Wednesday, March 9, 2016

New York releases top ten consumer frauds of 2015

New York State officials have released a list of the top ten consumer fraud complaints received by the Attorney General’s Office in 2015 to mark National Consumer Protection Week.

The following is the 2015 list of the top ten consumer complaints by category:

1. Internet (privacy issues; spyware; consumer frauds)
2. Automobile (buying, leasing, repair, service contracts, rentals)
3. Consumer-Related Services (security systems; restaurant/catering services; tech repairs)
4. Landlord/Tenant Disputes (Security deposit releases, tenant-harassment)
5. Credit(debt collection; credit card billing; debt settlement; payday loans; credit repair; credit reporting agencies; identity theft)
6. Utilities (Wireless and Residential Phones; Energy Servicers & Suppliers; Cable and Satellite)
7. Home Repair/Construction (home improvement services not delivered or done poorly)
8. Retail Sales (any sale of goods: food, clothing, rent-to-own)
9. Mortgage (mortgage modifications; mortgage and loan broker fraud (foreclosures)
10. Mail Order (purchases made online or from a catalog).

If you feel you have been the victim of a scam, you can file complaints by completing and submitting a Consumer Bureau Online Complaint Form or calling the New York State consumer frauds line at 1-800-771-7755.

For more on the top ten scams and a list of tips consumers should use to protect themselves and their families, click here.