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  Geebo 8:00 am on May 10, 2024 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: Immigration ( 12 ), migrant crisis, real estate ( 127 ), rental scam ( 87 ), Scams ( 1,354 )   

  Rental scam targets migrants 

  

  By Greg Collier

  A Denver homeowner’s journey began innocuously enough, with a knock on her door from a migrant seeking to rent her home. Bewildered, she turned him away, only to encounter similar hopefuls in the days that followed. These migrants, deceived by online listings and duplicitous promises, arrived at her doorstep, wallets lighter and dreams shattered.

  The migrants had been victimized by rental scammers. As awareness of rental scams grows among American consumers, the scammers are shifting their focus to those who may be unfamiliar with such schemes. Regrettably, newcomers to our country are perceived as ideal targets by these scammers.

  Armed with stolen identities and falsified documents, rental scammers lure unsuspecting victims with promises of affordable housing, only to vanish into the digital ether once their pockets are lined with ill-gotten gains. Through WhatsApp messages and social media platforms like Facebook, they cast their net wide, preying on the desperate and the hopeful.

  Despite the frustration and helplessness she feels, the homeowner refuses to be a passive bystander in this fight against exploitation. By filing a complaint with the Denver Police and raising awareness about these fraudulent activities, she epitomizes the spirit of community activism.

  Yet, amidst the darkness, glimmers of hope emerge. Activists’ tireless efforts to educate and empower migrants through outreach initiatives exemplify the resilience of the human spirit. By equipping individuals with the tools to recognize and report scams, she instills a sense of agency in the face of adversity.

  At its core, the fight against rental scams transcends borders and boundaries. It is a testament to our collective humanity, a reaffirmation of our shared responsibility to protect the vulnerable among us.

  If you’re interested in supporting the migrant community in your area, there are numerous ways you can assist them in steering clear of rental scams.

  Please consider sharing information about common rental scams targeting migrants through social media, community forums, and local outreach events. You can also offer guidance and support to migrants who may be navigating the rental market for the first time in the US. Share tips on how to verify the legitimacy of rental listings.

  Many migrants may face language barriers when communicating with landlords or navigating rental agreements. Offer language assistance or connect them with interpreters or bilingual resources to ensure they fully understand their rights and obligations.

  Encourage individuals to report any suspicious rental listings or encounters with potential scammers to local law enforcement agencies, consumer protection authorities, or housing advocacy organizations. Prompt reporting can help prevent further victimization and protect others from falling prey to similar scams.

   

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  Geebo 9:00 am on February 28, 2022 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: charity ( 17 ), charity scam ( 34 ), migrant crisis, Scams ( 1,354 ), Ukraine ( 2 )   

  How to help the people of Ukraine without being scammed 

  

  By Greg Collier

  The Unites States is probably one of the most, if not the most, charitable country in the world. As a society, we do not hesitate to open our wallets and loosen purse strings when it comes to crises of human suffering. And right now, there is no bigger crisis than what’s currently happening in the Eastern European country of Ukraine. But as always, there is no humanitarian crisis that scammers won’t take advantage of, and yes, they are trying to take advantage of the situation in Ukraine.

  Social media posts have already started popping up that lead to websites asking for funds for Ukraine. Except these websites do not state what charity they’re supposed to be collecting for or how the funds will help the people of Ukraine.

  You’ll also want to avoid any form of solicitation when it comes to making any donations. This can include phone calls, emails, text messages, or messages through social media. These solicitors often use generic names for their charities, like ‘International Relief Fund’, or something along those lines. Also, avoid any supposed charity that asks for donations in methods like gift cards or cryptocurrency. You may want to avoid crowdfunding sites like GoFundMe, as scammers have been known to use them for scams after natural and man-made disasters.

  If you really want to donate to help victims of the current crisis, stick to well-known charities such as UNICEF, The International Red Cross, and Doctors Without Borders. These organizations are world renowned for helping those who have been displaced through war, famine, or natural disaster. You can find lists of other reliable charitable organizations here and here.

  If there’s a charity not listed that you still want to donate to, please check with sites like Charity Navigator and Give.Org to make sure they are reputable charities.

  Now more than ever, we need our donations going to the people who need them, rather than the pockets of scammers.

   
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  Geebo 9:28 am on August 10, 2018 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: Europe, Facebook ( 178 ), migrant crisis   

  Facebook accused of not doing enough to stop the deaths of migrants 

  

  In the recent past, Facebook has been criticized for allowing human rights abuses to have taken place in countries like Myanmar, Sri Lanka, and The Philippines. In many of these cases, human rights organizations have criticized Facebook for not doing enough to stop abuses from happening but Facebook tends to give the rationalizations of the inflammatory content either doesn’t violate their community guidelines or claiming they’re doing all they can. Now, Facebook is being accused of not helping to stop the deaths of migrants trying to escape to Europe.

  Since 2015, refugees from countries in the Middle East and Africa have been fleeing their countries either due to internal violence or human rights abuses. While the number of migrants has decreased since then, 700 refugees have died trying to cross the Mediterranean in dangerously overcrowded vessels. The UK’s National Crime Agency claims that a large part of the problem is illegal smugglers advertising their services on Facebook. Tom Dowdall, deputy director of the NCA says Facebook has the technology to stop these smugglers from posting but doesn’t do enough to prevent them from posting.

  Facebook have developed a fantastic ability to be able to identify patterns and how everybody operates on a day to day basis.

  “This is no different: there will be patterns that are developed here which we know that Facebook and others can be onto really quickly. We need their cooperation to be able to identify and to either close down these sites or be able to further investigate them.”

  Once again, this another example of Facebook’s power and reach getting out of their own control. Since Facebook wants to be all things to all people they can’t seem to grasp that a lot of those people use their platform to do horrible things. It isn’t enough anymore for Facebook to just throw up their hands and say “they’re trying”. They need to start policing themselves before the governments of the world start doing it for them.