Protect Yourself from Phone Scams: Beware of New York Area Codes and Common Scam Techniques

2023-08-28 22:53:34

NEW YORK.- How many times a day does your phone ring and you don’t know the number that calls you? Most people don’t answer calls from unknown numbers, but what if the call is coming from the same area where you live?

You may be more inclined to answer a call from an unknown number if it comes from the same area code as yours. You may think it’s a local business or a friend using a different phone.

This is where New York residents can find themselves in trouble. Some of the most frequently used area codes by scammers are in New York State.

According to the website gobankingrates.com, there are three area codes in New York that are often used by scammers to make it appear as if they are calling you from a local number.

These are the three area codes in New York from which you should not answer phone calls:

The code 332 is the New York area. The code 347 is the New York area. The code 646 is the Manhattan area.

If you see an unknown number calling you from one of these area codes, it’s most likely a scam call.

How are telephone scams carried out?

There are three phone scams you really need to watch out for:

One-Tone Calls: These calls only ring once and the scammer leaves a voicemail with a number for you to call back. When you call back, they pretend to work for a credible company and then try to get your personal information. Calls That Increase Rates: Although these calls do not directly cost you money, they do lead to increased phone rates as companies often outsource calls if there is a high volume. These scammers make as many calls as possible to get higher rates from your phone company, which can ultimately increase the amount you pay for your phone charges. Package Delivery Scams: These calls say you have a package in transit, or perhaps one you didn’t order, and they need your personal information to make sure the package gets to the correct owner. This is another way scammers try to get your personal information.

The best thing to do if you don’t know the phone number is to let it go to voicemail.
If you know the person, call them back; if you don’t know her, just ignore her.

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NEW YORK. Every year, thousands of immigrants lose millions of dollars at the hands of unscrupulous people who promise to fix their immigration status, leaving them with no money, and no solution to their immigration process. Before placing your trust, and even your immigration future in someone, learn regarding the most used scams in these procedures.

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Customs and Border Protection (CBP)

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According to the Federal Trade Commission of the United States, immigrants must exercise care when choosing who or how they will process their immigration papers. And give warning regarding these frauds…

Credit: Customs and Border Protection (CBP)

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False lawyers Before entrusting your papers to a ‘specialist’, it is better that you verify that it is not a processor or a notary. In the US, notaries and notaries public are not lawyers. They cannot help you with immigration. They will say that they can help you and ask you to pay them. But they can’t help you.

Credit: CUNY

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Sometimes people posing as lawyers just charge you money and don’t get the results you need, wasting valuable time. Make sure you are dealing with a state registered attorney. For that you can call 311, or visit these sites, where you can confirm it: NY Court System or AILA.ORG

Crédito: Boy_Anupong/Getty Images

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Fake Immigration Officials You may receive a phone call, email or regular mail from an immigration ‘official’ or ‘office’ that seems legitimate. They might ask you for sensitive information such as your passport number, credit cards or bank information… to ‘help’ you with your immigration process.

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This information is then used to steal identities, establish new credit cards, and access victims’ bank accounts. Never give out that kind of information over the phone.

Credit: Univision

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Visa Lottery Scams One way to get a Green Card is through the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program, popularly known as the “visa lottery”. Registration is free and winners are selected at random.

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Many scammers try to trick people into charging them money to enter the visa lottery, promising special access or more chances to win the lottery. But it’s just a robbery.

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Refugee Scams Although refugees have a different legal status than immigrants, they are often victims of scams. For example, scammers tell you that you are eligible for a special government subsidy.

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But, to access said benefit, they must first pay a fee. Another way these scammers operate is by claiming to work for the IRS and asking for the bank account number to deposit the grant money. But the special subsidy does not exist.

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JONATHAN BRADY/AFP via Getty Images

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Fraudulent marriages Some people offer to marry immigrants in exchange for a certain amount of money and thus ‘fix their papers’, in exchange for money. But, following collecting the agreed amount, they do not fix anything.

Credit: JONATHAN BRADY/AFP via Getty Images

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But there is something else: In the US, fraudulent marriages are a serious crime that carries criminal consequences and penalties for both parties involved in the marriage.

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Adam Berry / Getty Images

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Employment Agency Scam Employment agency scams involve companies that charge a fee to secure employment for individuals and often also promise them green cards or other immigration sponsorships. Immigrants will pay the fee but get nothing in return.

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If you have been the victim of immigration fraud, you can report it by calling the Attorney General’s Office led by Letitia James. Tel. [phone].

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