|
RANDOLPH,
NJ – First, he’s a shady, unlicensed
and unqualified dentist offering to be “the
guy who drills your teeth.” Then,
with a change of costume, he’s an
unregistered home improvement contractor
promising to “fix” the roof
you live under. Another wardrobe change,
and he’s an unlicensed barber.
As
an unlicensed, unregistered “professional,”
he may do shoddy work and leave you exposed
to loss or injury. He leers at the camera
with an evil grin and asks: “And what
can you do to stop me?”
The
message is simple: So-called “professionals”
who offer these and other services, without
being properly licensed or registered, are
not just violating the law; they’re
creating real and expensive risks for consumers.
Before doing business with someone, take
time to make sure the person or business
is legitimate. Contact the State Division
of Consumer Affairs, or visit the Division’s
website, to learn more.
All
of this information comes across in just
30 seconds in “The Professional,”
one in a series of video public service
announcements created by students in Professor
Ray Kalas’ TV Production II class
at the County College of Morris. The PSAs
were created in a first-ever collaboration
with the State Division of Consumer Affairs,
to support the Division’s aggressive
effort to empower consumers with information
and awareness to protect themselves against
fraud.
The
students gained valuable experience in learning
consumer protection issues, and in putting
their TV production skills to real-world
use. The Division of Consumer Affairs benefits
from having commissioned well-made PSAs
free of charge. The Division has placed
the 10 PSAs online at www.NJConsumerAffairs.gov/mccpsa,
will distribute them to TV channels able
to play them at no cost, and will use them
at consumer awareness seminars.
“The
Division of Consumer Affairs protects consumers
through swift, tough enforcement in the
marketplace – and by empowering New
Jerseyans with knowledge and awareness,”
Thomas R. Calcagni, Acting Director of the
State Division of Consumer Affairs, said.
“From the high school Consumer Bowl,
to our FedUp presentations for senior citizens,
to our series of free speaking engagements,
we are working as aggressively and creatively
as we can to make sure New Jersey’s
consumers know their rights and recognize
how to prevent fraud.”
To
thank the students for their effort, the
Division of Consumer Affairs today joined
with the County College of Morris to hold
a screening for all 10 public service announcements
at the college’s George Dragonetti
Auditorium. Those in attendance included
Calcagni, County College of Morris President
Dr. Edward J. Yaw, Vice President of Student
Development and Enrollment Management Dr.
Bette M. Simmons, Dean Patrick J. Enright
of the Mathematics, Engineering and Technologies
Division, and the members of the College
Board of Trustees.
“Our
students are among New Jersey’s most
highly motivated, creative, and technically
competent, and they were very excited by
the opportunity to take on projects that
will help educate consumers about matters
that directly affect their wallets and bank
accounts,” Dr. Edward J. Yaw, President
of the County College of Morris, said. “We
are extremely proud to partner with the
State Division of Consumer Affairs on a
project that helps students put their skills
to practical use, and learn from the challenges
along the way.”
The
following 30-second PSAs, developed for
the Division of Consumer Affairs by County
College of Morris students, can be found
at www.NJConsumerAffairs.gov/mccpsa:
- “Bait
and Switch,” about the unconscionable
business practice of that name; “Phishing,”
about a form of identity theft, and afore-mentioned
“The Professional.” All created
by the student team of Michaela Diprete,
Jeffrey Dunn, Nicholas Kral, Cheyenne
Terrill and Peter Zollo.
- “Charity,”
about the importance of knowing how a
charity will use your donated money; “Grandparent
Scam,” in which scammers try to
convince senior citizens that a grandchild
needs money in an emergency; and “Sweepstakes,”
about scams that say you’ve won
a prize but must pay money first. All
created by the student team of Jack Cronin,
Vincent Infinito, Megan Osmundsen, Joseph
Scocca, and Blaise Scott-Miller.
- “Internet
Fraud – Western” and “Internet
Fraud – Pickpocket,” which
show that giving away your credit card
or other personal information to a stranger
on the Internet can be no different than
having it get stolen by a thief.”
