Phone Scams On Rise, Dutchess Sheriff Warns

As the holiday season gets into high gear, the Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents of Dutchess County and surrounding areas about phone scams that seem to be on the increase.

The Dutchess County Sheriff's Office reports a number of phone scams on the rise.
Photo Credit: *File*

Kathy Reakes

11/27/2018 2:58 p.m.

Phone scams are ways in which criminals will attempt to get money from people by calling them and making up elaborate stories. In some cases the perpetrators have tried, sometimes successfully, to use the victim’s emotions about a loved one in trouble to get money.

It’s common for the scammers to try to get money by telling people that one of their relatives has been seriously hurt or is in jail and that they need money right away. In many cases, they will pose as a law enforcement officer or another relative to try and convince the victim that it’s legitimate.

The latest scam, which the Sheriff’s Office received calls about on Monday involved callers identifying themselves as power company employees and telling people that their power would be shut off unless they paid right away.

The Sheriff’s Office would like to offer the following tips for people to avoid these types of scams:

Do not meet up with someone that you don’t know; if you’re asked to do this it is surely a scam, and it is very dangerous as well.
If you’re called by someone you don’t know asking for money, for any reason, that’s a signal that it’s most likely a scam.
If someone calls you and tells you that a relative has been hurt or is in jail, confirm it first before sending any money.
Sending money overseas is especially risky; use extreme caution.
If the person is telling you that a loved one is in the hospital or jail, find out which one and contact the institution yourself to confirm.
If a loved one has recently passed away be wary; in some cases, the scammers have even preyed on victims by searching through the obituaries and calling surviving loved ones. If you get calls from people you don’t know soon after someone passes away, be careful and confirm it before you send any money.

If anyone thinks they may have been the victim of a scam they are encouraged to contact the Sheriff’s Office at 845-486-3800 or via the tip line at 845-605-CLUE or dcsotips@gmail.com.

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