For those immigrating to the U.S., stay updated on the latest living information: The week beginning March 7 is "National Consumer Protection Week." The New York City Attorney General's Office has listed the top ten fraud patterns reported by New York citizens in 2015 and provided tips for consumers to prevent being scammed:
1. Internet Fraud, 5,300 cases:
Always remember to log in to secure websites. Before providing a credit card number or bank account number, check if the website is a secure site starting with https.
2. Auto-related Fraud, 3,567 cases:
This includes buying and selling cars, services, financing, and repairs. The "New and Used Car Lemon Law" protects the rights of parties who purchase or lease vehicles. If your car does not have a written warranty, or if the dealership cannot repair your car within a reasonable amount of time, you should be entitled to a full refund. The Attorney General's Office can resolve disputes regarding vehicle wear and tear.
3. Customer Service-related, 2,274 cases:
This includes restaurant services, technical repairs, dry cleaning, hair salons, and nail salons. To prevent fraud in this area, remember to sign a written contract that specifies the obligations and limitations of both parties.
4. Landlord and Tenant Disputes, 2,265 cases:
This includes unauthorized renovations by landlords, continuing construction in violation of stop-work orders, hazardous materials during renovations, and utility shutoffs. Tenants should keep records of all payment receipts and correspondence with landlords, or take photos as evidence.
5. Credit-related Fraud:
This is one of the most common types, specifically debt collection scams. If debt collection occurs in the following ways, it is a scam: threatening to arrest you; refusing to provide information about your debt; demanding payments you are unaware of; refusing to provide a mailing address or phone number; or asking for sensitive bank information. For this type of fraud, it is best to seek assistance from a counseling agency licensed by the State Department of Financial Services.
6. Telecommunications and Utility Scams:
For example, being charged fees for canceling a contract. If you do not know how much phone usage is appropriate for a specific plan, it is best not to purchase additional contracts. Remember to read the terms and conditions of your wireless service contract carefully before signing.
7. Home Repair/Construction Scams:
Before signing a contract, shop around and understand your rights. Remember: even after signing a home improvement contract, you have the right to cancel within 3 days. Also, remember to link payment terms to the progress of the work completion.
8. Retail-related Scams:
In this area, remember that "rent-to-own" sales can cost much more than a one-time purchase, and the law has strict regulations on the pricing of goods. Therefore, be sure to sign a written contract.
9. Mortgage Fraud:
It is best to use the 85 organizations that provide free mortgage assistance to homebuyers, as listed on the Attorney General's Office website.
10. Mail-order Scams:
Whether shopping online or ordering from a catalog, always check if the company has a customer service hotline and a physical address.
As a leading institution in the investment immigration industry, Worldway Immigration Group has been committed to selecting high-quality projects for high-end clients for 19 years. Worldway also has a comprehensive landing and settlement customer service team. Currently, Worldway has established a customer service center in Los Angeles. If you need any assistance in the U.S., you can contact the customer service center (001-626-522-6522).
From February 20 to March 31, 2016, to give back to our investors, Worldway Immigration Group launched the "US Investment Immigration 10th Anniversary 10,000 Yuan Voucher Giveaway" promotion, offering thousands of 10,000-yuan service fee vouchers. Investors can use the voucher to deduct 10,000 yuan from their immigration service fees when processing their immigration. For event details, please call the hotline: 400-138-2929