Attorney General James, local leaders tackle fraud at Queens town hall

New York Attorney General Letitia James hosted a virtual town on COVID-19 and tax season scams with Queens leaders and residents Thursday. Screenshot via AG stream

By Rachel Vick

There is no place in Queens for opportunistic scam artists looking to profit off the misfortune and desperation of COVID-stricken residents, at least according to the state attorney general and a slew of local lawmakers.

At a virtual town hall Thursday, Attorney General Letitia James, State Sen. Jessica Ramos and other Queens elected officials took aim at fraudulent schemes and described how residents can protect themselves from exploitation.

“It’s important to know there is no cure, there is no treatment, no home remedy and if anyone tells you otherwise they are scamming you,” James said. “It's about public awareness, personal vigilance and everyone staying together.”

Immigrant and older New Yorkers are particularly susceptible to scams, and officials are working with community organizations like Make the Road NY and Adhikaar to reach “as far into our immigrant communities as possible,” Ramos said.

The panel, which included Assemblymember Catalina Cruz, emphasized the importance of using common sense when encountering claims that seem too good to be true. Residents should only accepted resources from trusted sources, she said.

James and the Queens District Attorney’s Office are working to issue fines to businesses that are gouging prices while shutting down illegal operations. But community participation and reporting are crucial elements for catching scammers, Cruz said.

“There’s not much we can do to tackle issues other than spread information,” Cruz said. “Please share it because if only those here right now take it with them there's not much that will do to help.”

“We need you as the community to be our eyes and ears,” she added.

The town hall participants asked Queens residents to report price gouging and scams to 1-800-771-7755.