Created by the student team of Jordan
Kalmowitz, Shannon McArdle, Haley O’Sullivan,
Casey Sherwood, and Dylan Whitman
- “Lemon
Law,” which uses humor to illustrate
the frustration of buying a car that turns
out to be a lemon, and reminds consumers
to work with the Division of Consumer
Affairs on getting restitution. Created
by the student team of Vincent Infinito
and Joseph Scocca.
“The
partnership between our TV Production II
class and the State Division of Consumer
Affairs has been an extremely rewarding
challenge, with positive results for everyone
involved,” Professor Ray Kalas said.
“The County College of Morris students
benefit from stretching their skills to
meet the demands of an important State agency.
The Division of Consumer Affairs benefits
from developing these products at no cost
to taxpayers. And New Jersey’s consumers
benefit from receiving the message about
preventing fraud and protecting themselves.”
Calcagni
pointed out that each PSA covers a topic
of real importance to New Jersey consumers,
and that basic awareness can help consumers
protect themselves against losses of hundreds
or thousands of dollars. For example:
-
Complaints about services provided by
unlicensed or unregistered professionals
are a significant concern.
-
During the past two years, the Division
of Consumer Affairs worked with local
law enforcement agencies on the arrests
of approximately 18 individuals who
performed medical or dental procedures
without a license or with a revoked
or suspended license. As a result
of working with unlicensed dentists,
patients have suffered infections,
broken teeth that were not fully extracted,
and unconsciousness following the
injection of anesthesia.
-
Additionally, the Division received
a total of 1,401 complaints against
dishonest or unregistered
home improvement contractors
in 2010, the second-most common complaint
reported by consumers last year.
-
The Division of Consumer Affairs this
week launched an iPhone application,
“New Jersey Professional License
Lookup,” available for free
download at itunes.apple.com/us/app/new-jersey-professional-license/id438476801?mt=8
. The application allows consumers
to check on the license or registration
of approximately 600,000 individuals
who work in regulated professions,
from accountants to nurses to master
plumbers.
-
In 2010, the Federal Trade Commission
received more than 60,000 complaints nationwide,
and 1,549 in New Jersey, about the Grandparent
Scam and related "impostor
scams." The State Division
of Consumer Affairs noted that the average
New Jersey victim who complained about
the Grandparent Scam lost $3,500.
-
Identity theft was the
most common Internet crime reported last
year in New Jersey, according to the FBI/National
White Collar Crime Center’s 2010
Internet Crime Report. The report noted
2,300 identity theft complaints in New
Jersey last year, with a median loss of
$740 per complaint.
-
Since January 1, 2010, the Division of
Consumer Affairs pursued nearly 200 Lemon
Law complaints against the dealers
of new cars, used cars, or motorized wheelchairs,
resulting in $200,000 restitution to consumers.
-
Since January 1, 2010, the Division of
Consumer affairs has received and acted
upon 45 complaints against charities
for allegations including harassment,
misrepresentation, or deception. The Division
encourages consumers to “investigate
before you donate,” and learn how
charities spend donated dollars before
making a contribution. The Division keeps
an updated list of the “New Jersey’s
Top 10 Inquired-About Charities,”
with detailed financial information, at
www.NJConsumerAffairs.gov/charity/inquired/#
.
-
Since January 1, 2010, the Division of
Consumer Affairs has receved and acted
upon 84 complaints about sweepstakes
scams; and 41 complaints about companies
using bait-and-switch
tactics,
As
the County College of Morris enters its
fifth decade of excellence, the college
continues to carry out its founders’
mission to provide the community with an
outstanding, affordable education. Since
it opened in 1968, more than 42,000 graduates
have passed through CCM’s halls. Many
have become teachers, nurses, police officers,
doctors and engineers. CCM has also been
a community resource for those seeking to
enhance their careers through additional
education.
The
New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs
offers speakers or seminars, free of charge,
to diverse groups including college and
high school clubs and classes, parent-teacher
organizations, senior citizens groups, religious
organizations, civic groups, and others.
Organizations may contact the Division to
request a speaker at 973-504-6317
or www.NJConsumerAffairs.gov/outreach/speaker.htm.
Current and past topics for speaking events
include Credit Repair, Identity Theft, the
Senior Fraud Education and Prevention (FEDUP)
Program, Hiring a Contractor, and Selling
Precious Metals.
###
|
