NewsTaco

By Zixta Martinez

Remittances from the United States to other parts of the world are estimated in the tens of billions of dollars each year. Not surprisingly, a large share is sent to Latin America and many of the senders are of Hispanic origin. In fact, a 2008 Census survey showed that more than 50 percent of households that sent money were of Latin American and Asian descent.

Many remittance senders work in the lowest paying jobs. For them, every dollar counts; for their families abroad, every dollar may have even more significance. I know this firsthand. When I was growing up, my family sent money to Mexico. Our extended family often needed help paying for some of their basic living expenses and our dollars made all the difference. The effect of this money is far-reaching. In fact, remittances and other transfers from abroad are so prevalent to Latin America, it is estimated they make up a significant share of the GDP in a number of Latin American countries.

Unfortunately, consumer protections for remittances have been weak or non-existent. For example, remittance senders have not always been able to get full information about their transactions, including how much money will be received on the other end. Too often errors were not resolved. Despite protests from consumers and their supporters, including the attorneys who represented farmworkers and doggedly advocated on their behalf more than 15 years ago, few federal consumer protections existed for remittance transfers prior to the passage of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act in 2010.

With direction from Congress through the Dodd-Frank Act, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has now changed that. The CFPB has adopted new rules that will go into effect in February 2013. These rules generally will make the costs of remittance transfers clear and hold remittance transfer providers and their agents accountable for errors.

Here’s how:

• Better Disclosures: With this rule, remittance transfer providers must generally disclose the exchange rate, any fees related to the transfer, the amount of money that will be received abroad, and the date the money will be available. Certain information must be provided even before the consumer pays for a remittance transfer. Consumers will generally receive these disclosures in English and sometimes in other languages. We think the clarity that can come from these disclosures will inform consumer decisions and instill confidence.
• Option to Cancel: Typically, consumers will have at least 30 minutes after payment to cancel a remittance and will get their money back, regardless of whether they make a mistake, change their minds, or feel something isn’t right.
• Correction of Errors: With this rule, remittance transfer providers will generally be held accountable for errors. If a remittance sender reports a problem with a transfer within 180 days, the provider must generally investigate and correct errors. Companies that provide remittance transfers may also be responsible for mistakes made by their agents. We believe this will encourage providers to use only reliable agents and partners in the U.S. and abroad, helping to weed out bad actors.

The Latino community in the United States stands at 50 million strong and is projected to grow rapidly, reaching 133 million by 2050. While the majority of Latinos in the United States are native born, many are immigrants and others are first- and second-generation. Many of these families may need to send money to their country of origin. The CFPB recognizes the importance of the growing Latino population and is committed to addressing concerns unique to the Hispanic community.

I am proud that the remittances rule is the first substantive final rule adopted at the CFPB and that the agency has been able to play a role in bringing new protections to consumers who send remittances to loved ones or others abroad.

Zixta Martinez serves as Assistant Director for Community Affairs at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. In this capacity, she leads the Bureau’s work with consumer, civil rights groups and community organizations.

[Photo By Daquella manera]

Descuento Libre is a discount website that has been working to break into the Latino market since its launch in 2011. At a panel Monday at South By Southwest in Austin, Group Buying for the Latino Demographic, several people at the organization presented about the ways in which they’d attempted to break into the online Latino consumer market.

Boris Portman, CEO of Descuento Libre, said that Latino group buying is a good market because there’s less competition for this demographic. Although Latinos are mobile and tech savvy, as well as being early adopters of technology, this particular slice of the group deal pie has yet to be fully claimed.

One way Descuento Libre is working to snatch it is by expanding from the U.S. into Mexico. While there are 22 million online Latino shoppers in the U.S., there are 25 million more in Mexico, a market that Portman termed “one the fastest growing e-commerce markets in the world.”

“Since we launched, we’ve been working to discover the best approach to engaging Latinos online with brands and retailers through incentives such as coupons and deals,” said Alexandra Landeros the company’s social media director. “Our goal is to foster loyalty between customers and the businesses to create a mutually beneficial relationship.”

There’s a lot of money at stake here. Between the U.S. and Mexico, there’s $25 billion dollars worth of online spending up for grabs. The presentation was interesting for describing the different ways in which the company worked to monetize its idea. They tried local radio giveaways, Mexican food deals and more. Moving forward, Descuento Libre is set to expand their group buying from the Internet into a text message-based model.

