DOS
July 19, 2022
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UPDATED w/VIDEO - Military Scam Tips Consumer Alert: New York State Division of Consumer Protection Warns the Military Community to be Aware of Scams Targeting Servicemembers |
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Secretary of State Robert Rodriguez Offers Tips to Increase Awareness to Help Prevent Fraud July is Military Consumer Protection Month The New York State Division of Consumer Protection (DCP) reminds active service members, veterans, and their families to be on alert for scams targeting the military community. The rise in these scams take a variety of forms such as deceptive financial services, identity theft, online shopping, employment and even impersonation, just to name a few. In recognition of Military Consumer Protection Month, DCP supports servicemembers by providing targeted scam prevention tips for the military community to empower them with actionable fraud prevention tips for greater awareness and control over their finances. “In 2021, New York State had more than 20,000 active service members, and we recognize their sacrifices and unique challenges,” said Secretary of State Robert J. Rodriguez, who oversees the Division of Consumer Protection. “We are grateful for their service and everything they do to protect our nation, so it is especially important that we shield these brave men and women from financial and reputational harm.” "The men and women of our New York National Guard appreciate the consumer protection support provided by New York State, alongside the thousands of other service members stationed across our great State," said Major General Ray Shields, the Adjutant General of New York. "Highlighting these tips and raising awareness across the military helps strengthen individual and family preparedness to confront business scams designed to target our uniformed men and women. We thank New York state for placing attention on this important issue." The NYS Division of Consumer Protection recommends the following scam precautions for active duty servicemembers to help identify when something isn’t right to ensure that they are prepared to protect their personal information, accounts, identity, and money from fraudulent practices. SCAM PREVENTION TIPS FOR ACTIVE-DUTY SERVICE MEMBERS: TIP #1: PREVENT IDENTITY THEFT BY USING AN “ACTIVE-DUTY ALERT” The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) reports that active duty servicemembers file reports of identity theft at much higher rates than non-military consumers. If you are called to active duty, put an “Active-Duty Alert” on your credit report to minimize your risk for identity theft. Benefits include:
To add an Active-Duty Alert on your credit report, contact any one of the three main credit reporting agencies. Once you have placed an Active-Duty Alert on your credit report with one of the bureaus, that bureau will send a request to the other two bureaus to do the same, so you do not have to contact all three. https://www.identitytheft.gov/#/CreditBureauContacts TIP #2: PROTECT YOUR PURCHASES AND INVESTMENTS Know what to look for when buying or selling a vehicle: A vehicle is one of the most expensive purchases you will make. If you are buying or selling a vehicle, below are a few red flags to look for:
Learn to identify fake rental properties: Scammers will often steal a photo from the internet to create a fake rental listing in an effort to steal your deposits or the private information on your rental application. Be cautious of listings that are advertising an unusually low rent or are much nicer than other properties at that price point. Make sure to pay any application fees or deposits by check or credit card. If you are required to pay a fee via wire transfer or money transfer app to see the property, it’s usually a fake. TIP #3: KNOW WHO YOU ARE DEALING WITH
New York State Division of Consumer Protection serves to educate, assist, and empower the State’s consumers. If you’ve been a victim of identity theft, a scam or have questions about whom you are dealing with, contact the Division’s Consumer Assistance Helpline at 1-800-697-1220 on Monday through Friday from 8:30am to 4:30pm, excluding State Holidays. You may also file a consumer complaint any time at https://dos.ny.gov/consumer-protection. For more consumer protection tips, follow the Division on social media at Twitter: @NYSConsumer and Facebook: www.facebook.com/nysconsumer. ### |
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