New York State's Top Ten Frauds Of 2016: Beware Of Scammers

Marking the start of National Consumer Protection Week, New York State Officials have released a list of the top ten consumer fraud complaints received by the Attorney General's office in 2016:

1. Internet (internet services & service providers; data privacy & security; 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. Utilities (Wireless and Residential Phones; Energy Servicers & Suppliers; Cable and Satellite)
6. Credit (debt collection; credit card billing; debt settlement; payday loans; credit repair; credit reporting agencies; identity theft)
7. Retail Sales (any sale of goods: food, clothing, rent-to-own)
8. Home Repair/Construction (home improvement services not delivered or done poorly)
9. Mortgage (mortgage modifications; mortgage and loan broker fraud; foreclosures)
10. Mail Order (purchases made online or from a catalog)

In addition, the attorney general's office has offered a variety of tips on how to avoid scams in the future.

For more on these scams, and how to avoid them, click here.