7 On Your Side Helps Student Recover Stolen $1,119 Paycheck from Scammer

Student Targeted by Paycheck Scam

• 🎯 An 18-year-old student, described as street-smart, was tricked out of her entire paycheck by a scammer.
• 📞 The scammer posed as someone from the city's Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) and convinced the student to reveal her email, phone number, and debit card PIN.

The SYEP Debit Card Hack

• 💳 SYEP pays students using Dash debit cards, which scammers discovered could be used to withdraw unlimited cash from ATMs.
• ⚠️ This scam, which spread rapidly on TikTok, was previously warned about by 7 On Your Side in July.
• 💸 The student immediately noticed unauthorized transactions after providing her information.

Recovery and Resolution

• 💡 The student's grandmother encouraged her to contact 7 On Your Side for help.
• 💰 The student was owed $1,119, which was crucial for her first year at Manhattan Community College.
• ✅ 7 On Your Side contacted the Division of Youth and Community Development, who worked with the student to resolve the issue.
• 🌟 The student successfully received a new card, activated it, and verified the funds, with all her salary restored.