But, the company reps maintained, because Latinos over-index on e-commerce by almost 20%, it’s certainly a fruitful thing to pursue.

Dear Martha:

I’m a successful professional but my partner is always in and out of different jobs. His lack of ambition is extremely frustrating to me. What should I do?

-Reluctant Breadwinner

Dear Reluctant Breadwinner:

You really need to reflect on your relationship. Why did you choose to be with someone under such circumstances? Are there other areas of your life he complements?

And if he were to remain the same way, would you continue the relationship?  Or are you really waiting for him to commit to something and solve the problem?

If you’re waiting for him to make a change on his part, it may never happen. If, on the other hand, you think that you could handle the responsibility of taking care of both of you, go ahead, you must truly be in love.

Above all, consider whether or not you could continue this way for the rest of your life. The only person that you can change is yourself.

[Photo By  slworking2]

Does anyone have $100 million they can spare? There’s a club I want to join and I’m a little short on cash to get the door opened. This is purely altruistic, so know that your help is helping a greater cause.

I read where only 2% of the nation’s venture capitalists are Latino, and I’m appalled. I want to change that, for the sake of diversity, so I’m willing to sacrifice the next 10 or so years of my life for the greater good — someone, as they say, has got to do it.

I’m thankful to the National Venture Capitalist Association (yes, there actually is such a thing; and yes, that’s the club I want to join) for calling attention (albeit inadvertently)  to their own, gargantuan, diversity shortfall. The association recently did a census of their membership, it was reported in Gawker and the New York Times, that found that a paltry 2% of all venture capitalists counted were Latino. Here’s how the Times broke the numbers down:

Of 600 professionals surveyed, from general partners to marketers, 87 percent identified themselves as white, 9 percent were Asian, 2 percent black or Latino, with the remaining 2 percent calling themselves “mixed race.” The numbers were roughly the same as the last survey, in 2008, when 88 percent of respondents were white.

There’s also a gender imbalance. Only 11% of actual investors are women, and that’s down from three years ago. But there’s little I can do to personally change that, short of a gender re-assignment, and trust me on this, I don’t any part of that (I’m perfectly at ease in the perception of my cluelessness. Guys, you know what I’m talking about). I can’t change my culture, nor would I want to if I could — I consider being Latino a fortunate accident of birth.

So my only recourse is to be rich, and I’m not, so I need help. Here’s what I have going for me:

Newcomers to the industry were less likely to be white and male. In that group, Asians in particular were more widely represented. Of those who had worked in venture capital for five years or less, 77 percent were white and 17 percent Asian; only 6 percent were black, Latino or mixed race.

Six percent of newbie venture capitalists are Latino — 2% total. That’s a steep learning curve. But I figure we have to start someplace. I think passing the hat is as good a place as any. So if I mix the 6% newbie count with my life-long string of dumb luck, I figure I’ve got a pretty good chance of eventually rubbing elbows with the Silicon Valley venture rich guys. And in doing so, talking one for the team in the name of diversity.

Your thank-you’s are humbly appreciated.

[Photo by sunshinecity]

According to a recent study, U.S. Latinos are the least likely group to save money in retirement savings accounts like 401(k)s and only 10% have individual retirement accounts.

As discussed in a segment on National Public Radio, retirement for the 50 million Latinos in this country is not looking good. While some speculate that low wages may keep Latinos from saving, research found that even between the highest earners, $120,000 and up, they still save less than their counterparts.  Researchers found that:  ”Hispanics had $150,000 saved for retirement, compared with $155,000 for African-Americans, $161,000 for whites.”  Asians saved the most, with $223,000 stashed away.

Experts and researchers blame the lack of financial literacy and education within the Latino community mixed with a culture that places emphasis on taking care of the whole family, even if it means sacrificing saving the future.  Not only are they  spending money on their own children, but also caring for elderly parents, and helping siblings, nieces, nephews, or even grandchildren.

Considering that Latinos are the fastest growing ethnic group in the U.S. and that by 2050 will make up almost one-third of the population, this could become a serious problem.   Latinos need to make personal finance and saving part of the daily conversation and get educated about the importance of putting money aside for the future.

[Photo By RambergMediaImages]

By Patrick Keefe, Vice President of Communications for the Credit Union National Association

 Should I transfer my personal financial business from a bank to a credit union?

