Caribbean Currents: Beware of scams targeting unsuspecting new immigrants – The Philadelphia Tribune

Welcome to America, the Land of Opportunity, where the streets are paved with gold. At least that is what we think when we hear about this place. Many immigrants who come to this country, come here with the impression that they will be able to be successful. They have a dream of uplifting themselves and their family. They dream of owning a home, a car and having a good job. But unfortunately, it does not always work out that way. The fact of the matter is the reality is far different! Some people end up jobless, homeless, living with family members just to make ends meet until they can find a job, any job.

Because of financial instability and uncertainty, immigrants are prime targets; they can fall for a scam in the blink of an eye. Many have learned the hard way, after losing their savings when they decided to capitalize on what was presented to them as a great money-making opportunity. The most vulnerable in our society are obviously our elderly but young people get scammed, too.

One day one of my nephews, who had been here for about six months, came to me and asked, can you give me your opinion on something? This guy that I know said that he has a check for $2,000 and he doesnt have a bank account but if I cash it for him, I can keep $500. I was thinking about doing it for him because I really could use that $500. What do you think?

As I listen to him, I immediately realized that this guy was up to no good and my nephew was about to fall for it. All he could think about is the $500 he would get for doing this guy a favor. I explained that the check was fake and would not clear and he would be out of $1,500.

As a new citizen, you may be unaware of the dangers that a person who makes hasty uninformed decisions can be exposed to. For instance, you get an offer from a financial company for a pre-approved loan: use it for mortgage, use it for a new or used car they say, and of course it is even harder to resist this temptation when the offer is possibly your first pre-approved credit card.

Wow! I know a lot of us from the Caribbean, would have a hard time resisting their first Visa or MasterCard. Many of the younger people would give very little thought to the fact that the interest rate is extremely high. These kind of offers did not come their way back in their country.

Companies today are very creative with their offerings. They recognize that attractive packaging sent to unsuspecting persons are more likely to get a positive response. Consumer reports have stated that many who have accepted these offerings have found themselves trapped in bad debt for many years. Why? Because in addition to the high interest rate, the terms of the loan may make it impossible for the borrower to pay them off. Today there are hundreds of telemarketing companies that target new Americans on a daily basis.

How about solicitation via the internet or social media? Seniors fall in this trap because they dont fully understand how the technology works. The companies doing the hacking and posing as Microsoft are based overseas.

With modern technology, even when the phone rings and the number on the caller ID is disguised to make it seem local, it could very well be an overseas call. Recent reports have warned that if your phone rings and someone says can you hear me? you should not answer yes because they will record your voice and use it to say that you agreed to buying a product that you never ordered.

A new Caribbean American citizen could be deceived by the offering of a fantastic prize. This prize may vary; a free airline ticket, a free hotel stay, a free cruise, a new car or a large sum of money but there is always some type of small fee associated with collecting the prize. Some companies will send actual checks in the mail that are already made out to you. The only requirement is to sign on the dotted line and you are caught up in a hellish whirlpool that you cant swim your way out of.

Buyer beware is a warning that most consumers are familiar with. A popular quote back in the Caribbean is not everything that glitters is gold. If you fell for one of the above scenarios you can contact the Better Business Bureau or consider filing a complaint with the consumer protection agency. If your credit got messed up because of a scam, another option is to join a credit union. They have programs set up help people to rebuild their credit. We all know that if it sounds too good to be true it probably is.

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Caribbean Currents: Beware of scams targeting unsuspecting new immigrants - The Philadelphia Tribune