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Co-op City Times / June 8, 2019
for the funds received from the fraudulent check. Remember a legitimate contest or sweepstakes will never make you pay money to receive your prize. Another scam involves a person claiming to be from a government agency claiming to have unclaimed funds belonging to the intended victim. For a fee, the “government employee” can help you obtain these funds. While there are legitimate means of obtaining unclaimed funds, the government does not send employees out to solicit the owners of these funds. If you believe that you are entitled to unclaimed fees, seek out the New York State Attorney General’s office and find out how to proceed. Never pay anyone to help you to obtain these funds. The appropriate agency will provide assistance in this matter free of charge. The mere mention of fraud somehow makes potential victims more likely to believe the scam artist. It is not impossible that a bank could call you in the event of fraud, but a legitimate bank employee would not ask you for your account number, Personal Identification Number or other personal data. If you receive a request like this, call your financial institution using a number you are sure belongs to your bank or inquire in person. Banks and other financial institutions are glad if their customers do not readily give out their banking information. In order to protect yourself from these and other scams, realize that legitimate persons will never ask you for upfront fees to obtain a loan or receive a prize. Be leery of a lender who is not concerned with your credit history. Hang up on any caller making a loan offer. Check a lender’s legitimacy with the New York State Department of Banking or the Better Business Bureau. There are reputable lenders that can help you to consolidate your debt in order to make payments more manageable. Those of you wishing to make donations to assist in the event of a legitimate emergency make sure that the agency to which you donate is legitimate. In the past, scammers posing as charities attempted to solicit donations for disasters. It is unfortunate, but this is, unfortunately, a fact of life. In some cases, it may be better to donate funds locally at your church, synagogue or religious institution. Be certain the charitable organization you select is, in fact, using the funds for the intended purpose. It is unfortunate that scammers will take advantage of a tragic situation. If you fall victim to a scam, notify the New York State Attorney General at 1 (800)771-7755 or www.oag.state.ny.us/ and the Federal Trade Commission at 1-877382-4357 or www.ftc.gov/. The Federal Bureau of Investigation has set up an Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) specifically for the purpose of reporting internet crimes. Their website is www.ic3.gov/. School is open, DRIVE CAREFULLY. Never pass a stopped school bus with a STOP sign displayed or its red lights flashing. This means children are loading or unloading. Be aware of pedestrians and bike riders when operating a motor vehicle. Bike riders must refrain from riding bicycles near buildings and shopping centers. Bicycle riders must give pedestrians the same level of respect that they expect from motor vehicles. Everyone needs to share the road safely. If your early summer plans include consuming alcoholic beverages, do not operate a motor vehicle. Summer fun is great, but getting stopped at a DWI checkpoint can take the fun away real quick. Enforcement of drunk driving has increased nationwide in an attempt to reduce Drunk Driving deaths and injuries. We hear about these incidents in the news and feel like it can never happen to us, but that is not a mindset. Never operate a motor vehicle if you have consumed alcoholic beverages. Always buckle your seatbelt; it will save your life in a serious collision. Avoid distractions and excess speed when driving; these are the two leading causes of collisions within New York State. Please be reminded not to put out food to feed any types of animals in Co-op City. Violations of this rule may result in the issuance of a Community Complaint. Leaving food out results in the attraction of rodents and other wildlife. In some cases, feeding animals can interfere with their natural If you have knowledge or a concern of diet and affect their migrapossible violations of law, accounting irregtion pattern. ularities, or other suspected wrongdoing Always remember, if you affecting Riverbay, you are encouraged to see something, say something. If you see suspicious report it to law enforcement, or persons in the garage or lurkyou may report it through an ing near parked vehicles on anonymous hotline by the folthe street, an auto crime lowing methods: could be taking place or be ready to happen, notify the authorities. Call 9-1-1 and Go to an independent website, the Department of Public www.lighthouse-services/riverbaycorp, Safety at (718) 671-3050. to complete an online disclosure form; Callers may remain anonymous when giving informaCall the following independent third party tion. whistleblower hotline at 1-833-290-0009 The Co-op City Depart(English); or 1-800-216-1288 (Spanish); ment of Public Safety would like to thank all perSend an e-mail to: sons who have called in reports@lighthouse-services.com (the email suspicious activity or sent must include “Riverbay” in the subject); or information via our website. It is by your actions that the Send a fax to (215) 689-3885 crime rate remains low and (the fax must include “Riverbay” a high quality of life is in the subject of the report). maintained.
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