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Scams

Police & Fire
$250K Scam: Brooklyn Man Nabbed For Alleged Long Island Scheme $250K Scam: Brooklyn Man Nabbed For Alleged Long Island Scheme
$250K Scam: Brooklyn Man Nabbed For Alleged Long Island Scheme A 27-year-old was nabbed after police said he scammed a Long Island resident out of hundreds of thousands of dollars. Nassau County Police announced the arrest of Brooklyn resident Jamario Smellie on Friday, April 5 for the Valley Stream incident that occurred months prior. In September 2022, Smellie reportedly called his victim, a 94-year-old man, at his home. He claimed to work for Publishers Clearing House and told the Valley Stream victim that he had won a large sum of money, but first needed to pay taxes before he could take home his winnings. Believing the scammer, the victim wr…

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by Sophie Grieser
Police & Fire
Don't Fall For It: Driveway Paving Scams On Rise In NY Don't Fall For It: Driveway Paving Scams On Rise In NY
Don't Fall For It: Driveway Paving Scams On Rise In NY Police are warning of an uptick in scammers hoping to take advantage of the warmer spring weather. Each year, agencies across the country see an increase in complaints about fraudsters who bait homeowners with driveway paving services, according to the North Greenbush Police Department in New York. “As the trees sprout leaf buds and the daffodils peek out of their underground hiding, so must the scam artists offering to pave or sealcoat your driveway for the low low price of only five times what it would cost for a legitimate business to do it,” the agency said on Facebook. “And they must b…

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by Michael Mashburn
News
New Yorkers At Risk Of Scam Calls, Attorney General Warns New Yorkers At Risk Of Scam Calls, Attorney General Warns
New Yorkers At Risk Of Scam Calls, Attorney General Warns As New Yorkers across the state report being contacted by scammers impersonating their banks, officials are cautioning consumers to keep their eyes peeled. In a statement on Friday, Oct. 27, NY Attorney General Letitia James provided tips to avoid getting scammed by callers pretending to be bank or government officials. “Scammers claiming to be a trusted bank, or any institution relied on for financial services, can seriously harm New Yorkers by taking their money and their personal information,” she said. James said the Office of the Attorney General has been receiving calls from New Y…

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by Sophie Grieser
Police & Fire
Nearly $400K Gold Bar Scam: Long Island Woman Conned Out Of Savings, Police Say Nearly $400K Gold Bar Scam: Long Island Woman Conned Out Of Savings, Police Say
Nearly $400K Gold Bar Scam: Long Island Woman Conned Out Of Savings, Police Say Two men were arrested after scamming a Long Island woman out of hundreds of thousands of her personal savings, police said. A 76-year-old Westbury woman received multiple calls from scammers who eventually got her to take out nearly $400,000 worth of her money and use it to purchase gold bars which the con artists then took from her, according to Nassau County Police. The first incident occurred on Friday, May 19, when the woman received a call from an unknown man claiming that her computer had been compromised and she needed to secure her finances. In order to do that, the scammer alle…

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by Sophie Grieser
Police & Fire
$200,000 ‘Winner’ Scam Targets Long Island Woman: Police $200,000 ‘Winner’ Scam Targets Long Island Woman: Police
$200,000 ‘Winner’ Scam Targets Long Island Woman: Police A Long Island woman was scammed out of over $200,000 total in a scheme that made her believe she was the winner of millions. On Thursday, May 4, a 75-year-old Seaford resident received a call from a stranger who told her that she was the winner of a $6 million prize from Publisher’s Clearing House, according to Nassau County police. However, the scammer told the woman that she needed to pay the taxes on the winnings prior to receiving them. Over the next week, the woman made multiple withdrawals totaling $136,300 and sent the payments to an address in Florida. In addition, the woman se…

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by Sophie Grieser
Police & Fire
$185K Scam: Fake Arrest Scheme Costs Long Island Woman Thousands, Police Say $185K Scam: Fake Arrest Scheme Costs Long Island Woman Thousands, Police Say
$185K Scam: Fake Arrest Scheme Costs Long Island Woman Thousands, Police Say Authorities are asking the community to be on high alert for scams after a local woman was swindled out of nearly $200,000. From Wednesday, April 26 to Monday, May 8, a 78-year-old Wantagh woman received calls from someone claiming to be her grandson, the Nassau County Police said. The suspect pretending to be the woman’s grandson reportedly told her that he needed money for bail and instructed the victim to withdraw money from her bank and send it to various locations. Over the course of nearly two weeks, the victim had complied multiple times, transferring a total of $185,325 from her…

