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Police & Fire
Don't Fall For It: Police Issue Alert For Social Security Scam Don't Fall For It: Police Issue Alert For Social Security Scam
Don't Fall For It: Police Issue Alert For Social Security Scam Alarm bells are sounding for law enforcement agencies as a new Social Security scam continues making the rounds as opportunistic fraudsters look to exploit the elderly. An alert was issued by police agencies in New York after they received multiple reports of scammers impersonating Social Security Administration (SSA) employees over the phone requesting personal information or money. Police said that some of the imposters have made threats or demanded immediate payment to help their victims avoid arrest or potential legal action. Officials noted that SSA employees will never threaten anyon…

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by Zak Failla
Politics
Trump Holdover From Northern Westchester Fired By Biden Says He Won't Leave Government Post Trump Holdover From Northern Westchester Fired By Biden Says He Won't Leave Government Post
Trump Holdover From Northern Westchester Fired By Biden Says He Won't Leave Government Post A Westchester County resident who was serving as the Social Security commissioner after being appointed to the post by former President Donald Trump said he won't leave his post, despite being fired by President Joe Biden. The Washington Post reported that Andrew Saul, who had been working remotely from his home in Katonah, said he was blindsided by his firing. His term was set to end in 2025.  Saul's access to agency computers was cut off on Monday, July 12, the day his acting successor, Kilolo Kijakazi, took over, The Washington Post said.  Experts told the Post that …

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by Nicole Valinote
News
CT Woman Sentenced For Theft Of Social Security Benefits CT Woman Sentenced For Theft Of Social Security Benefits
CT Woman Sentenced For Theft Of Social Security Benefits A Connecticut woman has been sentenced to three months in prison for illegally receiving Social Security benefits. Omayra Santiago, 44, of Waterbury, was sentenced on Thursday, Jan. 28, to prison time followed by three years of supervised release, said John Durham, U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut.d According to court documents and statements made in court, for approximately 13 years, Santiago received monthly Social Security benefits from the Social Security Administration in the form of Supplemental Security Income.   Santiago was the representative payee of her ch…

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by Kathy Reakes
News
Employee At CT Used Car Dealership Admits To Role In Loan Fraud Scheme Employee At CT Used Car Dealership Admits To Role In Loan Fraud Scheme
Employee At CT Used Car Dealership Admits To Role In Loan Fraud Scheme An employee of an area car dealership has pleaded guilty to write fraud as part of an auto loan scheme. Justin Williams, 42, of Rocky Hill, pleaded guilty on Friday, Nov. 20, to taking part in the scheme at Car Nation in Middletown, said John H. Durham, U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut. According to court documents and statements made in court, Williams worked as a salesman and de facto general manager at Car Nation, sometimes known as Middletown Motorcars, which was owned and operated by George Hajati.  In connection with automobile loan applications for multiple borrowe…

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by Kathy Reakes
News
Darien Resident Loses $900 After Being Directed To ATM In Bitcoin Scam Darien Resident Loses $900 After Being Directed To ATM In Bitcoin Scam
Darien Resident Loses $900 After Being Directed To ATM In Bitcoin Scam A man posing as a member of the Social Security Administration bilked a Fairfield County resident out of nearly $1,000. A Darien resident reported to police that on Thursday, Aug. 6, she received a phone call from a man stating he was a member of the U.S. Social Security Administration. Police said the caller told the woman that she would not be receiving her next social security check because she was being investigated for alleged drug trafficking. The caller then stated that unless the woman sent him money, sheriffs would be coming to arrest and take her into custody. The woman said that…

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by Zak Failla
News
Police Issue New Social Security Scam Warning Police Issue New Social Security Scam Warning
Police Issue New Social Security Scam Warning Police in the area are cautioning local residents to be wary of a new phone scam that has been making the rounds. Last week, police officials found that they received multiple calls from area residents who received phone calls threatening to suspend their social security number if cash isn’t paid to the caller. Police noted that social security numbers “do not get suspended. This is just a scam that’s after your SSN, bank account number, or money.  Please hang up if anyone calls about your social security number.” In an effort to keep residents safe, police offered a series of tips: …

