CITY, COUNTY TAKE AIM AT SCAM ARTISTS.Byline: Rachel Uranga Staff Writer VAN NUYS - City and county officials will launch an education campaign today to combat the proliferation of bogus immigration immigration, entrance of a person (an alien) into a new country for the purpose of establishing permanent residence. Motives for immigration, like those for migration generally, are often economic, although religious or political factors may be very important. consultants and paralegals posing as lawyers and legitimate document preparers. The ``Don't Be Fooled'' campaign - headed by a coalition of state and local officials, nonprofit groups and churches - targets low-income and immigrant communities, whose residents often rely on storefront services to file court documents, help fight eviction The removal of a tenant from possession of premises in which he or she resides or has a property interest done by a landlord either by reentry upon the premises or through a court action. and handle divorces. ``It's an urgent issue. So many people don't know Don't know (DK, DKed) "Don't know the trade." A Street expression used whenever one party lacks knowledge of a trade or receives conflicting instructions from the other party. there is free legal service out there,'' said Nancy Cervantes, managing attorney for the Neighborhood Legal Services legal services n. the work performed by a lawyer for a client. Center in Pacoima. About one-third of the clients accessing self-help workshops at the center come in because they were defrauded by scam (SCSI Configured AutoMatically) A subset of Plug and Play that allows SCSI IDs to be changed by software rather than by flipping switches or changing jumpers. Both the SCSI host adapter and peripheral must support SCAM. See SCSI. artists. ``It can really set people back financially,'' Cervantes said. The coalition will step up its outreach efforts, distributing brochures that outline consumer rights and advise how to report fraudulent activities. People are too often afraid to report scam artists or don't know enough information about the people that ripped them off to report them, said Pastor Hererra Jr., director of the Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. County Department of Consumer Affairs. ``It's important that people be aware that if they are going to get services from a notary notary or notary public Public officer who certifies and attests to the authenticity of writings (e.g., deeds) and takes affidavits, depositions, and protests of negotiable instruments. or document preparer, you have to make sure they are licensed, you don't pay in cash, and you have the full name of the person and their address,'' Hererra said. Last year, his department investigated 132 paralegals and document preparers accused of defrauding consumers. Herrera said he suspects that many additional cases that go unreported. ``We want to be sure that people know what their rights are, so they will not be fooled and will not be victims of fraud.'' Rachel Uranga, (818) 713-3741 rachel.uranga(at)dailynews.com IF YOU GO The Community Education Fair and free legal assistance will be offered, noon-2 p.m. today at the Los Angeles County Superior Courthouse patio, 6230 Sylmar Ave., Van Nuys. CAPTION(S): box Box: IF YOU GO (see text) |
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