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by Sophie Grieser
News
$5 Million Fraud Scheme: Man Who Scammed Suffolk County Resident Indicted $5 Million Fraud Scheme: Man Who Scammed Suffolk County Resident Indicted
$5 Million Fraud Scheme: Man Who Scammed Suffolk County Resident Indicted The scammer, along with co-conspirators, conned a Long Island man out of approximately $5.3 million, which they spent nearly all of. On Tuesday, April 25 at the Central Islip federal court, the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, along with a New York FBI director, announced the charges against Odera Odabi. Odabi is charged with conspiring to commit mail fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering, according to the announcement. The 54-year-old Georgia man is alleged to have falsely informed a Suffolk County resident (known in the case as John Doe) that he needed to p…

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by Sophie Grieser
News
String Of Scams Steals Over $500,000 From Long Island Residents String Of Scams Steals Over $500,000 From Long Island Residents
String Of Scams Steals Over $500,000 From Long Island Residents Three separate scams, all happening in the span of a week, have targeted older Nassau residents and cost them thousands of dollars each. On Monday, April 24, the Nassau County Police Department reported a string of cons that targeted the citizens, all of whom were over the age of 65. The first reported incident happened in Farmingdale on Thursday, April 6, when detectives reported that a 69-year-old woman received a call from someone claiming to be an Apple employee. The scammer convinced the victim that her computer and all accounts had been compromised. In order to keep her money s…

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by Sophie Grieser
Police & Fire
Bad Apple: LI Woman Wires $4K To Phone Scammer Posing As Tech Support Bad Apple: LI Woman Wires $4K To Phone Scammer Posing As Tech Support
Bad Apple: LI Woman Wires $4K To Phone Scammer Posing As Tech Support A Long Island woman who needed technical support was instead scammed out of thousands, police said. Nassau County Police reported the incident, which happened on Thursday, April 6 when a Thomaston woman’s computer appeared to have contracted a virus at around 4:15 p.m. The woman allegedly Googled “Apple Support” and called a number that the search provided. She then spoke to an unknown man, police said, who identified himself as “Apple Support” and instructed her to download an app called AnyDesk. AnyDesk allows a user to access another’s device remotely. Then, the scammer allegedly …

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by Sophie Grieser
Police & Fire
Long Island Woman, 82, Scammed Out Of Thousands Long Island Woman, 82, Scammed Out Of Thousands
Long Island Woman, 82, Scammed Out Of Thousands Police on Long Island are investigating an elderly scam in which an 82-year-old woman was taken for almost $10,000. The incident took place in Nassau County on Wednesday, Feb. 22 in Westbury. According to Nassau County detectives, the woman received a phone call from a man she believed to be her grandson who claimed he was arrested in Pennsylvania and asked for $9,400 dollars to pay for a lawyer.  The woman agreed to meet and exchanged the money with an unknown man. The subject took the money and left on foot, police said. A short time later, the woman was contact…

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by Kathy Reakes
News
Suffolk County Couple's Life Savings Recovered After Stolen By Scammer Suffolk County Couple's Life Savings Recovered After Stolen By Scammer
Suffolk County Couple's Life Savings Recovered After Stolen By Scammer Authorities recovered hundreds of thousands of dollars that were stolen from a Long Island couple in an internet phishing scam. Investigators recovered more than $330,000 after the funds were stolen from a Suffolk County husband and wife, Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney announced on Wednesday, Nov. 30. On or about Tuesday, Sept. 20, the victims had the funds stolen from them by a scammer in Kolkata, India, who made false claims and manipulated electronic banking information to convince the couple that the money needed to be refunded after it had been erroneously deposited i…

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by Nicole Valinote
Police & Fire
Police Issue New Warning For 'Difficult To Investigate' Scams Police Issue New Warning For 'Difficult To Investigate' Scams
Police Issue New Warning For 'Difficult To Investigate' Scams Police are warning the public about a new increase in scams that are "difficult to investigate." The scams, which take place all over the country, have also been reported region. "Even though the police may be made aware of these types of cases, they can be difficult to investigate because many times the suspects are in another country or quickly leave the scene where very little suspect information is available," the Trumbull Police Department in Fairfield County, Connecticut, said. Here's a list of the types of scams: The caller claimed to be a family member that has an illness or was …

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by Kathy Reakes
Police & Fire
Police Warn Of Scams After Intercepting Cash Shipments In Suffolk Police Warn Of Scams After Intercepting Cash Shipments In Suffolk
Police Warn Of Scams After Intercepting Cash Shipments In Suffolk Police are investigating two scams after intercepting shipments of thousands of dollars sent to addresses on Long Island. The Suffolk County Police Department reported that in the first case, a man contacted a 77-year-old Oklahoma woman on Tuesday, March 15, and claimed her grandson was arrested for running a red light in Kansas. The woman was told to send $4,000 to an address in Huntington Station so she could pay her grandson's bail, SCPD reported.  In the second case, a 66-year-old Maryland man received an email that said his computer had been infected with a virus and tech support…

