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Father-Daughter Duo Who Stole $230K From Elderly Victim In Hudson Valley Dodges Prison Father-Daughter Duo Who Stole $230K From Elderly Victim In Hudson Valley Dodges Prison
Father-Daughter Duo Who Stole $230K From Elderly Victim In Hudson Valley Dodges Prison A father and daughter who scammed a 92-year-old woman out of more than $230,000 in Ulster County won’t spend a day in prison. Frank Whittaker, 56, of Kingston, and his daughter, Christine Ellsworth, 39, of Accord, were sentenced to probation and ordered to pay restitution in Ulster County Court on Tuesday, March 4. The daddy-daughter duo gained the victim’s trust by helping with yard work and household tasks, according to the New York Attorney General’s office. Over time, Whittaker convinced the woman to grant him Power of Attorney over her finances. But instead of managing her money resp…

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by Michael Mashburn
Business
Scammers Impersonating IRS With These Texts: Here's What To Know Scammers Impersonating IRS With These Texts: Here's What To Know
Scammers Impersonating IRS With These Texts: Here's What To Know A new scam is making the rounds, with fraudsters posing as Internal Revenue Service (IRS) agents and sending text messages promising a substantial rebate.  The trap is a phishing attempt designed to steal your personal and financial information. What’s Happening? The fraudulent messages claim recipients are eligible for a $1,400 stimulus check, directing them to click on a fake link to “claim” their payment.  How The Scam Works You receive a text message appearing to be from the IRS, stating that you’re owed an Economic Impact Payment and must provide personal information …

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by Joe Lombardi
Police & Fire
Scammers Posing As Police, Threatening Deportation Unless Cash Is Given In Westchester Scammers Posing As Police, Threatening Deportation Unless Cash Is Given In Westchester
Scammers Posing As Police, Threatening Deportation Unless Cash Is Given In Westchester A police department in Westchester is alerting residents about a scam involving a caller impersonating law enforcement and threatening arrest or deportation unless they receive a payment. The City of Rye Police Department issued a warning to residents regarding the scam on Wednesday, Feb. 12, saying that the callers will try intimidating victims into paying up.  According to the department, the scammer claims to be serving legal notice and demands immediate payment, often threatening arrest, fines, or deportation if the victim does not comply.  "The goal is to scare you into…

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by Ben Crnic
Police & Fire
Scammers Claim Relatives Are in Trouble Over Phone Calls In Hudson Valley, Police Say Scammers Claim Relatives Are in Trouble Over Phone Calls In Hudson Valley, Police Say
Scammers Claim Relatives Are in Trouble Over Phone Calls In Hudson Valley, Police Say Authorities in Dutchess County are urging residents to stay vigilant as scammers increasingly target unsuspecting victims and claim their loved ones are in trouble.  The Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office issued a public warning on Wednesday, Feb. 5 about an increasing number of phone scams, many of which prey on emotions by falsely claiming a loved one has been hurt or arrested. Scammers often impersonate law enforcement officials or relatives, pressuring victims into sending money immediately.  One of the latest scams reported involves fraudsters calling victims and claiming that …

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by Ben Crnic
Police & Fire
Viral Fake Serial Killer Post Appearing On Hudson Valley Social Media Accounts: Sheriff Viral Fake Serial Killer Post Appearing On Hudson Valley Social Media Accounts: Sheriff
Viral Fake Serial Killer Post Appearing On Hudson Valley Social Media Accounts: Sheriff Authorities in the Hudson Valley are cautioning residents to be vigilant about a fake social media post that has been circulating nationwide and is now appearing on local accounts.  In an announcement on Monday, Jan. 13, the Putnam County Sheriff's Office said the fraudulent post warns of a "serial killer on the loose," featuring an image of a supposed suspect and victim names.  However, the Sheriff's Office has confirmed that there is no validity to the post.  According to authorities, scammers often use these posts to manipulate users. Once shared, the original c…

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by Ben Crnic
News
2025 Tax Season Begins: What You Need To Know About Expanded Options, New Tools 2025 Tax Season Begins: What You Need To Know About Expanded Options, New Tools
2025 Tax Season Begins: What You Need To Know About Expanded Options, New Tools Early filers, get ready. The 2025 tax season is here! The IRS will start accepting and processing tax returns on Monday, Jan. 27, the agency said in a news release. IRS Free File also became available on Friday, Jan. 10 to taxpayers who qualify through private-sector partners. With more than 140 million tax returns expected, the IRS urged taxpayers to take advantage of updated online resources and consider using trusted tax preparers to avoid scams. "This has been a historic period of improvement for the IRS, and people will see additional tools and features to help them with filing their …

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by Chris Spiker
News
AI-Enhanced 'Virtual Kidnapping' Scam Targets Westchester Families: Superintendent AI-Enhanced 'Virtual Kidnapping' Scam Targets Westchester Families: Superintendent
Ai-enhanced 'Virtual Kidnapping' Scam Targets Westchester Families: Superintendent A Northern Westchester school district is alerting families after two local households received virtual extortion calls involving scammers who claimed to have kidnapped loved ones.  In a letter to families on Wednesday, Jan. 8, Peekskill City School District Superintendent David Mauricio said two households received "Virtual Kidnapping Extortion Calls," a sophisticated scam where perpetrators falsely claim to have kidnapped a loved one and demand ransom payments.  Using artificial intelligence (AI), these scammers are now replicating family members' voices to make the threats…

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by Ben Crnic
Police & Fire
Watch Out! Scammers Use 'Surveillance Video' Ploy to Demand Bitcoin In Hudson Valley Watch Out! Scammers Use 'Surveillance Video' Ploy to Demand Bitcoin In Hudson Valley
Watch Out! Scammers Use 'Surveillance Video' Ploy to Demand Bitcoin In Hudson Valley Authorities in the Hudson Valley are warning residents of scammers claiming to have surveillance video of victims as part of a blackmail scheme.  In an announcement on Tuesday, Jan. 7, the Carmel Police Department in Putnam County said they had received reports of an email scam targeting those in the area.  According to the department, the scammers may include victims' accurate names and addresses in emails and will claim to have surveillance footage of them.  The sender will then request a "confidentiality tip" or "privacy tip" payment in Bitcoin, police said. To avoid fal…

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by Ben Crnic
Business
Don't Fall For It: New Twist On Imposter Fraud Targets Your Money, Personal Info Don't Fall For It: New Twist On Imposter Fraud Targets Your Money, Personal Info
Don't Fall For It: New Twist On Imposter Fraud Targets Your Money, Personal Info The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is sounding the alarm on a sophisticated new imposter scheme designed to steal your money and personal information.  These scams are becoming increasingly convincing, but learning to spot the red flags can help you stay protected. How the Scam Works Initial Contact: Scammers pose as representatives from well-known companies, such as Amazon or a tech support service. They’ll claim there’s a routine issue, like suspicious charges on your account, a computer virus, or an account breach. Escalation: The scammers lie, saying your name is tied to serious …

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by Joe Lombardi
Police & Fire
Phone Scam Involving Fake Jury Summons Targets Hudson Valley Residents Phone Scam Involving Fake Jury Summons Targets Hudson Valley Residents
Phone Scam Involving Fake Jury Summons Targets Hudson Valley Residents Authorities are warning Hudson Valley residents about a phone scam in which callers impersonate sheriff’s office personnel and demand payment via gift cards.  The scam has been reported in Putnam County, the county's Sheriff's Office announced on Friday, Nov. 22. According to authorities, the caller claims to be “Sergeant Cook” from the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office and falsely states that the recipient failed to respond to a jury summons. The scammer then threatens that a warrant will be issued for the recipient’s arrest unless they pay using gift cards. The Sheriff’s Office emphasi…

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by Ben Crnic
Police & Fire
Scammer Calling Victims, Posing As Police In Westchester Scammer Calling Victims, Posing As Police In Westchester
Scammer Calling Victims, Posing As Police In Westchester Authorities in Westchester are warning residents to be wary of a caller posing as police who asks about personal information.  In an announcement on Friday, Nov. 15, the Westchester County Police Department advised residents about a scheme involving a scammer posing as officers over the phone.  According to the department, the scammer will call residents and claim to be from the "Westchester County Sheriff's Department."  They will then tell victims that they have failed to report for jury duty before seeking to "verify" personal information, police said. "This is a scam. A…

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by Ben Crnic
Police & Fire
Construction Scammers Targeting Residents In Westchester: Here's Where Construction Scammers Targeting Residents In Westchester: Here's Where
Construction Scammers Targeting Residents In Westchester: Here's Where A police department in Westchester is warning residents to be on the lookout for potential scammers claiming to be associated with local construction work.  In an announcement on Friday, Nov. 1, the Tarrytown Police Department described an incident involving possible scammers approaching residents in the area of Wilson Park.  According to the department, on Wednesday, Oct. 30, an unidentified man approached a homeowner in the area and said he was associated with local construction work, also mentioning "police" presence.  When the resident asked for more details about his co…

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by Ben Crnic
Police & Fire
Scammers Posing As Police In Westchester, Asking Victims To Pay Fines Scammers Posing As Police In Westchester, Asking Victims To Pay Fines
Scammers Posing As Police In Westchester, Asking Victims To Pay Fines A police department in Westchester is warning residents of scammers posing as officers over the phone and claiming that victims face criminal charges unless they pay up.  According to an announcement made by Port Chester Police on Friday, Oct. 11, residents in the village have been receiving phone calls from those claiming to be officers from the department.  The caller ID will often show as the Port Chester Police Department for these calls, police said. According to the department, the caller will state that the victim is under indictment or faces criminal charges while adding …

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by Ben Crnic
Police & Fire
Scammers Posing As Members Of Eastchester Police Department Scammers Posing As Members Of Eastchester Police Department
Scammers Posing As Members Of Eastchester Police Department A police department in Westchester is warning residents against a scheme involving callers posing as officers and asking for personal information. In an announcement on Wednesday, Sept. 25, Eastchester Police detailed a scam involving callers posing as department members. According to police, the scammers pretend to be officers and try to solicit personal information from callers.  They are also able to display the department's phone number on victims' caller IDs, police added.  The department advised residents that they would never contact them to obtain personal information an…

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by Ben Crnic
News
Warning Issued For Nationwide Automated 'Sextortion' Scam: Here's What To Know Warning Issued For Nationwide Automated 'Sextortion' Scam: Here's What To Know
Warning Issued For Nationwide Automated 'Sextortion' Scam: Here's What To Know Authorities are warning the public of a nationwide automated scam in which scammers use people’s email addresses to coerce payments by intimidating them with threats of embarrassment. Victims of the "sextortion" scheme, usually children and teens, are manipulated to photograph or video material for extortionists. "After receiving the sexually explicit content from the child, the offender threatens to release that compromising material unless the victim produces additional explicit material," said the FBI in issuing the warning to parents, educators, caregivers, and children. In a sepa…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
Scam Alert: Callers Posing As Police Sergeant, Demanding Cash In Hudson Valley Scam Alert: Callers Posing As Police Sergeant, Demanding Cash In Hudson Valley
Scam Alert: Callers Posing As Police Sergeant, Demanding Cash In Hudson Valley Authorities in the Hudson Valley are warning residents to be wary of phone scammers posing as police to demand cash from victims.  The scheme was detailed in an announcement by the Putnam County Sheriff's Office on Friday, Aug. 23, in which authorities said they had received reports of fraudulent calls to residents in the county.  According to the Sheriff's Office, the caller has been posing as a sergeant from the office and asking for cash for missed jury duty fines.  In their announcement, the office said they would never make such calls or request payments for jury d…

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by Ben Crnic
Police & Fire
Scam Alert: Callers Posing As Homeland Security, Targeting Hudson Valley Businesses Scam Alert: Callers Posing As Homeland Security, Targeting Hudson Valley Businesses
Scam Alert: Callers Posing As Homeland Security, Targeting Hudson Valley Businesses Authorities are warning those in the Hudson Valley to be wary of callers posing as government agencies and claiming that victims' computers have been compromised.  The scam was detailed in an announcement by the Putnam County Sheriff's Office on Wednesday, July 17, in which authorities said that businesses in the area have received calls from entities claiming to be from the United States Department of Homeland Security or other agencies.  The caller will tell victims that their business's computer has been compromised and that they will help clean up malware and investigate …

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by Ben Crnic
News
Alert Issued In Hudson Valley For Parking Ticket Scam: What To Watch For Alert Issued In Hudson Valley For Parking Ticket Scam: What To Watch For
Alert Issued In Hudson Valley For Parking Ticket Scam: What To Watch For A Hudson Valley elected official is warning residents to be wary of fake texts asking them to pay unpaid parking tickets.  In a post on X on Monday, July 1, New York Assemblyman Matt Slater, who represents parts of Putnam and Northern Westchester, warned residents of a fake text scheme involving scammers claiming that victims owe unpaid parking invoices in New York City.  According to Slater, the texts will claim that victims will owe an additional charge of $25 unless they settle their balance. They will also contain a link where victims can settle their "balance."  "Don't …

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by Ben Crnic
News
Scam Alert: Police In Region Warn Of Fake Jury Duty Phone Calls Scam Alert: Police In Region Warn Of Fake Jury Duty Phone Calls
Scam Alert: Police In Region Warn Of Fake Jury Duty Phone Calls Authorities alerted residents to be on high alert after multiple people got phony calls about attending jury duty. The Fairfield County warning was made on Friday, June 28 by police in the town of Ridgefield. According to the local authorities, several residents had been contacted about attending jury duty by somebody using a phone number with the area code 203. The scammer claimed to be a Sergeant from the Fairfield County Sheriff's Office. Police emphasized that these calls (and sometimes emails) are scams, and that court officers will never ask for information such as a Social Secu…

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by Sophie Grieser
Police & Fire
Scammers Posing As Law Enforcement, Sending Fake Letters To Victims In Hudson Valley Scammers Posing As Law Enforcement, Sending Fake Letters To Victims In Hudson Valley
Scammers Posing As Law Enforcement, Sending Fake Letters To Victims In Hudson Valley Authorities in the region are warning residents of a scheme involving scammers posing as law enforcement and sending victims fake letters to convince them they are in trouble with the law.  The scam, detailed in an announcement from the Dutchess County Sheriff's Office on Friday, June 28, involves suspects contacting victims and posing as law enforcement before telling them they are wanted for a crime.  The Sheriff's Office added that the scammer will then tell the victim they need to pay cash to satisfy the warrant or charges.  To further convince victims that the request i…

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by Ben Crnic
Police & Fire
Phone Scam: Man Nabbed After Swindling Victim Out Of $28K In Westchester, Police Say Phone Scam: Man Nabbed After Swindling Victim Out Of $28K In Westchester, Police Say
Phone Scam: Man Nabbed After Swindling Victim Out Of $28K In Westchester, Police Say A 48-year-old man was hit with a grand larceny charge after posing as a Microsoft employee and scamming a victim out of $28,000 in Northern Westchester, police announced. The arrest stemmed from an incident on Thursday, April 18, when a victim told Bedford Police that he had been swindled out of tens of thousands of dollars, the department announced on Wednesday, April 24.  According to Bedford Police, the victim had received a pop-up security alert appearing to be from "Microsoft" on their home computer that included a phone number to call for support. Upon calling the number, the vic…

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by Ben Crnic
Police & Fire
Scammers Posing As NYSP Troopers, Agency Warns Scammers Posing As NYSP Troopers, Agency Warns
Scammers Posing As Nysp Troopers, Agency Warns New York State Police are sounding the alarm over scammers posing as troopers in order to con victims out of their money. In an alert issued Tuesday, April 9, the agency said fraudsters employ a variety of tactics to con their victims, including demanding payment for a missed court date, jury duty, or other legal matter. The phony cops have also been known to claim there is a warrant for the victim’s arrest and threaten to apprehend them unless a fine is paid. In some cases, scammers have directed the victim to buy a prepaid money transfer card and give them the card number. “They might s…

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by Michael Mashburn
Police & Fire
Scammers From NY Thinking They Were Collecting $60K Land Behind Bars In Maryland: Sheriff Scammers From NY Thinking They Were Collecting $60K Land Behind Bars In Maryland: Sheriff
Scammers From NY Thinking They Were Collecting $60K Land Behind Bars In Maryland: Sheriff A couple of New Yorkers tried to pull a fast one on a woman in Maryland, but were ultimately apprehended after getting greedy and attempting to go to the well one too many times.  The Washington County Sheriff's Office was advised this week about a scam involving a pair who had been collecting large amounts of cash from a Hagerstown woman, prompting an investigation that led to the arrests of Jinghai Fang and Binbin Ge. In late March, investigators say that the woman received a notification on her tablet that one of her accounts had been hacked, so she called the supplied number and fo…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Scam Alert: Suspect Demanding Payment For Missed Jury Duty In Westchester, Police Warn Scam Alert: Suspect Demanding Payment For Missed Jury Duty In Westchester, Police Warn
Scam Alert: Suspect Demanding Payment For Missed Jury Duty In Westchester, Police Warn Authorities in Westchester are advising residents of a scam involving a suspect posing as law enforcement and demanding payment for missed jury duty.  The scheme was announced on Friday, Jan. 12 by White Plains Public Safety, which said that the scams have been reported in other jurisdictions.  According to police, victims of the scam will receive a phone call from someone claiming to be a law enforcement official. The caller will then tell the victim that they missed jury duty and will demand a payment.  Additionally, the suspect will tell the victim that if they do not sen…

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by Ben Crnic
Police & Fire
Scammers Posing As Court Officials, Claiming Victims Owe Parking Ticket Fines In Westchester Scammers Posing As Court Officials, Claiming Victims Owe Parking Ticket Fines In Westchester
Scammers Posing As Court Officials, Claiming Victims Owe Parking Ticket Fines In Westchester A police department in Westchester is advising residents of a scheme involving scammers posing as court officials and asking victims to pay hundreds of dollars after claiming they owe parking ticket fines.  The scam was detailed in an announcement by the Port Chester Police Department on Thursday, Jan. 11.  According to the department, victims of the scheme have reported being called by someone claiming that they owe several thousand dollars in parking ticket fines to the Port Chester Courts.  The victims are then offered a "plea deal" in which they can pay several hund…

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by Ben Crnic
Police & Fire
Police Warn Of Scam Letters Asking For Donations In Hudson Valley: 'Be Vigilant' Police Warn Of Scam Letters Asking For Donations In Hudson Valley: 'Be Vigilant'
Police Warn Of Scam Letters Asking For Donations In Hudson Valley: 'Be Vigilant' Authorities in the Hudson Valley are warning residents to be on the lookout for letters soliciting funds that falsely appear to be sent on behalf of law enforcement.  In a warning issued on Monday, Dec. 4, the Putnam County Sheriff's Office advised residents that they may receive letters soliciting donations that appear to be sent on behalf of the Sheriff's Office.  However, the senders are not associated with the Sheriff's Office in any way, authorities said, adding that they are part of a "potential scam."  The Sheriff's Office released an image depicting these letters on …

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by Ben Crnic
Police & Fire
Woman Victimized By Scammer Posing As Family Member Over Phone In Westchester Woman Victimized By Scammer Posing As Family Member Over Phone In Westchester
Woman Victimized By Scammer Posing As Family Member Over Phone In Westchester Residents are being warned to be cautious after a woman in New York was contacted by a scammer who posed as her family member in an effort to solicit money from her.  The Westchester County incident happened to a member of the Port Chester Senior Community Center on Wednesday, Oct. 11, when she was victimized by a "grandparent scam," according to an announcement from the center shared by the Port Chester Police Department. According to the community center, the woman received a call from someone who sounded like her grandchild, who said that they were in trouble and needed money …

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by Ben Crnic
Police & Fire
Duo Nabbed After Scamming Couple Out Of $9K In Westchester: Police Duo Nabbed After Scamming Couple Out Of $9K In Westchester: Police
Duo Nabbed After Scamming Couple Out Of $9K In Westchester: Police Two men face grand larceny charges after scamming a Westchester couple out of $9,000 by posing as their family member, police said. The arrests stemmed from an incident on Friday, Sept. 15, when an elderly couple living in Harrison received a phone call from someone claiming to be their grandson who claimed they needed money to make bail after being arrested for a DUI offense, Harrison Police announced.  The couple then traveled to a bank and took out $9,000 in cash in order to help their "grandson," not realizing that they were being scammed. Two men, identified as Bronx residents De…

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by Ben Crnic
Police & Fire
Scam Alert: Callers Falsely Posing As 'Westchester Sheriff,' Police Say Scam Alert: Callers Falsely Posing As 'Westchester Sheriff,' Police Say
Scam Alert: Callers Falsely Posing As 'Westchester Sheriff,' Police Say Authorities in Westchester are warning residents of a scam involving callers falsely posing as police and claiming that there is a warrant out for the arrest of the victim.  The scam has consisted of callers pretending to be from the “Westchester County Sheriff’s Office," which does not exist, the Westchester County Police Department announced on Friday, Sept. 22.  According to the department, the police impersonators will then proceed to claim that there is a warrant for the arrest of the victim being contacted for failure to appear for grand jury duty. The scammers will al…

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by Ben Crnic
Police & Fire
Suspects Steal Cash, Jewelry Using Sleight Hand Techniques In Westchester: Police Suspects Steal Cash, Jewelry Using Sleight Hand Techniques In Westchester: Police
Suspects Steal Cash, Jewelry Using Sleight Hand Techniques In Westchester: Police Two patrons of a bank and supermarket in Northern Westchester became the victims of four scammers who used sleight-of-hand techniques to steal both cash and jewelry from them, police said.  Both incidents happened within a few days of each other in Yorktown, the town's police department announced on Wednesday, Aug. 23, in addition to releasing surveillance photos of the four suspects.  The first theft happened at an unnamed bank in Jefferson Valley when a senior citizen was approached by a woman wearing a baseball cap after withdrawing funds from the bank and getting in her vehicl…

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by Ben Crnic
Police & Fire
Social Security Phone Scams On Rise In Westchester: Here's How To Tell Social Security Phone Scams On Rise In Westchester: Here's How To Tell
Social Security Phone Scams On Rise In Westchester: Here's How To Tell Police in Northern Westchester are warning residents of a scam involving criminals posing as Social Security Administration officials and asking for personal information, which they say is becoming more common.  The warning came on Thursday, Aug. 10 from the North Castle Police Department, which said that there has been an uptick in unsolicited calls from people claiming to be from the federal Social Security Administration.  According to the department, victims contacted by scammers will be told that they are eligible for an increase in their Social Security checks.  Howeve…

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by Ben Crnic