaresVT – also known as SNAP or food stamps. The imposters attempt to phish for personal information, including EBT card numbers, and threaten benefit suspension if the information is not provided. In some instances, spoofed caller IDs appear as “AHS,” when it is not. The Vermont Attorney General just issued another scam alert. 

Scammers impersonate government agencies because it creates a sense of authority and urgency. They hope to induce fear and panic, driving people to act quickly to resolve a pressing problem. Once they have your personal information, scammers use it for their own financial gain.

Keys to avoiding government imposter scams: 

  • Know that government officials will not threaten benefits suspension in exchange for personal information.  
  • Your license will not be taken away because of a threatening unsolicited phone call, text, or email. 
  • When it comes to government imposters, it is best to hang up.  

If a call or message seems legitimate, take steps to verify by contacting the government agency directly using official contact information. Vermont agencies can be found using the Vermont.gov website. Always check that government website addresses end in “.gov”. 

For this recurring 3SquaresVT scam, do not respond and never share your EBT card number with an unknown caller. Economic Services will only contact you about SNAP benefits using the following numbers: 

  • For text messages: 800-215-3243
  • For phone calls: 800-933-3405

When you encounter government imposters, hang up and report the scam to the Consumer Assistance program online or call 1-800-649-2424.

Prepare for Heating Season and Propane Deliveries

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By McKenna Halvorson

The cold weather is here – and so is heating season! Heating season in Vermont runs from November through mid-April. Use the heating season checklist below to further prepare for winter weather. If you have fuel questions relating to propane or other heating fuels, please visit our website.

CAP’s Heating Season Checklist

Before Scheduling a Heating Fuel Delivery:

  1. Shop Around for Providers
    1. If you own your own tank and do not have a contract with a provider, you may be able to shop around for a fuel delivery.
      • If you own your own tank and are not currently in a service contract with a heating fuel provider, you may be able to call other providers if your preferred provider cannot guarantee a delivery. If you use propane, you may have to swap your tank(s). Confirm who owns the tank before inquiring with other providers.
    2. For propane customers, review your Fee Disclosure Form for potential charges associated with a delivery, including emergency deliveries and special trip fees.
      • If you cannot locate a copy of the Fee Disclosure Form, check the company’s website or call your provider to request a new copy.
  2. Track your Fuel Usage
    1. If you are on will call or cash on delivery, call your provider when your tank is between 30-40% full.
      • If you wait to schedule your delivery, you may risk running out of heating fuel as the provider could be booked with planned deliveries.
      • If you are interested in switching to automatic delivery, contact your heating fuel provider.  

After Scheduling a Propane Delivery:

  1. Make a Plowing Plan
    1. Ensure your driveway or private road is plowed so delivery can be safely made, especially during or after a snowstorm. If needed, sand the roads the day of delivery.
      • Confirm that the path to your tank is clear – remove all fallen tree branches, bushes, and other hazards.
      • Frozen gates, both in your driveway and around your tank, may delay delivery.
    2. If inclement weather is forecasted, call your provider as soon as possible to make different arrangements.
  2. Answer Phone Calls from your Provider
    1. Technicians may call you if a problem arises during delivery. Answering those calls may avoid potential delays in receiving propane.

If you need more heating fuel support, including affording heat this winter, please check our Staying Warm This Winter post for additional information. There are programs that may be able to help!

The Vermont Attorney General’s office enforces CP111, a consumer protection rule, which regulates propane. CP111 outlines rights for propane consumers including the disclosure of fees, notice prior to a change in credit status, and certain protections for disconnections.

CAP provides a letter mediation service and hotline for consumer issues facing Vermont residents. If you have experienced an issue with your home heating provider or have questions regarding propane, contact the Consumer Assistance Program.

  • If you have questions or concerns about your fuel delivery, call the Consumer Assistance Program at 800-649-2424, email us at AGO.CAP@vermont.gov, or file a complaint.
  • If you have questions or concerns about fuel assistance (LIHEAP), call Energy Assistance at 1-800-775-0516.

Scam Alert: Calls Targeting 3SquaresVT Households

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Scammers are targeting recipients of 3SquaresVT – also known as SNAP or food stamps – and trying to steal money meant to assist households with buying food. Scammers are calling and sending messages, fraudulently claiming that the client’s EBT card has been “locked,” and instructing them to call back to verify their eligibility. This is a scam.

Government officials will never text or call clients to request this information. Do not respond and never give your EBT card numbers to an unknown caller. Economic Services will only contact you about SNAP benefits using the following numbers:

For text messages: 802-215-3243
For phone calls: 800-933-3405

If you encounter this scam, hang up and report it to the Consumer Assistance Program at 800-649-2424. 

Homeowners and buyers can outsmart seller impersonators

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By McKenna Halvorson

Finding your dream property may feel like finding a needle in a haystack. You may be tempted to act fast. But wait! There are illegitimate property listings and fake sellers out there.

Unfortunately, seller impersonation scams, also called “deed fraud”, are on the rise. Deed fraud is when criminals attempt to sell property they do not own. The listings may steal information from properties already on the market or create a new advertisement based on real property, such as real estate listed in a city/town’s grand list. Scammers often target property of absentee owners like vacation homes, vacant lots, or residential rentals. Criminals succeed by forging deed documents.

