The Rabbi Fabian Schonfeld Adult Education Center featured a virtual talk on “Scams and Frauds” on Wednesday evening, December 11. Rabbi Stuart Verstandig, former president of the Young Israel of Kew Gardens Hills, welcomed everyone. He shared how this time of year anyone can become a victim, so the shul wanted to sponsor this talk to help protect our community from scams and frauds. Dimitris Gizas, Assistant District Attorney in the Queens District Attorney’s Office, shared some of the most common scams and frauds we are seeing in Queens. He said, “Be aware and be empowered to protect yourself and your family and friends.”

Many people learn about it only after becoming a victim, so it’s important to be aware. He shared how he once was almost prey to a scam when he was applying for a credit card. He heard background noises when he was on the phone with the bank and then the person on the phone became pushy. “I realized something was off. I hung up and called the bank and found out they had never contacted me.”

He shared that scammers can be aggressive. They thrive on creating stress so you will act impulsively. He shared some statistics that he noted are probably even higher, as some people are embarrassed that they fell prey to a scam and don’t report it. There were 2.5 million reports of fraud in 2023. It is a most profitable crime. Elderly victims are typically underreported. Also, victims rarely recover the stolen money. He listed the order of prevalence of types of scams. Number one was imposter scams, online shopping scams, then sweepstakes and lottery prizes, then investments, and then business job opportunities.

The scammers are usually overseas, and the money gets transferred quickly so that it is hard to trace and recover it. It is usually wired to China or Africa. Diligence is key and to be aware and prepared for a scam.

In New York, identity theft is number one, followed by credit card bureau scams, then credit repair companies.

At this point in the program, Melinda Katz, District Attorney of Queens County, came onto the program to speak.

She shared that the main bureau she set up is on fraud. She shared many of her accomplishments as DA, including 60,000 arrests a year and 3,000 gun cases. Also, she is working hard to get guns and gangs off the street, and she is working on everyday crime, as well. Retail theft is a big problem that she is tackling. Kew Gardens Hills is a huge part of her office. She emphasized, “Don’t give anybody your money if you don’t know them.” Always verify before sending money to voices on the phone.

She added, “Please use us. Never be embarrassed with us. The job of the scammer is to separate your money from you.”

Mr. Gizas continued. He reiterated the statement of Melinda Katz. “Do not give people your money, especially people you don’t know!” He pointed out that there is a list of approved credit card counselors on the DOJ website. Also, you can check if a contractor is licensed before letting him do any work in your home. He said that the key is to not act impulsively. Do due diligence. Speak to a family member or friend first. A friend may tell the person he is being scammed and prevent a loss.

Fraud is most common among young adults. People over 60 tend to lose the most money. Scammers contact people by phone or text. Technology makes it easier to scam. They use Caller ID manipulation to give themselves an air of legitimacy. It’s important that no matter how they contact you, you don’t give information over the phone. Hang up and contact the agency to see if it’s legitimate.

There are phone scams, romance scams, contractor scams, check fraud, gift card scams, and phishing and email scams.

Scammers send a flood of fake holiday deals, and they use the letterhead of the company. They’ll have an odd link that you click, and that allows them to steal your information from your computer. Don’t click on unknown links. A particularly detestable scam is when scammers play on people’s altruism and pretend that they are a charity or someone is in need. Always verify if a charity is registered properly. GoFundMe pages pop up for medical expenses, and if you don’t know anyone directly involved, be suspicious. Wow, how sad!

A scammer will keep on calling until the well is dry so to speak. They work on getting your stress levels high. If the government is after you, you won’t get a call with a warning or be told to send money.

Romance scams are insidious and are one of the most common types of scams. They often start on a dating chat or other site like that. Someone contacts the victim on social media and develops a relationship with him. Then they pretend to be overseas in need of money. First, they ask for small loans. They are part of an organization, and they use a script. The lost money is not retrievable. The relationship starts strongly. They take a quick interest in you and then move to ask you for money. A request for $300 soon becomes a request for $3,000. They will say they need money to come to see you. One of the biggest red flags with scammers is they can’t meet or video chat. They say they are in the military or something like that. They move fast and they are sparse with personal details. They are quickly interested in you and ask about your finances. They may also ask for intimate photos and then later blackmail you by threatening to post them if you don’t pay the blackmailers. If they send a photo, you can search and see it’s a stock photo. Ask them for details and for their finances and ask them personal questions. Do not send money to someone you only met online.

The constant is that they need money urgently and they pressure you to send it quickly and they ask you to keep it a secret. After you send the money to them, they disappear.

Another scam is when someone convinces you to invest and retire.

Next, he spoke about cryptocurrency scams. The target assists the victim in purchasing crypto and directs the victim to transfer his assets to earn money. The money will disappear.

There is also an investment real estate scam. You are promised little or no risk. They use property to steal money. Always research the company. Only deal with verified companies. Be cautious with unregulated offshore investments.

Checks also get stolen from mailboxes. Mail checks at the post office. Monitor your account. Be diligent in getting your mail.

Report scams as quickly as possible. He then spoke about the grandparent scam where someone uses AI to activate a voice and says your grandchild is in trouble and you need to pay his or her bail overnight. The caller emphasizes the need to immediately pay. They put an attorney on the phone who gives specific instructions about how to send the money. They play on your emotions and fears. They’ll send gift cards that are untraceable. Call your grandchild and find out where he is. Contact local law enforcement.

Lottery and sweepstakes fraud include requests for payment. They say you won, and you need to pay taxes to receive the money. This is a red flag. That is not how lotteries work. They also send fake checks and ask you to pay taxes and fees.

He also cautioned to not make a health aide a joint holder of your bank account. In addition, he spoke about being wary of contractors who come looking for work. They can provide fake references and start with a low estimate that rises as they do the work. Only use licensed workers.

They might start with a minor issue and then say they discovered a major one which they may have created.

He spoke also about deed frauds and how to protect your home. ACRIS (the Automated City Register Information System) will send fraud alerts. ACRIS allows you to search property records and view document images for Manhattan, Queens, Bronx, and Brooklyn.

The most common type of fraud is identity theft. Your information is stolen for nefarious purposes. They can fake a loan in your name. You can arrange with your credit card company to be notified when your card is used.

The community is grateful for this informative and important program.

By Susie Garber