Patrick Keefe is the Vice President of Communications for the Credit Union National Association.

Dear Martha:

I am worried about the situation Mexico is going through. I was given the opportunity to live here in the U.S. but all of my family lives back in Mexico. Evert time I call them, things got worse and they keep asking me not to visit them, as that could be dangerous for me. I have worked really hard in this country and Ive been able to grow and economically help my family. I feel what is happening to them is not fair and I don’t know whether I should stay or go back to them.

—Torn Between Countries

Dear Torn Between Countries:

I believe most Mexican people who live in this country feel the same way. Going back would only make it worse, as you said you are economic support for them and probably they are very happy that you have the opportunities the U.S. offers them. Get in touch with them, tell them you love them and miss them and wish them better times may come soon. If you have spiritual beliefs, pray for them and have faith, this will sonn be over. Remember: No war can last one hundred years, or a town who could tolerate it.

[Photo By americanistadechiapas]

By Marlen Castañeda

Iʼm looking through Craigslist, as I usually do each day after checking e-mails and such. Iʼm browsing and decide to look at the gigs, under domestic. House cleaning seems to be something a lot of people want these days — but they donʼt just want anyone cleaning their house.

They want a very detailed cleaning, leaving a pristine, immaculate home. They want their home cleaner than it was when they bought it new. Thatʼs not a bad thing; I clean my house daily. And I donʼt just straighten up. I do the works, from bathrooms to floors. I just like my house clean and Iʼm able to do it, so why not.

So as Iʼm reading these requests for housecleaners, I see a trend. They all want a background check, understandable these days. They want perfect English, somewhat understandable, but since many housecleaners are Latina women, it isn’t a guarantee. They want you to work from this time to this time. Okay, so theyʼre setting the hours they want this done. They want a very specific list of things done. Can do.

Thereʼs one thing I have a problem with, though: the low rate these folks want to pay!

House work is hard! Any housewife will tell you that. It is backbreaking, grueling, nasty work! You got to reach up to high places, climb on ladders, bend over, on your knees reach under things, scrub ʻtil youʼre raw in the fingers, expose yourself to strong chemicals, touch the nastiest of areas, and do it all with a smile, because heaven forbid you utter a sound of disgust.

I know this firsthand. Not only do I clean my own house daily now, I cleaned houses for a few years myself. It was nasty, hard work. And unless you have cleaned houses for a living, you do not see the work that goes into it. Why? Because most of these houses youʼre cleaning are for nasty people who never clean themselves. They can live in their filth all year long, then when you come to their house to clean up their nastiness, they decide they are the cleanest, pickiest people and want you to do it all for them — and then they get to say how much you get paid.

Well Iʼm just here to speak a little bit for all these house cleaners, because:

1. They are mainly women.

2. They are Latina women.

Being a Latina who has cleaned houses I just want to ask the people looking for house cleaners: How dare you insult the hard degrading work it is to clean house by offering such an insulting wage?! Most of you people seeking maids are setting a price of $6 to $8 dollars an hour. This is an insult! Mainly because it usually takes a really good maid about five hours to clean a house. So to be paid such a small amount is not even worth it. If you do find a maid who is willing to be paid anything under ten dollars an hour, she probably isnʼt doing a good job, and is not a real maid. A maid can do so much in those five hours that she must be compensated fairly for it. Mainly because this is not a typical minimum wage job.

First of all, you do not clean your own mess, so how dare you put such a low price on cleaning up other peoplesʼ mess? Just because the majority of these people are women and are Latina does not mean just any person can do it. Any person can attempt to do it, but it isn’t always to your liking, right? Have a little respect for your  ” or “housekeeper.”

Remember that she is human and usually has a husband and children she does this at home as well. Remember she has needs such as “thirst” and ” using the restroom.”  Every other minimum wage job entitles their employees to breaks and such. Why canʼt a housekeeper take five minutes to have a drink and restroom break? Why do you all assume that because she is working ”only” 6 hours in your home she doesn’t still have basic human needs?

Respect her. She cleans your home and is probably the only one doing it, so show her the same respect she shows your home. Don’t assume that because she does the most demeaning of jobs that she as a person can be demeaned. She is usually a mother and wife. Don’t assume that she always has time for your needs. She makes time for you, make time for her. And the most important, don’t tell her what you will be paying her. Trust me in the fact that if she is charging you what you may consider an outrageous price, she is probably doing so because its a lot of work involved. Think about it. When did you last clean that tub? When did you last dust that high ceiling fan? When did you last dig under your five year-oldʼs bed? And why haven’t you done it since?

