Scammers might use gift cards to steal money without leaving a trail. Before disconnecting services, real utility providers issue many termination notices, and they never demand money over the phone or specify a payment mechanism. Customers may be contacted by the utility to discuss payment options, but they will not be contacted to threaten them. Letters, invoices, emails, and permitted SMS are the primary modes of communication for the utility.
What is the role of the New York City Department of Environmental Protection?
By providing clean drinking water, collecting and processing wastewater, and minimizing air, noise, and hazardous materials pollution, the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) protects human health, key quality of life concerns, and the environment.
In New York, how can I report a scam?
Callers pretended to be from the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund (VCF) and fake their caller ID to appear to be calling from the New York area code. These callers inquire about the status of a VCF claim, claim that you may be eligible for compensation, and/or request personal information (such as your Social Security number) in order to mail a claim package or file a claim on your behalf. HANG UP and call the VCF Helpline immediately at 1-855-885-1555 or go to www.vcf.gov if you feel the caller is not VCF employee.
Note: You can contact the Federal Trade Commission about imposter/scam calls by calling 1-877-FTC-HELP or going to www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov.
Is it necessary to pay for water in New York City?
Most small homes in New York City are now billed based on metered usage as determined by their water meter. Most customers’ water meters are scanned every four hours by an automated meter reading equipment, and invoices are issued every three months. Visit Water Meter FAQs to learn more about your water meter.
The Multi-family Conservation Program may be used to enroll larger residential properties (MCP). The MCP is based on a flat annual payment per unit and is intended to encourage conservation while keeping participants on a flat tariff.
What is the typical water bill in New York City?
New York City has recommended raising the cost charged to homes for obtaining water and sewer services for the first time in two years.
The New York City Water Board will hold two public hearings on the topic next month after the city’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) suggested a 2.76 percent increase in the water rate. Last year, the rate remained unchanged while the city dealt with the COVID-19 outbreak.
Based on an average annual consumption of around 70,000 gallons of water, the average single-family homeowner in New York City will see their water and sewage bills climb from $967 to $994 per year if the proposal is passed. This equates to a $2.22 monthly increase.
What is the purpose of the Environmental Protection Agency?
The EPA protects people and the environment from serious health threats, funds and conducts research, and sets and enforces environmental legislation.
What should I do if I receive a scam call?
Scammers try to take your money or personal information over the phone. Scams might take the form of real-person phone calls, robocalls, or SMS messages. False promises, such as opportunities to buy things, invest your money, or receive free product trials, are frequently made by callers. They may also provide you with financial assistance in the form of free grants and lotteries. If you don’t pay, some fraudsters may threaten you with jail or lawsuits.
Report Telephone Scams
It’s critical to report phone scams to the appropriate federal agencies. They are unable to look at particular cases. Your report, on the other hand, may assist them in gathering evidence for litigation against scammers.
- Online, you can report phone scams to the Federal Trade Commission. You can also call 1-877-382-4357 for further information (TTY: 1-866-653-4261). The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is the principal government organization in charge of collecting scam complaints.
- To the Do Not Call Registry, report any robocalls and unwanted telemarketing calls.
- Caller ID spoofing should be reported to the Federal Communications Commission. You can make a report online or by calling 1-888-225-5322. (TTY: 1-888-835-5322).
Protect Yourself From Telephone Scams
To prevent becoming a victim of a telephone scam, keep the following guidelines in mind:
Do:
- The National Do Not Call Registry allows you to register your phone number. You can register online or over the phone by dialing 1-888-382-1222. (TTY: 1-866-290-4236). If you continue to receive telemarketing calls after registering, the calls are most likely frauds.
- Callers who pretend you’ve won a prize or a vacation package should be avoided.
- Suspicious phone calls should be ignored.
- Caller ID should be avoided at all costs. Scammers have the ability to alter the phone number that appears on your caller ID screen. This is known as “spoofing.”
- Investigate the caller’s business prospects, charities, or trip packages on your own.
Don’t:
- Don’t give in to the impulse to act right now.
- If a caller begins the call by asking, “Can you hear me?” don’t say anything. Scammers frequently use this technique to record you saying “yes.” Scammers record your “yes” response and use it as proof that you agreed to make a purchase or authorize a charge to your credit card.
- Don’t provide a caller your credit card number, bank account number, or any other personal information.
- If a caller instructs you to wire money or pay with a prepaid debit card, do not send money.
Is it legal for me to report a scammer to the police?
“However, if you do end up out of pocket as a result of an internet fraud, the worst thing you can do is do nothing,” Cobbledick warned.
Sellers advertising free pups, for example, are frequently scammers who take advantage of the emotional attachment to collect money upfront from individuals who legitimately wish to adopt a dog.
They will terrorize the victims by threatening to put the puppy down if they do not obtain money for inoculations, transportation, or pet food. Regardless of how much the victim pays, no puppy will ever be delivered.
Online job scams are also common. Scammers will post a job advertisement, but the applicant will be expected to pay for a training course up front in order to obtain the job, which will never materialize.
Cobbledick stated that users of listings sites should report scams, and Gumtree collaborates with law enforcement to track down crooks.
“While reporting a crime does not always result in the return of your money or property, it does go a great way toward ensuring that others are not victims of the same crime and that the site in question becomes safer,” she explained.
Here are some suggestions on what to do if you’ve been a victim of online classified scamming:
- Report the occurrence to the classified website as soon as possible, including as much detail as possible regarding the ad in question. They have the ability to retrieve and store information that they can then pass on to the police.
- Report the occurrence to the police station nearest you so that a case can be opened. Send the investigating officer’s information to the classifieds, along with your case number.
- If you haven’t been a victim of the scam but feel that someone is attempting to defraud you, contact the classified in question right away. They can conduct an investigation and take steps to prevent the individual from carrying out their plans.
How can I notify the FBI about a scammer?
- Call the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324)
- Contact your local field office or the foreign office that is closest to you.
- Federal law violations (financial crimes, hate crimes, organized crime, etc.)
- Terrorism is suspected.
- National security threats
Your information will be forwarded to the FBI’s National Threat Operations Center, which is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Are tenants in New York City responsible for their water bills?
In New York City, you must pay your tenants’ water costs as a landlord. But it doesn’t mean you have to watch your monthly water bill soar!