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Scammer Poses As Social Security Administration, Police In Separate Calls To Westport Woman Scammer Poses As Social Security Administration, Police In Separate Calls To Westport Woman
Scammer Poses As Social Security Administration, Police In Separate Calls To Westport Woman Police are warning residents about a Social Security scam that allegedly victimized an individual in Westport. Police say that on April 22, the Westport resident received a phone call from someone purporting to work for the Social Security Administration using what appeared on the caller identification as a legitimate phone number for the Social Security Administration.  The caller reportedly told the resident her social security number was being used fraudulently in another state, according to police.  The caller also knew her name and correct social security number, said police…

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by Donna Christopher
News
Alert Issued For Social Security Scams In Fairfield County Alert Issued For Social Security Scams In Fairfield County
Alert Issued For Social Security Scams In Fairfield County Police in Fairfield County are cautioning local residents to be wary of new social security phone scams that have recently been making the rounds in the area. The Easton Police Department issued an alert warning that opportunistic scammers have been utilizing new technologies to pose as federal officials claiming there are issues with a social security number or account. “From time to time you may receive a call from a number you don’t know. It may be a recording asking you to call a certain number, or from a real person telling you there is an issue with your social security number, or acc…

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by Zak Failla
News
Man Charged With Mailing Letters With White Powder To Federal Offices In NY, CT Man Charged With Mailing Letters With White Powder To Federal Offices In NY, CT
Man Charged With Mailing Letters With White Powder To Federal Offices In NY, CT An area man has been arrested for mailing letters with white powder along with a note implying the substance was Anthrax to federal offices in New York and Connecticut. Jason Pantone, 34, of Hyde Park, was arrested Wednesday, Feb. 27, and appeared in court in Albany on Thursday on charges of conveying false information and hoax, said the U.S. Attorney Grant Jaquith. Pantone is accused of using the U.S. mail to send envelopes containing white power to locations in New York and Connecticut. Each envelope contained suspicious white powder and a note indicating, or implying, that the powde…

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by Kathy Reakes
News
Increase In Fraudulent Phone Calls Reported In Area Increase In Fraudulent Phone Calls Reported In Area
Increase In Fraudulent Phone Calls Reported In Area Police in Fairfield County are warning residents of an increase in fraudulent phone calls from people claiming to be from the Social Security Administration.  The caller threatens legal action if the person answering the phone doesn't comply with their demands.  SSA employees will never threaten you for information; they will not state that you face potential arrest or other legal action if you fail to provide information. In those cases, the call is fraudulent, and you should just hang up. Officials with the agency said they have recent reports have indicated that the calle…

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by Kathy Reakes
News
Don't Fall For It: This Social Security Number Scam Has Cost 35K Victims $10 Million, FTC Says Don't Fall For It: This Social Security Number Scam Has Cost 35K Victims $10 Million, FTC Says
Don't Fall For It: This Social Security Number Scam Has Cost 35K Victims $10 Million, FTC Says A consumer alert has been issued about a new phone scam that has already cost tens of thousands of victims millions. Imposters pretending to be from the Social Security Administration call victims and tell a fake story about their Social Security number being compromised in an attempt to obtain personal information, according to the Federal Trade Commission.  In 2018, the scam cost 35,000 victims $10 million. “To compare: in 2017, we heard from 3,200 people about SSA imposter scams, and those people reported losing nearly $210,000,” the FTC said in a statement. Th…

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by Joe Lombardi
Lifestyle
Oh, Baby: These Are Most Popular Names For Newborn Boys, Girls In CT Oh, Baby: These Are Most Popular Names For Newborn Boys, Girls In CT
Oh, Baby: These Are Most Popular Names For Newborn Boys, Girls In CT Do you know anyone named Olivia? How about Noah? If the answer now is no, that will soon change. The Social Security Administration released its most popular boy and girl baby names of 2017 in each state on Thursday. In Connecticut, there were 230 girls named Olivia, making that name No. 1. For boys, Noah took the top spot, with 222 male toddlers born last year now answering to that name. Here's the breakdown. For girls: 1. Olivia 2. Emma 3. Ava 4. Mia 5. Sophia For boys: 1. Noah 2. Liam 3. Logan 4. Jacob 5. Michael To view the complete list for boys and girls beyond the Top 5, click…

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by Joe Lombardi