Most of the time these are trustworthy women who really need the job and aren’t out “to get you.” Trust in the fact that they are pricing you correctly and if you do want to negotiate, let her know why and most times she is flexible. The main reason she does this job is because its what she knows. Sheʼs good at it and it allows her to help her own family, to pay for that thing she has as well, you know, a house.

Marlen Castañeda lives in McKinney, Texas.

[Photo By Pink Sherbet Photography]

Ever buy a calling card to phone a loved one south of the border and later felt that the 60 minutes advertised and paid for felt more like 15?  Well, turns out it’s not just the sparkling conversation that’s making the time and dollars fly by.  The National Hispanic Media Coalition recently sent out a consumer alert warning saying:

Latinos may be losing up to $1 million per day because of fraudulent prepaid calling cards. The average calling card only delivers 60% of the minutes advertised. The cost-per-minute rates for prepaid phone cards can be up to 87% higher than expected.

Because of the shady practices, the federal government is beginning to investigate the industry and the tactics they use to target Spanish-speaking immigrants.  Some of the hidden costs under scrutiny include disconnect or hang-up fees, maintenance fees,  or payphone surcharges.

According to the report, some of the companies that have been found to be engaging in fraudulent practices include:

• Touch-Tel USA, LLC
  • Calling Cards: Puro Central America, Puro Mexico, Ahora, La Pelota
• Lyca Tel, LLC
  • Calling Cards: Director, Latino Calendar, Africa Target, Africa Calendar
• Locus Telecommunications
  • Calling Cards: UNI, CallPlus, Go, Hey, my Friend, Geo
• Epana Networks, Inc, also known as STi Telecom
  • Calling Cards: Organizacion Mundial de Adictos Al Futbol (O.M.A.F), la Cruda, el Chavo, el Gorrion
• Millennium Telecard, Inc. otherwise known as Millenium Tele Card, LLC, Coleccion Latina, Inc., or Telecard Center USA, Inc.

To get the most the most value out of a calling card, the FCC has recommended that people who purchase the cards should read all of the fine print, try to understand instructions and limitations, and ask family and friends for recommendations for cards they use and trust.

[Photo by Kaihsu Tai]

Many Americans feel the playing field in the U.S. was leveled after the Civil Rights Acts of 1964 officially desegregated the country. These people are usually in cahoots with the people that believe racism does not exist in our great republic, and that affirmative action initiatives are simply a way to appease minorities. We have a black president so racism can’t be that prevalent, can it?

Maria Chávez is the author of Everyday Injustice (Rowman & Littlefield, 2011) an unsettling study that investigates the pervasiveness of racial injustice by focusing on Latino lawyers. If Chávez’s subjects seem like a strange bunch to study, Chávez writes:

By looking at how one successful group of professional Latinos has achieved success, this study adds to our understanding or race and ethnicity in America today. It also provides a measure of American democracy and citizenship.

Therefore, Chávez’s reasoning is that she can somehow quantify how much Democracy is being cultivated in America by focusing on how Latino lawyers fare through our systems and bureaucracies.  I am unsure, though, that an increase in lawyers means an increase in Democracy and democratic ideals; I am of the persuasion that there are too many lawyers in the U.S., litigating their little hearts out to the highest bidder, so I read Chávez’s book with great trepidation and a minor sense of nausea.

But, Chávez’s book presents qualitative and quantitative data concerning Latino lawyers. “Quantitative data are derived from two survey questionnaires mailed to lawyers…[and]…Qualitative date were obtained by conducting seven initial interviews.” There are three main implications that arise as a result of this study:

that Latino professionals remain marginalized, that notions of color-blindness are misguided, and that Latino professionals are highly engaged in their organizations and communities.

In other words, for the incumbent Latino lawyer in your life, the symptoms of racism still persist, especially when access to higher education continues to be such an immense obstacle in the life of many poor Latinos. The good news, then, is that once authorized with juris doctorate degrees, Latino lawyers, as a whole, are extremely involved in community and professional organizations. That is, Latino lawyers generate impressive returns on civic engagement and democracy building, but must suffer the slings and arrows of prejudice and bigotry from people in their educational, professional, and personal lives.

