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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 Putnam Social Media Accounts: Sheriff Viral Fake Serial Killer Post Appearing On Putnam Social Media Accounts: Sheriff
Viral Fake Serial Killer Post Appearing On Putnam 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 Peekskill Families: Superintendent AI-Enhanced 'Virtual Kidnapping' Scam Targets Peekskill Families: Superintendent
Ai-enhanced 'Virtual Kidnapping' Scam Targets Peekskill 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 Putnam Watch Out! Scammers Use 'Surveillance Video' Ploy to Demand Bitcoin In Putnam
Watch Out! Scammers Use 'Surveillance Video' Ploy to Demand Bitcoin In Putnam 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 Residents In Area Near Putnam County Phone Scam Involving Fake Jury Summons Targets Residents In Area Near Putnam County
Phone Scam Involving Fake Jury Summons Targets Residents In Area Near Putnam County 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