New York Consumer Fraud Legal Questions

I am not sure what your issue is.  If you were going to send him the money anyway, then you are not damaged civilly.  If you are claiming some sort of bank fraud, you can file a report with the FBI, but do not count on this minor issue being pursued.  It was not legal, but there is no real remedy.... Read More

There are two issues -- returning the car and returning the car fixed.  To get it back go there and demand it.  Bring proof you own it, and call the police if not given it.  To deal with not fixing the car and taking the money, you need to contact the insurance company, and ultimately sue.... Read More

You've been scammed by a scam artist!  Congratulations, you're a real New Yorker now. Here's what you do. After you win your chargeback complaint with your credit card company, ask them nicely to remove the charge. They will do it- like all of my credit card companies have removed a late charge here and there for me, many times, for no good reason, except that I asked nicely. You, however, will approach them with a good reason. They will do it. As far as going to court.... don't do it. While the credit card company will be happy to oblige a good customer and refund your $25 once you explain the situation, you will irritate the court to no end if you file a complaint for $25. There are certain types of cases where the courts routinely entertain small disputed sums, such as medical providers who sue insurance companies for shorting them on no-fault claims, but that's done as volume work. Do not take up the scant resources of the taxpayer-funded judicial system (and your time, which can certainly be put to other good uses) with your $25 claim. What you CAN do is the following. Write a nice letter to your local competitors and any restaurants that deliver, and maybe even the local services that let you order takeout from various places, and give them a heads-up about this scam-artist and her modus operandi. Tell them exactly what happened, and her name. You will have done a good deed for your local businesses, and they will be grateful to you. And send the scam-artist copies of your letters- make sure she knows exactly which restaurants got a heads-up about her. Then ask yourself, how long do you think it will take for anyone to deliver takeout food to her again, ever?  [Note: if you do the above, the scam artist will certainly call a lawyer screaming slander, but it is NOT slander, assuming everything you say in the letters is true, and you can prove it.]... Read More