The qualitative data in Everyday Injustice allows us to peer into the lives of several Latino lawyers, and the struggles they endured. As a study or piece of research,  I feel it makes a few sweeping assumptions. For example, more lawyers, regardless of their race, doesn’t necessarily mean more Democracy. But as a serious work of reference, guidance, and laboral history,  Chávez’s book is always thinking big picture.

The reader is never pushed to subscribe to an easy answer or feigned solution, and Chávez’s books contains comprehensive, current data on education, household wealth, and immigration. This book is perfect for business libraries, but could also easily be accommodated in a general collection, or ethnic or Latino-oriented index. And, the foreword is written by  Joe R. Feagin, the author behind The White Racial Frame (2010), a book in which Feagin posits that “traditional social science models and traditional social scientists” only think of racism “as an exception to societal norms rather than a systematic problem.” According to Feagin, racism is part and parcel of American society; it is not a “disease [or cancer] but is rather a central aspect.”

I am not sure Chávez would agree, she might be too busy collecting valuable, human data.

[Photo By Rowman & Littlefield]

Latino academics can apply their expertise directly in the community as highly paid independent research consultants while local businesses, non-profit organizations and initiatives for traditionally underserved populations benefit from their services.

I myself spent the spring of 2002 reading and taking notes for my master’s thesis while I was parked in my truck under the cool shade of a Texas oak tree at the National Hispanic Institute in Maxwell, Texas. After hanging around this bustling non-profit organization throughout that entire semester, it was not surprising to me when I was asked to advise the development of an internal research report. What was shocking to discover, however, was that my academic training had not prepared me to operate as a professional research consultant despite my years of training.

What was my fee, they asked, and I really had no idea. Even though I was one of a small number of Latino doctoral students by this point, the most I had ever received for a lengthy research paper was an A+, and now here was my chance to make several thousand dollars applying my academic skills and expertise, and I had no idea how to go about it. During those days, even though I was excited to be working on a range of U.S. Latino phenomena professionally, I did not even know how to draft a project proposal — let alone an invoice for services rendered.

I simply provided a date when the report could be ready, confirmed the parameters of the project and finalized compensation with a handshake. I was 24, and suddenly I was both a scholar and a professional research consultant. In so doing, I learned that my research experience, my focus on U.S. Latino dynamics and my ability to write for a range of audiences could help me to generate an income beyond what I could earn as a professor.

Nearly 10 years have transpired since, and I have consulted projects with many non-profit groups, school districts, institutions of higher education, state agencies, elected officials, military bases, political campaigns, public events, media productions, communication companies and even online news portals like News Taco. The tools of my trade are my lucky pen, boot book (literally a notebook I carry around in my boot), laptop, cell phone and pick-up truck. Each project has been unique, and every single collaboration has drawn on my academic training and multidimensional professional experiences.

Across these last several years, being one of our country’s very few Latinos with a Ph.D. after his Spanish surname has facilitated more business opportunities, community partnerships, political connections and occasions to serve a broad spectrum of students than what even my reputable B.A. and M.A. ever would have  helped me achieve. I just do not understand why more Latino academics are not venturing outside of the classroom and launching new community-oriented initiatives and enterprises.

From the days of my thesis to my most recent contracts, I see myself as simply selling new ideas and providing the skills to make them into reality. And from my perspective, there are hundreds of Latino academics across America who could be mutually benefiting their research endeavors as well as their regional communities by doing the same.

[Photo By World Travel]

I’ve always wondered if little girls really fantasize about their wedding day. I’ve never known a woman who actually did this. When I was a little girl, I mostly fantasized about the Muppet Babies and the pizza on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. In fact, I still do. I didn’t really think about marriage or weddings in high school either because I was too busy listening to Tori Amos and crying in my room.

I don’t hate weddings. I’m actually looking forward to a few nuptials in the next few months. I also have a boyfriend that I hope to marry one day if he can get past my hostility against household organization and lids in general. I’m not that much of a curmudgeon. I believe in love! I’m just grossed out by our culture’s obsession with weddings.

Even in this terrible economy, people still spend massive amounts of money on weddings. According The Knot, in 2010 the average wedding cost $26,984. Maybe that’s not a lot of money for some people, but I would be able to pay off most of my student loans with that sum. I just can’t understand why anyone would ruin their finances for one single day. And if the show Bridezillas has taught us anything, it’s that brides will sometimes abuse their friends and families while pursuing their princess fantasies.

