NEW YORK.- In New York, a diverse city full of opportunities, many newcomers, including the undocumented, turn to employment agencies for help, however, in the midst of searching for legitimate opportunities, there are those who fall into scams that are only after your money.
As of June of this year, there were 257 licensed employment agencies in New York City, which have the potential to help people find jobs, but it is crucial to understand how they work and what your rights are when using their services.
One of the main concerns is paying fees in advance. Kenny Minaya, First Deputy Commissioner of the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP), emphasizes that paying in advance is illegal.
Employment agencies cannot guarantee employment; They can only connect applicants with employers who are looking for employees. Any agency that requests payment in advance should be considered suspicious.
State law requires employment agencies to clearly indicate on pay stubs that they will only be collected after the person accepts the job. However, many newcomers may not be aware of this regulation and therefore fall into the trap of paying before obtaining a job.
Protecting the labor rights of immigrants when seeking employment in New York
To address this concern, organizations like NICE (New Immigrant Community Empowerment) are working closely with the DCWP to educate newcomers about their rights when seeking employment through agencies.
Hildalyn Colón, Deputy Director of NICE, emphasizes that it is essential that people know their rights as workers and consumers. All workers, regardless of their immigration status, have labor rights that must be respected.
If an immigrant feels that their rights as a worker were not respected at an employment agency, they are encouraged to file a complaint by calling 311. Through this process, they may be able to recover the money they improperly paid.
Job searching is a challenging process, but it is essential that newcomers, in particular, are well informed and protected from scams.
New York City offers tips to avoid falling into traps when searching for work, and education about labor rights is key to empowering workers and protecting them from potential job search scams.
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NEW YORK. Every year, thousands of immigrants lose millions of dollars in the hands of unscrupulous people who promise to fix their immigration status, leaving them without money, and without a solution to their immigration process. Before placing your trust, and even your immigration future, in someone, know the most used scams in these procedures.
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Customs and Border Protection (CBP)
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According to the United States Federal Trade Commission, immigrants should exercise caution when choosing who or how they will process their immigration papers. And warn about these frauds…
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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 can’t help you with immigration. They will say they can help you and ask you to pay them. But they can’t help you.
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Sometimes people who pose as lawyers only charge you money and do not achieve the results you need, making you waste valuable time. Make sure you are dealing with an attorney properly registered by the state. For that you can call 311, or visit these sites, where you can confirm it: NY Court System or AILA.ORG
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Fake Immigration Officials You may receive a phone call, email or regular mail from an immigration ‘official’ or ‘office’ that appears legitimate. They could ask you for sensitive information such as your passport number, credit cards or banking information… to ‘help’ you with your immigration process.
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This information is then used to steal the identities, establish new credit cards, and access the victims’ bank accounts. Never give that kind of information over the phone.
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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 by charging them money to register for the visa lottery, promising them special access or more chances to win the lottery. But it’s just theft.
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Scams against refugees Although refugees have a different legal status than immigrants, they are often victims of scams. For example, scammers tell them that they are eligible for a special government subsidy.
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But, to access this benefit, they must first pay a fee. Another way these scammers operate is by saying that they work at the IRS and asking for the bank account number to deposit the subsidy money. But the special subsidy does not exist.
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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, after collecting the scheduled amount, they do not fix anything.
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But there is something else: In the US, fraudulent marriages are a serious crime that carries criminal consequences and sanctions for both parties involved in the marriage.
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Staffing Agency Scam Staffing agency scams involve companies that charge a fee to secure people’s employment 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 a victim of immigration fraud, you can report it by calling the Attorney General’s Office led by Letitia James. Tel. 1 (800) 771-7755.
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2023-09-07 20:25:00
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