Habitat-New York City's "Loan Rangers" Public Awareness Campaign Targets Financial Scams With Free Educational Workshops

Habitat For Humanity - New York City announces:

• Habitat for Humanity – New York City invites congregations, schools and community groups to host workshops for your members about credit repair and predatory lending and foreclosure scams. Habitat-NYC will provide free workshop trainers and materials. Community groups just provide weekend or weeknight space for 30 of your members or more. For more information, or to schedule a workshop, contact Paul Benecki at pbenecki@habitatnyc.org or at 212-991-4000 x 338.

These workshops are part of Habitat-NYC’s Loan Rangers Public Awareness Campaign, which educates low-income New Yorkers about deceptive lending practices and better alternatives. Topics include:

• Strategies to avoid (and escape) excessive credit card debt,
• Foreclosure rescue scams (see When Fraud Comes Knocking: Foreclosure Rescue Scams in New York City),
• Risky income tax refund loans,
• Predatory practices at some rent-to-own businesses,
• Easy steps to improve credit scores.

Habitat-NYC Loan Rangers provide:

• A short presentation on how a range of scams and fringe financial products work,
• Fact sheets and flyers that explain the dangers of scams and high-cost loans,
• Details on free and low-cost alternatives available to all New Yorkers.

For more materials and information, visit: http://www.habitatnyc.org/advocate.

Source: Sponsor a Free Workshop and Help Your Community Members Save Thousands of Hard-earned Dollars!

See also, the Staten Island Advance: Staten Island D.A. partners with Habitat For Humanity to fight foreclosure fraud:

• Partnering with Habitat For Humanity in New York City, [Staen Island District Attorney Daniel M.] Donovan's office announced [...] plans to educate the community on mortgage fraud, foreclosure rescue scams, credit card debt relief programs, tax refund anticipation loans and the "rent to own" industry [as part of the Loan Rangers Public Awareness Campaign].