ONEONTA _ "They scammed me."
That is the story one State University College at Oneonta student had to share with state Assistant Attorney General Michael Danaher Jr. on Monday.
As part of Attorney General Andrew Cuomo's Consumer Protection Week program, Danaher was in Oneonta to address individual consumer complaints, take questions from students and residents and distribute informational materials.
One of those who walked up to Danaher's table at the Hunt College Union was Chris Spicer, 22, of Canandaigua.
"I was wondering what rights I have with the car I just bought," the SUCO junior said.
One of the problems Spicer said he had was being charged $103 by the dealership repair shop for a diagnostic test that was never done.
Spicer said it was nice to have a state official willing to listen.
"It makes me glad I came up here today," Spicer said.
In addition to brochures on the new and used-car "lemon" laws, Danaher had information on tenants' rights, consumer safety and identity theft.
"The No. 1 financial fraud that is occurring is identity theft," Danaher said.
Perpetrators of identity theft are not just committing the crimes to go on shopping sprees at the mall.
They are sometimes stealing identities to obtain driver's licenses and get medical coverage, Danaher said.
"That is becoming more prevalent," Danaher said.
Although the Internet and stolen credit cards are popular forms of identity, there is also the "Dumpster diving" method, Danaher said.
Identity theft perpetrators will sometimes pick through trash to find pre-approved credit card applications or other mail and personal documents, he said.
"I think a lot of people, especially younger people, are not aware of the problems that can occur with identity theft," Danaher said.
Students may be at risk because they are young and have not fallen victim to scams or identity theft before.
Although they are a technology-savvy generation, there are some risks associated with their reliance on the Internet.
"They are the heavy users of the Internet," Danaher said. "That's their method of communication. It's the modern telephone call."
There are fake websites that exist only to gather personal information and the Internet allows for disembodied modes of communication.
"It's just somebody typing to them," Danaher said.
Jamie Wilson, 20, of Gloversville, said she has never been a victim of identity theft or a scam.
"I know it could happen," the SUCO junior said.
Wilson said her mother and two of her fellow employees were victimized by an identity theft scam targeting the company retirement program.
"Identity theft can happen to anybody," Thomas Sigurdsson, 20, of Broadalbin, said.
But Sigurdsson said neither he nor anyone he knows has fallen victim.
"My parents have a shredder. I'm not sure if they use it often," the SUCO junior said.
Danaher also discussed how students are targeted by legitimate credit card companies that have high interest rates buried in the fine print of applications.
"Credit card companies are notorious for soliciting students as soon as they arrive on a college campus," Danaher said.
It's not clear whether the companies are targeting students to make quick and easy money, Danaher said, or whether the companies are looking to latch on to long-term customers who progress from college to the working world.
"I can't speak for what their business motivation is," Danaher said.
In addition to taking questions from passers-by in the Hunt College Union lobby in the afternoon, Danaher met with two economics classes in the morning.
Danaher encourages people to visit www.oag.state.ny.us, where there is information on all sorts of public concerns.
"We don't know what is going on in the region unless people are out there telling us," Danaher said.
Chenango, Delaware and Otsego Counties are served by the Binghamton Regional Office, which can be reached at 721-8771. Schoharie County is served by the Albany Regional Office, which can be reached at (518) 474-7330.
