• About
    • Our Community Advocacy
    • Our Business Community
    • Our Residential Community
    • History of the Turtle Bay Association
    • Turtle Bay History
    • Board of Directors
    • Committees
    • Farmer’s Market
    • Parks
  • Events
  • Join Us
  • Business Directory
  • News
  • Community Resources
  • Donate
  • Contact Us
April 22, 2022  |  By Turtle Bay Association In Public Safety, Turtle Bay News

Tips to Avoid Scams

By Cindi Buckwalter
In a number of recent Community Council and Build A Block meetings, our 17th Precinct police officers have informed us of a significant increase in scams that have resulted in NYC residents being bilked out of large sums of money. The 17th Precinct encourages community members to report scams or even questionable inquiries to them, as it may help in preventing these activities. Below is some useful information from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to help protect you.

How to Recognize a Scam:

  1. Scammers PRETEND to be from an organization you know. They often pretend to be contacting you on behalf of the government. They might use a real name, like the Social Security Administration, the IRS, or Medicare, or make up a name that sounds official. Some pretend to be from a business you know, like a utility company, or even a charity asking for donations.
  2. Scammers say there’s a PROBLEM or a PRIZE. They might say you’re in trouble with the government, you owe money, someone in your family had an emergency, there’s a virus on your computer, or there’s a problem with one of your accounts and you need to verify some information. Others will lie and say you won money in a lottery or sweepstakes, but you have to pay a fee to get it.
  3. Scammers PRESSURE you to act immediately. They want you to act before you have time to think. If you’re on the phone, they might tell you not to hang up so you can’t check out their story. They might threaten to arrest you, sue you, take away your driver’s or business license, deport you, or say your computer is about to be corrupted.
  4. Scammers tell you to PAY in a specific way. They often insist that you pay by sending money through a money transfer company or by putting money on a gift card (often an Apple gift card) and then asking you to give them the number on the back. Some will send you a check (that will later turn out to be fake), tell you to deposit it, and then send them money.

How to Avoid a Scam:

  • Block unwanted calls and text messages.
  • Don’t give your personal or financial information in response to a request that you didn’t expect. Legitimate organizations won’t call, email, or text to ask for your personal information, like your Social Security, bank account, or credit card numbers.
  • If you get an email or text message from a company you do business with and you think it’s real, it’s still best not to click on any links. Instead, contact them using a website you know is trustworthy. Or look up their phone number. Don’t call a number they gave you or the number from your caller ID.
  • Resist the pressure to act immediately. Legitimate businesses will give you time to make a decision. Anyone who pressures you to pay or give them your personal information is likely a scammer.
  • Never pay someone who insists you pay with a gift card or by using a money transfer service. Never deposit a check and send money back to someone you don’t know.
  • Stop and talk to someone you trust. Before you do anything else, tell someone — a friend, a family member, a neighbor, or a police officer — what happened. Talking about it could help you realize it’s a scam.
Report scams to the FTC: https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/#/
Previous StorySutton Area Community Spring Egg Hunt 2022
Next StoryWelcome New TBA Business Members

Related Articles

  • Mildred Margiotta
    Mourning the Loss of a Friend to Turtle Bay Community
  • Screenshot 2024-12-17 at 8.04.25 PM
    New York Cares coat drive

Categories

Archives

  • February 2025
  • December 2024
  • August 2024
  • June 2024
  • February 2024
  • January 2024
  • December 2023
  • November 2023
  • October 2023
  • August 2023
  • July 2023
  • June 2023
  • May 2023
  • April 2023
  • February 2023
  • January 2023
  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • June 2022
  • April 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • August 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • April 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • October 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • February 2019
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017

TBA accepts Venmo for payment

Instagram

turtlebaynycorg

We really did have a great time cleaning up Peter We really did have a great time cleaning up Peter Detmold Park a couple weeks ago - and here are some photos to prove it! 

Thanks again to our amazing volunteers - including Tricia Shimamura, Manhattan Boro Commissioner of NYC Parks & Recreation, as well as State Representative Alex Bores, and NYC City Council candidates Faith Bondy and Virginia Maloney.

We're having two more sessions on Friday, May 30 and Friday, June 13 from 11am - 1pm - join us! RSVP to office@turtlebay-nyc.org appreciated

Photo credit:  Jon Scarlett
.
.
.
.
.
#turtlebay#turtlebaynyc#nycneighborhood#itsmyparknyc#beekmanplace#peterdetmoldpark
We're organizing two more sessions at Peter Detmol We're organizing two more sessions at Peter Detmold Park - come join us while we continue our beautification of this neighborhood park! We'll be there on Friday, May 30th from 11am - 1pm, and Friday, June 13th from 11am - 1pm. 

As before, all supplies are provided. RSVPs to office@turtlebay-nyc.org appreciated so we know how many supplies to have on hand! 
.
.
.
.
.
#turtlebay#turtlebaynyc#nycneighborhood#itsmyparknyc#beekmanplace#peterdetmoldpark
What a day at Peter Detmold Park last Saturday!! 2 What a day at Peter Detmold Park last Saturday!! 29 volunteers + lots of hard work + 25 garbage bags full of leaves, ivy, branches & more = a beautifully improved park. Check out these before and after images!

We’ll be coming back again on Friday, May 30 and Friday, June 13 - both from 11-1. Join us!!
Our annual Turtle Bay Fair is less than a month aw Our annual Turtle Bay Fair is less than a month away! Join us on Saturday, June 14 from 10am - 6pm on Lexington Avenue from 42nd to 54th Street. Arts & crafts, food, gifts, entertainment and more! And don't miss the TBA table for raffle tickets, membership info, and our exclusive Turtle Bay tote bags featuring artwork by @steveq212nyc ! Keep an eye on our stories in the upcoming weeks for more info on the raffle prizes from our awesome Turtle Bay area businesses! 
.
.
.
.
.
#turtlebay#turtlebaynyc#turtlebaytote#steveq#nycneighborhoods#nycstreetfair
Join us! This Saturday, May 17 for our "It's My Pa Join us! This Saturday, May 17 for our "It's My Park" Day at Peter Detmold Park. We'll be there from 10 am to 1 pm - come for an hour, or for the whole time! All supplies are provided. 

RSVPs to office@turtlebay-nyc.org appreciated so we know how many supplies to have on hand! 
.
.
.
.
.
#turtlebay#turtlebaynyc#nycneighborhood#itsmyparknyc#beekmanplace#peterdetmoldpark
Happy Mother's Day from the Turtle Bay Association Happy Mother's Day from the Turtle Bay Association!

Sign up for our Newsletter

Select list(s) to subscribe to


By submitting this form, you are consenting to receive marketing emails from: . You can revoke your consent to receive emails at any time by using the SafeUnsubscribe® link, found at the bottom of every email. Emails are serviced by Constant Contact
Copyright © Turtle Bay Association. The Turtle Bay Association is a nonprofit 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization.