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COVID-19: Alert Issued For Child Tax Credit Payment Scams COVID-19: Alert Issued For Child Tax Credit Payment Scams
Covid-19: Alert Issued For Child Tax Credit Payment Scams Opportunistic fraudsters have taken advantage of some consumers during the COVID-19 pandemic, this time targeting child tax credit payments that have been sent out to assist families. The IRS recently issued an alert after it began sending tens of millions of dollars to families, though scammers have been attempting to pull a fast one over on some to steal thousands of dollars in federal benefits. According to the IRS, scammers have been reaching out to families using emails, text messages, and through social media, asking to verify personal information to receive the child tax credit payme…

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by Zak Failla
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Don't Fall For It: Beware Of 'Boss Scam,' Authorities Say Don't Fall For It: Beware Of 'Boss Scam,' Authorities Say
Don't Fall For It: Beware Of 'Boss Scam,' Authorities Say Officials are cautioning about “boss scams” that have been making the rounds in the region as fraudsters target vulnerable employees as the latest wave of the COVID-19 pandemic surges. New York Attorney General Letitia James issued an alert warning of “boss scams,” which involve scammers using text messages and emails to pose as employers and request gift cards for alleged work emergencies. James said that the scam has been on the rise during the pandemic as many employees have been working remotely for months, some more than a year. According to James, “an employee receives a text or an …

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by Zak Failla
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NY Man Indicted In $700,000 Investment Scheme NY Man Indicted In $700,000 Investment Scheme
NY Man Indicted In $700,000 Investment Scheme A New York man has been indicted for scamming investors out of more than $700,000, authorities announced. Long Island resident Matthew Gallagher, age 37, of Rocky Point, used various investment schemes to scam 24 victims over a period of about four years, according to an investigation by Suffolk County Police and Suffolk County District Attorney Timothy D. Sini. “We have 24 people here who gave their savings to this defendant with the promise of sound investments only to be lied to and swindled out of their hard-earned money,” Sini said. “He was allegedly selling them on investing in b…

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by Joe Lombardi
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NY Man Accused Of Scamming Investors Of Over $700K NY Man Accused Of Scamming Investors Of Over $700K
NY Man Accused Of Scamming Investors Of Over $700K A New York man has been accused of scamming investors of more than $700,000 over the past year and a half, authorities announced. Long Island resident Matthew Gallagher, age 37, of Rocky Point, used investment schemes in fraudulent startup business ventures and insurance-related frauds to scam 16 victims between November 2019 and April 2021, according to an investigation by Suffolk County Police. Gallagher was arrested just before 10 p.m. Wednesday, April 28 at the Seventh Precinct in Shirley, according to police. He was charged with: Two counts of first-degree schemi…

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by Joe Lombardi
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Northern Westchester Man Admits To Scamming Consumers Of $9.5M, DOJ Says Northern Westchester Man Admits To Scamming Consumers Of $9.5M, DOJ Says
Northern Westchester Man Admits To Scamming Consumers Of $9.5M, DOJ Says A New York man who was an executive at a company in Connecticut has admitted to causing more than $9.5 million in losses to consumers across the country. Northern Westchester County resident Norman Newman, age 74, of Croton-on-Hudson,  pleaded guilty today to supplying lists of consumers’ names and addresses for use in schemes that targeted vulnerable victims, according to court documents filed by the United States Department of Justice. From 2005 to 2016, Newman worked as a list broker and senior vice president at Macromark Inc., a Fairfield County-based direct mail services firm…

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by Joe Lombardi
Police & Fire
New Warning Issued For Con Artists Posing As Amazon Workers New Warning Issued For Con Artists Posing As Amazon Workers
New Warning Issued For Con Artists Posing As Amazon Workers Local law enforcement agencies are cautioning area residents to be wary following recent reports of opportunistic fraudsters posing as Amazon employees over the phone to gain access to personal information. Officials said that con artists have been posing as Amazon employees claiming to need verification about their account or that something is wrong with an order, allowing them to attempt stealing their victims’ identities. According to police, once a call is answered, a recorded message will claim to be from Amazon stating there is a problem with their account. Messages included claims …

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by Zak Failla
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Eversource Warns Customers Of New, 'Finetuned' Scams Eversource Warns Customers Of New, 'Finetuned' Scams
Eversource Warns Customers Of New, 'Finetuned' Scams Eversource is cautioning its East Coast utility customers to be wary of fraudsters who have recently been targeting consumers in Connecticut and Massachusetts. This week, Eversource issued an alert after receiving reports of "scam artists aggressively targeting utility customers.” Officials said that new tactics are being used as scammers continue fine-tuning their techniques, including phony caller IDs that display “Eversource” and scripts that sound like a legitimate company representative threatening to disconnect their electric or gas service because of an unpaid bill.  …

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by Zak Failla
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COVID-19: Beware Of These Five New Scammer Tactics, Utility Companies Warn COVID-19: Beware Of These Five New Scammer Tactics, Utility Companies Warn
Covid-19: Beware Of These Five New Scammer Tactics, Utility Companies Warn With the United States crossing a grim milestone as the COVID-19 death toll topped 500,000, utility companies are cautioning about new scams that have arisen in the past year as opportunistic fraudsters look to take advantage of the pandemic. Utility companies across the country have issued alerts regarding new scams as they seek to allow their customers to protect themselves from scammers exploiting the COVID-19 outbreak. According to officials, one of the largest threats involves scammers aggressively threatening to disconnect service, claiming that bills are past due, unless a payment is…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Westchester Woman Scammed Out Of $80K By Fraudsters Posing As Amazon Workers Westchester Woman Scammed Out Of $80K By Fraudsters Posing As Amazon Workers
Westchester Woman Scammed Out Of $80K By Fraudsters Posing As Amazon Workers A New York woman was bilked out of $80,000 by fraudsters posing as Amazon employees as part of an elaborate computer and phone scheme, police said. Last week, investigators in Westchester County with the Scarsdale Police Department received a report from a Greendale Road resident, who said that she believed she was the victim of a scam involving fraudsters portraying Amazon employees. Police said that the woman received an email from “Amazon” earlier this month asking if she had purchased a computer for $800, which she had not. When speaking with the scammers on a phone number provided in …

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Man Nabbed Attempting To Cash Fraudulent Check From Fairfield County Business, Police Say Man Nabbed Attempting To Cash Fraudulent Check From Fairfield County Business, Police Say
Man Nabbed Attempting To Cash Fraudulent Check From Fairfield County Business, Police Say A Connecticut man was busted allegedly attempting to cash a fraudulent check from a Fairfield County business. New Haven County resident Ian Picerno, 39, of Seymour, was arrested on Wednesday, Jan. 13, by Monroe Police for attempting to cash a fraudulent check at Union Savings Bank located at 411 Monroe Turnpike, said Lt. Stephen Corrone. Picerno walked up to the drive-thru window of the bank and attempted to cash a check from an auto body shop in Danbury, Corrone said.  The teller identified the check as being fraudulent and contacted the Monroe Police Department,…

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by Kathy Reakes
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CT Man Accused Of Defrauding Investors CT Man Accused Of Defrauding Investors
CT Man Accused Of Defrauding Investors A Connecticut man has been indicted on 17 counts of allegedly defrauding investors of an alcoholic beverage company. Brian Hughes, 56, of Madison, was indicted on Friday, Jan. 15, following his arrest, said John H. Durham, U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut. The indictment alleges that in March 2015, Hughes founded Handcrafted Brands, for the purpose of raising money to purchase Salute American Vodka, an alcoholic beverage company.  After founding the company, Hughes allegedly solicited and received funds from investors for the purchase and development of Salute.  &nb…

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by Kathy Reakes
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Seven From Westchester Among 12 Gambino Crime Family Members Admitting To Multiple Crimes Seven From Westchester Among 12 Gambino Crime Family Members Admitting To Multiple Crimes
Seven From Westchester Among 12 Gambino Crime Family Members Admitting To Multiple Crimes A dozen members and associates of the Gambino organized crime family of La Cosa Nostra admitted to multiple crimes, including racketeering conspiracy, fraud, obstruction of justice and related offenses for criminal activities throughout the New York metropolitan area committed as part of the illicit activities of the Gambino family. One additional defendant pleaded guilty to filing a false tax return.  The defendants also agreed to pay $1.6 million in penalties. The pleas were entered throughout the past week at federal court in Brooklyn. According to court filings and facts presente…

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by Joe Lombardi