Oregon OSHA warns of impersonation scams

Oregon OSHA warned employers on May 12 that scammers are impersonating the workplace safety agency and trying to collect money from businesses by posing as regulators. The agency said the fraud has taken at least two forms: fake compliance demands tied to supposed inspections and phone calls offering to settle penalties for less than the amount owed. The alert came from Oregon OSHA, a division of the Department of Consumer and Business Services, which said employers should verify any unexpected notice or payment request through official channels. The agency said its consultation, education and training services are free. ### What exactly are the scammers telling employers? The Department of Consumer and Business Services said one scam involves people calling employers and falsely claiming to represent Oregon OSHA. Those callers tell businesses they can settle an enforcement penalty for a reduced amount if the employer sends the lower payment directly, according to the state’s newsroom post. (osha.oregon.gov) The May 12 Oregon OSHA release said another version uses misrepresentation around compliance activity, including contacts that make businesses believe they are dealing with a legitimate workplace safety regulator. The agency did not identify the employers involved in the recent cases in the release. ### How does Oregon OSHA say real penalties and notices work? (apps.oregon.gov) Oregon OSHA’s employer guidance says a business that receives a citation after an inspection has 30 calendar days to file an appeal. The agency’s enforcement page separately says penalties are due within 20 days after a citation order becomes final, placing the payment process within a formal enforcement timeline rather than an unsolicited side arrangement. (osha.oregon.gov) The agency’s contact directory lists official Salem-based phone numbers and email addresses for appeals, enforcement information and general questions. Oregon OSHA said employers who receive suspicious demands should use those published contacts to confirm whether a notice, citation or payment request is legitimate. ### Does Oregon OSHA charge for help outside enforcement? (osha.oregon.gov) Oregon OSHA said it provides a full range of free services to employers, including safety and health consultations, answers to compliance questions, public education, training, publications and streaming videos. The agency included that point in its warning, drawing a line between official assistance and any demand for money tied to supposed help from impostors. (osha.oregon.gov) The Oregon OSHA home page and employer resources page describe those consultation and education functions as part of the agency’s regular services. The state said businesses should be cautious if anyone claims payment is required for those offerings. ### Where can employers verify a suspicious call or notice? Oregon OSHA’s public contact directory lists 503-378-3272 and 800-922-2689 for appeals, enforcement information and general questions from inside Oregon. (osha.oregon.gov) The same directory lists official email addresses including enforce.web@dcbs.oregon.gov for enforcement information and tech.web@dcbs.oregon.gov for general questions. (osha.oregon.gov) The workers’ complaint page and rules pages also sit on Oregon’s official Oregon.gov domain, which the agency said employers can use to confirm whether a communication matches a real program, citation or complaint process. Oregon OSHA said official information about rules, citations and complaints is available on those state pages. ### Has Oregon issued other scam warnings this year? (osha.oregon.gov) Oregon OSHA published a separate guide on Jan. 12 with partners to help workers and consumers understand workplace rights and protect themselves against fraud. That release said the guide was produced to help Oregonians work safely and guard against scams. The Department of Consumer and Business Services also issued a Feb. 12 warning about a different scam targeting Spanish-speaking injured workers in other states, including Idaho and Montana. (osha.oregon.gov) That notice described contacts by phone, email, social media apps and video calls, showing that Oregon regulators have been issuing broader fraud alerts across labor and insurance-related programs this year. (osha.oregon.gov) The May 12 Oregon OSHA release remains posted in the agency’s 2026 newsroom archive, and the contact directory and employer guidance pages remain available on Oregon.gov for businesses checking a notice or payment request. (osha.oregon.gov) (dfr.oregon.gov)