What you should know
- Internet-related issues were No. 1 in consumer fraud complaints received by the New York Attorney General’s Office in 2021, according to Attorney General Letitia James.
- The revelation comes as James kicked off National Consumer Protection Week on Monday.
- Internet-related scams accounted for 8,346 complaints statewide. The second most common complaint involved landlord-tenant disputes (3,144), followed by retail-related complaints (2,678).
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NEW YORK — Internet-related issues were No. 1 in consumer fraud complaints received by the New York Attorney General’s Office in 2021, according to Attorney General Letitia James.
The revelation comes as James kicked off National Consumer Protection Week on Monday.
Internet-related scams accounted for 8,346 complaints statewide. The second most common complaint involved landlord-tenant disputes (3,144), followed by retail-related complaints (2,678).
The following are the top 10 consumer complaints received by the New York Attorney General’s Office last year:
| 1. Internet | internet related (Internet services and service providers, privacy and data security, digital media, data breaches, fraud through manipulation of the Internet). | 8,346 |
| 2. Owners/Tenants | Disputes between landlords and tenants (security deposit releases, tenant harassment). | 3,144 |
| 3. Retail | Retail Related (price gouging, defective merchandise, poor customer service, pet stores and animal breeders). | 2,678 |
| 4. Consumer related services | Consumer related services (COVID-19 testing facilities, alarm companies, dry cleaners, restaurants, moving companies, services for personal home use). | 2,610 |
| 5. Automobile | Car (sale, service, financing, repairs). | 2,283 |
| 6. Credit | Credit (debt collection, credit card billing, debt settlement and debt relief, payday loans, credit repair, credit reporting agencies, identity theft). | 1,539 |
| 7. Public services | Public services (wireless and home phones, energy, cable and satellite carriers and service providers). | 1,145 |
| 8. Home repairs/improvements | Home repairs/improvements (repair problems, deceitful contractors) | 1,034 |
| 9. Health clubs/gyms | Health clubs/gyms (inability to cancel memberships, inability to access facilities, no refunds provided, no response from clubs). | 778 |
| 10. Furniture/Appliances | Furniture/Appliances (defective merchandise, delivery problems, and service and repair problems). | 611 |
“Let this list serve as a warning to all New Yorkers to keep their guard up against scammers,” James said in a statement. “From inaccurate turnaround times for COVID-19 test results to deceitful debt collectors, scammers have taken advantage of these difficult times to deceive New Yorkers. My office is committed to rooting out scammers and protecting all New Yorkers, young and old, from harm.”
James went on to say that New Yorkers should continue to report fraud cases to his office.
“Consumers have been invaluable in helping my office identify and eradicate fraud, and I urge you to remain vigilant and follow this advice,” he said in his statement.
In an attempt to protect New Yorkers from scams, James offered some advice:
Internet
According to James, avoid using the same password for multiple accounts, as cybercriminals use passwords stolen from one company for other online accounts.
Additionally, James recommends never reusing passwords, as the practice puts consumers at risk.
According to James’ office, be sure to enable two-factor authentication (2FA) whenever possible.
“2FA can provide an additional layer of security by requiring anyone who logs into an account to provide another credential, such as a unique code sent via SMS or email,” James’ office said.
It’s also important to check your online accounts regularly for unauthorized transactions. If you see anything suspicious, contact your online service (or credit card company, if applicable) right away.
James also recommends signing up with a breach notification service that will send you notifications if an account associated with your email or phone number has been compromised.
Owner/Tenant
James reminds New Yorkers that landlords must return their security deposit within 14 days of moving in. If your landlord takes money from the security deposit for damage, he must provide an itemized receipt that describes the damage and its cost. Also, if your landlord does not give you this receipt within this time, your landlord must return your entire security deposit, regardless of whether there was damage. If the landlord fails to do so, the tenant may be entitled to receive up to double the amount of the security deposit.
James’ office also reminds New Yorkers that if they’re having trouble paying their rent, their local Department of Social Services may be able to help. To find offices, visit https://otda.ny.gov/workingfamilies/dss.asp. New York City residents can also call 311 and ask about rental assistance programs. More resources are available here: https://ag.ny.gov/coronavirus/tenants-rights#pay-rent
retail sales
New Yorkers who see price gouging on vital goods and necessities should immediately report it to the state Attorney General’s Office, James said.
Meet this new type of romance scams that lure victims with cryptocurrency investment schemes.
Consumer related services
James reminds New Yorkers that COVID-19 testing facilities that post test results times must accurately disclose how long it will take for people to receive results. Additionally, anyone who believes that a lab or other testing facility is misleading consumers about their response time should report it to the New York Attorney General’s Office.
Car
Beware of misleading sales tactics when buying or leasing a car, warns James’ office.
Never sign any documents or leave the dealership with a car until all documents have been carefully reviewed, according to James. Also, never sign any blank document that does not have numbers or terms filled in.
Consumers should always be sure that what they are signing is consistent with what the seller said and that they are not being charged for any additional accessories or products. Also, ask the salesperson or finance manager what charges he doesn’t understand and whether they are required by law.
Credit
According to James, debt collectors must provide you with information about the origin and history of your debt within five days of initial communication. He also has the right to dispute the debt. If he does, the collector must stop collection attempts until he provides information to support his claim of the debt.
Debt collectors cannot harass you and must follow limits on how and how often they communicate with you. You have the right to tell debt collectors not to contact you at all.
As of April 7, creditors cannot sue you or threaten to sue you for debts that are more than three years old.
Utilities
Any consumer who believes they received a high utility bill as a result of a billing error should report it to the New York Attorney General’s Office immediately, James said.
Also, if any New Yorkers are having trouble paying their bill, please contact the utility company. Utility companies offer programs and payment plans.
The Home Energy Assistance Program (or HEAP) helps low-income people pay the cost of heating their homes. Information on how to apply is available at otda.ny.gov/programs/heap/.
Attorney James has been investigating COVID testing companies for illegal practices.
Home repair/improvement
James recommends that before you enter into a contract, you seek estimates and check with the Better Business Bureau, vendors, and neighbors for references.
Also, keep in mind that you have three days after signing a home improvement contract to cancel it.
gyms
The law also prohibits misrepresentations about consumers’ cancellation rights, James said.
The New York Health Club Law authorizes members of a health club to cancel their membership under certain circumstances, including “after the services are no longer available or substantially available as provided in the contract due to the permanent discontinuation of the operation [del gimnasio] or to a material change in operation” and requires gym owners to provide monetary refunds, not credits, for cancellations within 15 days, according to James.
Furniture/Appliances
Always find out what a furniture or appliance retailer’s return policy is before you buy it, the attorney general’s office recommends.
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