Department of Consumer and Worker Protection Warns New Yorkers
about 10 Worst Everyday Scams and How to Avoid Them
Consumers
Beware!
1. Employment Agency Scams:
2. Towing Scams:
If you park in a private lot where a sign says that
it’s reserved for customers only, your car could
be towed if you leave the area. But some tow
companies will try to tow you even if you don’t
leave or will tow your car around the corner and
then try to get you to pay more than the legal
rate and to pay in cash to get your car back. If a
car is about to be towed from the lot, the drop
fee for unhooking a car is $62.50. If you’ve been
towed, the fee is $125 for the towing and three
days of storage. Tow companies must accept at
least two major credit cards. Also, if you’re in an
accident, only use the tow company called by
NYPD. It’s illegal for tow companies to just show
up on the scene of an accident and offer to tow
your car. For more tips about towing, to check
the license status of a tow company, or to le a
complaint, visit nyc.gov/dcwp or call 311.
4. Predatory Schools:
There are hundreds of for-prot schools in
New York City that enroll New Yorkers in
courses for everything from air conditioning
repair and cosmetology to medical technician
training. Some use high-pressure recruiting
tactics and may mislead you into taking out a
lot of nancial aid and then make it difcult to
complete your degree so you’re forced to take
out more aid. Do research about multiple
schools, don’t sign up the day you visit, and
get the tuition cancellation policy in writing. If
you have a problem, call 311 to le a complaint
against a school of higher education.
5. Electronics Store Scams:
3. Immigration Assistance Scams:
If you need legal advice about immigration,
only go to an attorney or someone who is
accredited and works for an organization that
is recognized by the Board of Immigration
Appeals. Immigration service providers can
only offer clerical services and must follow
local laws about contracts, signage, and
disclosing fees. In New York State, a notary
public, or notario público, cannot give legal
advice, draft legal papers, or review documents
for legality. Get tips about using an immigration
service provider at nyc.gov/dcwp.
Too many employment agencies take advantage
of people who are looking for a job. Some
charge upfront fees, guarantee employment,
send you to jobs that don’t exist, make you pay
for training, such as security guard or OSHA
training or bartending classes, in order to get a
job. All of these things are illegal. Only use a
licensed employment agency, be sure to get
DCWP's tips rst, and le a complaint if you have
a problem. Visit DCWP online at nyc.gov/dcwp
or call 311 to check an employment agency’s
license status and complaint history or to le a
complaint about an employment agency.
Some electronics stores prey on customers,
especially tourists, by selling refurbished
electronics as new and trying to sell unwanted
accessories or extra warranties that may not
cover more than the manufacturer’s and
retailer’s warranties. Recently, some stores sell
SIM cards with a special SIM card Agreement
that consumers are required to sign. Then, in
the event of data overage, consumers are
charged high rates for usage. Research the
product you want to buy and compare prices
before you shop. Only shop at an electronics
store that has a DCWP license, check the
refund policy before you pay, and take the box
with you in case you need to return the item.
Examine the product closely to make sure it’s
not used or rebuilt and be sure it will work in
your hometown. Get an itemized receipt and
look closely for hidden fees or add-ons.
6. Parking Ticket Scam:
Beware of text messages that appear to
come from CityPay or the NYC Department
of Finance that ask you to open attachments
or click on links to conrm parking ticket
payments. CityPay does not send text
messages about parking tickets. Ignore and
delete the text message. If you want to check
on the status of a parking or camera violation,
visit nyc.gov/citypay.
7. ATM Skimmers:
8. Phone Scams:
There are a number of phone scams where
the caller claims to be collecting a debt and
threatens the victim into making payment.
Green Dot Card Scams: NYPD warns that
people are losing thousands of dollars in a
phone scam involving Green Dot MoneyPak
cards. The caller claims to be collecting a debt
from a utility company like Con Edison or the
IRS, or that a family member has been hurt or
is in danger. The caller threatens that the victim
must make payment immediately with Green
Dot MoneyPak or that they will lose their heat
or electric or face possible deportation or
criminal prosecution. Never wire money or
provide the numbers of a Green Dot or other
prepaid card to someone you don’t know.
IRS Phone Scam: Callers pretending to be
from the IRS threaten that the victims owe
money or that they are entitled to a huge
refund. Scammers often use fake names and
IRS badge numbers and sometimes follow up
with a call from the police department or DMV
to verify the claim. They may even have the last
four digits of a victim’s Social Security number
and manipulate caller ID to make it appear to
be the IRS. The IRS will never call or email you
for your personal or nancial information. If you
get a phone call from someone claiming to be
from the IRS but you suspect it is an impostor,
call the IRS at 800-829-1040 and then le a
complaint with the Federal Trade Commission
through the online complaint assistant:
reportfraud.ftc.gov.
Some identity thieves install skimmers on
ATM machines that can read the information
on your card. These small devices are hard to
detect and go over the normal card slot. Use
ATMs that are in the bank lobby or under
video surveillance and always cover the
keypad when you enter your PIN in case
there’s a hidden camera. If you notice
tampering with an ATM, don’t use it and
report it to the bank. Get more identity theft
prevention tips at nyc.gov/dcwp.
9. Grandparent Scam:
When seniors get an email or phone call in the
middle of the night stating that their grandchild
is in serious trouble due to a car accident, jail
time, detention in a foreign country, or any
other emergency scenario, the rst reaction
may be to help by sending money quickly.
However, creating that sense of urgency is part
of a sophisticated scam that preys on the
elderly. What makes the conversations with
fake police ofcers, lawyers, and doctors
convincing is that the caller may know personal
details about the supposed victim and the
caller ID may be manipulated to appear
legitimate. Sometimes the caller will even
impersonate the troubled grandchild. The
nancial losses tend to be thousands of
dollars, so resist the pressure to act quickly
and instead contact family to conrm the story
and avoid wiring money based on a phone or
email request.
10. Rental Listing Scam:
If you respond to a rental listing on a third
party website like Craigslist, be wary of people
who pretend to be real estate agents and then
collect the money without owning the listing.
When you’re apartment hunting, never
complete an application or give advance
payment before seeing an available listing and
never wire money or use a prepaid card like
Green Dot MoneyPak. Red ags include an
“agent” claiming that he is out of town but has
arranged for the keys to be delivered to you
once you make payment.
DCWP encourages consumer complaints and works with businesses to get back your money.
To le a complaint with DCWP or check the license status of a business, visit nyc.gov/dcwp or call
311. DCWP’s website also features 10 Things Every Consumer Should Know and other tips, guides,
and videos for doing business with specic industries, including dealing with debt collectors,
employment agencies, home improvement contractors, used car dealers, and more.
07/2024
