EDISON, N.J. — Legal Services of New Jersey is urging residents to slow down and scrutinize unexpected messages, using its November newsletter to explain how scammers use phishing emails, phone calls and tech ploys to cheat New Jerseyans.
The bilingual newsletter, “Looking Out For Your Legal Rights,” is available on the organization’s website. Its central advice for anyone who receives a pressing demand is simple: “The bottom line is if something feels urgent or scary, STOP.”
The nonprofit said many scams share common warning signs:
- The message comes from a sender you were not expecting to hear from.
- It warns that something very bad will happen unless you act immediately.
- It contains grammar or spelling mistakes.
- The sender’s email address looks legitimate but is slightly off.
- You are asked to pay with gift cards, Zelle or bitcoin.
Digital users should be especially wary of messages that demand an “immediate” or “right now” response, the group said.
The same issue also covers juvenile records, including the limited circumstances in which juvenile delinquency records can be made public and when such records may qualify for expungement.
According to the newsletter, employers, landlords and other public entities do not have access to juvenile records. Employers and others may ask about them but cannot demand the information, and once juvenile records are expunged, people can truthfully say they have no past record, the article states.
More information on expunging juvenile or adult criminal records is available from the LSNJLAW toll-free hotline at 1-888-576-5529 or online at lsnjlawhotline.org.
Legal Services of New Jersey, based in Edison, provides free legal aid in civil matters to low-income residents.
This report is based on a press release from Legal Services of New Jersey.
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