EPA Warns of Fake Violation Letters Being Used by Scammers
by Sara Osorio, Environmental, Health and Safety Affairs Coordinator Aug 2, 2024

On July 30, 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Office of Inspector General (OIG) issued a fraud alert to warn of a phishing scam targeting businesses. The alert details that numerous companies have received fraudulent Notice of Violation Letters via mail or email, falsely accusing them of breaching environmental regulations such as the Clean Air Act. These counterfeit letters demand substantial fines and prompt responses via phone or email, directing recipients to an unverified email address: invoice@epa.services. It is important to note that this email is not affiliated with any official U.S. government agency, which exclusively uses the “.gov” domain (e.g., epa.gov or osha.gov). 

The OIG advises any business receiving such a Notice of Violation to confirm its legitimacy by contacting and forwarding an electronic copy to EPA’s enforcement office at OECA_communications@epa.gov and to refrain from making any payments or taking further action until verification is complete. To safeguard against similar fraud attempts, the OIG recommends the following tips: 

  • Establish organizational protocols for processing new payment instructions, incorporating a multi-step verification process. 
  • Implement advanced email security systems to detect phishing attempts, domain spoofing, and other cyber threats, and utilize two-factor authentication to secure accounts. 
  • Conduct regular staff training on cybersecurity best practices and phishing detection, ensuring employees report all phishing attempts, regardless of their severity. 

If you suspect you have fallen victim to fraud, report it immediately to the EPA OIG Hotline by completing the online complaint form, emailing OIG.Hotline@epa.gov, or calling (888) 546-8740. 

In this article, Sara Osorio, Coordinator, EHS Affairs, PRINTING United Alliance, reviews the EPA Notice of Violation Fraud Alert. More information about this and other environmental, health, and safety information can be found at Business Excellence-EHS Affairs or reach out to Sara directly if you have questions about how these issues may affect your business: sosorio@printing.org.     

To become a member of PRINTING United Alliance and learn more about how our subject matter experts can assist your company with services and resources such as those mentioned in this article, please contact the Alliance membership team: 888-385-3588 / membership@printing.org.   

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Sara Osorio Environmental, Health and Safety Affairs Coordinator
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Sara Osorio is the Environmental, Health and Safety (EHS) Affairs Coordinator at PRINTING United Alliance. Her primary responsibility is to assist members with EHS regulatory compliance, sustainability, and EHS consulting. Sara also monitors the EHS regulatory activities at the federal and state-level that impact the printing industry including those occurring at Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA), the Department of Transportation (DOT), and other agencies. She develops guidance material for members, gives presentations, and writes articles on EHS regulations and sustainability issues. She also supports the Sustainable Green Printing Partnership and Alliance members in their efforts to certify printing operations in sustainable manufacturing.

Sara received a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies from Florida International University and is pursuing and Master of Science in Sustainable Management from the University of Wisconsin – Green Bay.

Speaking Topics:

  • Regulatory compliance and sustainability
  • Webinars on a wide variety of EHS related topics
  • Customized seminars and workshops
  • Employee training on safety and environmental compliance

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