Instead of investing so much time and money into such frivolousness, I wonder why these awful women (and sometimes men) don’t invest in becoming better human beings instead. Bridalplasty, I believe, is the worst of this genre; it honestly made me physically ill. All these shows perpetuate the notion that women stupidly pine for this day their entire lives. They make people believe that they need lavish weddings and extreme plastic surgery to be valid human beings. But really, these shows only exist to sell you more stuff.

Here are some ways I will do to make my wedding easier:

• In lieu of a gown, I think I may just wear a barrel. It will save money and it will show off some curves.
• For music I will have a group of elementary school kids playing the recorder.
• For dinner I will hand out cans of Vienna sausages. You will have to bring your own can opener.
• To avoid any drama or hurt feelings, my maid of honor will be a pigeon.

I loved the movie Bridesmaids because it highlighted how absurd the wedding business really is.  I wish for more movies like this. Not all women dream about getting married. I certainly never did. Some women dream about bettering themselves and growing as human beings. Some dream about careers and raising polite and compassionate children. Some dream of producing a Broadway musical based on the hit show Perfect Strangers. Some might just dream of one day getting kicked out of an all-you-can-eat buffet. What the hell do I know? I just wish TV and film would stop focusing on this tired princess fantasy.

[Photo By cherie6c, sans laser eyes]

The findings from a new study released on Tuesday revealed that Hispanic business owners site family as a driving force behind their businesses, but only 1 in 4 have a succession plan in order, a contradiction indicative that overall lack of financial savvy is putting Hispanic entrepreneurs at a greater risk.

The study by MassMutual, a life insurance company, was made public at the Association of Latino Professionals in Finance and Accounting’s national convention. The ALPFA is a non-profit organization that serves Latino professionals and students.

Among the key findings were that a majority of Hispanics began their businesses in order to provide for their families, 89 percent vs. 77 percent of the general population.  In addition, 70 percent of Hispanic business owners said they intend to pass their business on to family members vs. 54 percent of the general population.  However, only 1 in 4 of them had a succession plan in order.

The study also found that Hispanic business owners are worried about meeting their personal long-term financial goals and express discomfort with financial investments.

This disconnect is disconcerting for Manny Espinoza, CEO of ALPFA, who says the organization is dedicated to cutting down on this disparity.

“As an organization that empowers future Hispanic leaders in all aspects of finance, our members will be on the front line of providing Hispanic entrepreneurs with the tools and information they need to safeguard their future security,” Espinoza said. “It is our responsibility as business leaders to examine solutions to the disparity of knowledge, confidence and usage of financial services.”

MassMutual teamed up with ALPFA as part of its Hispanic Fiscal Fitness Initiative, which aims to help Hispanic business owners improve their financial knowledge and better leverage tools out there to help them run their businesses.

References:

• PR Newswire.com
• Latino Foxnews.com

[Photo By uberculture]

Identity theft is the art of swindling someone deliberately in order to make money illegally. The crimes, also called ”white collar” crimes, are as old as history.

A recent federal study indicates that, last year alone, nearly 10 million people in the U.S. were victims of one of the most common scams, identity theft, but only 9% of the finished research reports were satisfactorily resolved. Given these data, the average citizen has no way to protect yourself.

Each year about 80 000 people are victims of identity theft. This activity represents a loss in excess of $5 billion dollars.

These are further classified:

• Credit Card Fraud: 42% of the victims.
• Fraud phone bills: 20% of victims, primarily those that opened new cell phone accounts.
• Bank Fraud: 13% of the victims, of which almost half (6.2%) were swindled through previously established accounts.
• Fraud in employment: 9% of the victims.
• Loan fraud: 7% of the victims. (Most of the cases are related to personal and business loans.)
• Government Fraud: 6% of the victims. (The most common is counterfeit driver’s licenses and social security numbers.)
• Another type of identity theft: 19% (this includes Internet, medical, bankruptcy, rental department and others).

Sources: United Nations Organization (UNO) and Federal Trade Commission. In addition to various law enforcement agencies in the country, including the FBI.

Expediente Rojo Project (Code Red), is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing the Latino community with information about crime in their communities. Visit Expediente Rojo’s website, follow them on Facebook or on Twitter @Expediente_Rojo.

[Photo By Andres Rueda]