Unfortunately, seller impersonation scams, also called “deed fraud”, are on the rise. Deed fraud is when criminals attempt to sell property they do not own. The listings may steal information from properties already on the market or create a new advertisement based on real property, such as real estate listed in a city/town’s grand list. Scammers often target property of absentee owners like vacation homes, vacant lots, or residential rentals. Criminals succeed by forging deed documents. There are few barriers, especially when the property has no lienholder and debts have been paid.

Red Flags for Spotting Fraudulent Listings:

5 Red Flags for Spotting Fraudulent Listings 1. Deals that are too good to be true 2. Sellers that only communicate by email or text 3. Sellers that are urging you to act quickly 4. Sellers that require specific payment methods 5. Sales of a vacant lot
  1. Deals that are too good to be true
    -Criminals may list property significantly below normal asking price to entice potential buyers. Trust your instincts.
  2. Sellers that only communicate through email or text
    -Criminals may claim their phone can’t call or they are unavailable to meet in person to sign documents.
    ex: It’s a for-sale-by-owner listing, but you never talk to the owner.
  3. Sellers that urge you to act quickly
    -Criminals may claim the deal is only available for a limited time or that you have to “act now,” hoping that you won’t pause to check it out.
  4. Specific payment methods
    -Criminals may claim buyers can only pay in cash or wire money to an out-of-state bank account. Never send money for unseen property.
  5. Sales of a vacant lot
    -Criminals may focus on vacant lots hoping that the owners live out of state or don’t manage the property.

Options that May Help Protect your Property from Criminals:

  1. Consider “not-for-sale” documents
    -Filing not-for-sale documents with the Town Clerk may serve as a caution flag to realtors when engaging in transactions that involve your property.
  2. Keep a close eye on property bills
    -Check your address on bills to ensure a criminal hasn’t changed the mailing address without your knowledge.
  3. Check your Property’s Deed Status
    -Research your county’s land records/deed information online to ensure criminals have not altered the status of your home to “for sale.”
  4. Monitor the property
    -Ask neighbors to notify you if there is unusual activity on the property.
    -For uninhabited properties, install motion sensors, such as a smart home security camera or device that alerts you about activity.
  5. Set up a Google Alert for your property address
    -This alert will notify you when someone posts about your property online.
  6. Check for online activity
    -Search popular real estate sites like Zillow, Redfin, and Realtor.com and review your property location to see if it is being listed.
    -Search for your address on social media platforms to see if there have been any posts about your property.
  7. Learn about title insurance policies.
    -Homeowner’s insurance policies may offer enhanced title insurance, which can alert you of deed fraud.
  8. Monitor your Credit Report
    -An unknown account can be a sign of identity theft, which could include deed fraud.
    -You can check your credit reports weekly for free at annualcreditreport.com.

For realtors being contacted by potential real estate sellers, reference this notice about seller impersonation fraud by the Vermont Association of Realtors.

If you believe you are experiencing a seller impersonation scam, reach out to local law enforcement, and file a report at ic3.gov. Report the scam to the Vermont Attorney General’s Consumer Assistance Program at 1-800-649-2424 and ago.vermont.gov/cap


Sources:

American Land Title Association: https://www.alta.org/file/Combating-Seller-Impersonation-Fraud.pdf

NH Department of Justice: Consumer Alert – Attorney General Warns Public to be Diligent Amidst Reports of Quit Claim Deed Fraud | New Hampshire Department of Justice

Vermont Realtors: https://www.vermontrealtors.com/new-scam- and https://www.vermontrealtors.com/consumer-guides/targets-land/

Nonstandard Standardized Test Calls

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As a student, the standardized test may have been one of the first times I was asked to provide personal information like my address and birthday and optional Social Security number on a form. As one of the first times my SSN was queried, I remember my heart racing a bit. I found this sudden transition into adulthood somewhat troubling. Wasn’t I supposed to keep that number a secret? Why did they ask me instead of my parents? Finally, I asked the test coordinators if I had to provide it and they said, “no.” Crisis averted.

I imagine our adolescent Vermonters having the same experience, albeit perhaps more knowledgeable than I was. Even still, standardized tests are unchartered territory. So, when employees supposedly affiliated with the PSAT, SAT or ACT call your home following signup, it may seem possible that it is them. Rest assured, it is not them. It is a scam. They don’t solicit. They won’t call you—unless of course you ask them to call you. But you probably didn’t, because there is a test coordinator at school who helps you with most of the questions you have.

Share the details of this scam with your household and school.

  •  Scammers claim to be affiliated with the PSAT, SAT, and ACT standardized tests, or the administrator, College Board.
    • The caller ID may be spoofed to appear as the College Board even though it is not.
  • Caller says a household student requested test and college prep materials at their school, which will be mailed out after obtaining payment information as collateral. 
  • The caller may state the student’s name, address, along with a date and exam location.

Know that the College Board will “only make calls to students and their families in response to student-generated inquiries and/or to provide students and families with information about a test or program for which the student registered” (collegeboard.org). The College Board does not make unsolicited calls requesting payment or personal information, such as credit card number and Social Security number. Hang up on these calls.

Always take steps to verify unknown contacts by using publicly available contact information, not information provided by the scammer. For upcoming standardized tests occurring at your school, you may also reach out to your school’s test coordinator about procedural questions and planning logistics.

Report scams to the Vermont Attorney General’s Consumer Assistance Program at ago.vermont.gov/cap or by phone at 1-800-649-2424. For more information about this scam and scam prevention resources go to the CAP Connection blog: https://blog.uvm.edu/cap

Learn more about this scam: https://www.bbb.org/article/news-releases/23883-bbb-scam-alert-watch-out-for-sat-prep-scams