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by Nicole Valinote
Police & Fire
Don't Fall For Them: State Police Issue Alert On Scams Asking For Large Sums Of Money Don't Fall For Them: State Police Issue Alert On Scams Asking For Large Sums Of Money
Don't Fall For Them: State Police Issue Alert On Scams Asking For Large Sums Of Money Police have issued an alert about recent scams targeting residents for large sums of money in New York State. In the past month, state police in Columbia County have been investigating reports of a scam where callers pretend that the victim's grandchild or relative has been arrested and a bail bondsman needs to be paid, New York State Police reported. Police said in certain cases, as much as $30,000 has been requested. In a recent incident, victims left $12,000 outside of their home to be picked up. Victims have also sent the money through the mail. State Police said scammers have also re…

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by Nicole Valinote
Police & Fire
Duo Arrested In Suffolk County For Alleged Attempt To Scam Woman Of $50K Duo Arrested In Suffolk County For Alleged Attempt To Scam Woman Of $50K
Duo Arrested In Suffolk County For Alleged Attempt To Scam Woman Of $50K Two men were nabbed for allegedly trying to scam a woman out of $50,000 on Long Island. A Michigan woman received a call from an individual saying her grandson had been arrested after a motor vehicle crash and needed bail money, according to the Suffolk County Police Department.  On Friday, Aug. 20, the woman sent $10,000 in cash to an address in Brooklyn, SCPD reported. Police said the woman later received a call from a man who said a pregnant woman's unborn child had been killed in the crash, and he said she needed to send $40,000 in cash to an address in West Babylon. Authorities …

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by Nicole Valinote
Business
Hundreds Of Unexpected Amazon Packages Delivered To Home In New York Hundreds Of Unexpected Amazon Packages Delivered To Home In New York
Hundreds Of Unexpected Amazon Packages Delivered To Home In New York Hundreds of unexpected and unwanted packages from Amazon were sent to a New York home as part of what could potentially be a scam, officials said. Dozens of boxes arrived daily from Amazon, UPS and FedEx were delivered to upstate New York resident Jillian Canaan recently, despite her and her family not ordering any packages. According to WIVB-TV, Canaan, who runs a studio in the Buffalo area, initially believed that the packages could be for the family’s studio, but upon closer inspection, she found that while it was her home address listed on the boxes, it wasn’t in her name. Inside the …

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: Beware Of These Vaccine, Stimulus Scams, NY Attorney General Says COVID-19: Beware Of These Vaccine, Stimulus Scams, NY Attorney General Says
Covid-19: Beware Of These Vaccine, Stimulus Scams, NY Attorney General Says Opportunistic fraudsters have been taking advantage of the COVID-19 pandemic recently, prompting Attorney General Letitia James to issue a warning to New Yorkers. James said that New Yorkers should remain vigilant about scams related to the COVID-19 pandemic, specifically vaccine and stimulus check schemes that have become more prevalent as the country combats the spread of the virus. 
“As more New Yorkers become eligible for the vaccine that will help prevent the spread of the disease and a new round of stimulus payments are sent out to combat the economic fallout of the pandemic, scammers…

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by Zak Failla
News
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
News
State Police Issue Alert For Pet Scam State Police Issue Alert For Pet Scam
State Police Issue Alert For Pet Scam New York State Police have received multiple calls from people scammed out of hundreds of dollars after answering classified ads for purebred puppies for sale. Victims report after answering the ad, the suspects provide a photo of the breed they are looking for and arrange a deposit to be paid, said Trooper James O’Callaghan. Once the deposit is cleared, the victim is provided an address, which does not exist, to pick up their puppy.  Recently, these fake addresses have been in the St. Lawrence County area. State Police warn the public of some common themes in this scam: The…

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by Kathy Reakes
News
Here Are Four Ways To Avoid Stimulus Check Scams Here Are Four Ways To Avoid Stimulus Check Scams
Here Are Four Ways To Avoid Stimulus Check Scams Consumer protection and law enforcement agencies are warning people to be wary of scams associated with stimulus checks. To avoid scammers, the Department of Consumer Protection is circulating tips on how to identify, stop, and/or report fraudsters going after stimulus checks. The second round of stimulus checks to help Americans deal with an economy hampered by COVID-19 began arriving in people’s mailboxes and direct-deposit accounts in late December. Single people will get $600, a married couple will get $1,200, and there will be an additional $600 per child to families. Everyone who qual…

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by Kristin Palpini
News
COVID-19: Beware Of These Vaccine Scams, FBI, DOJ Warn COVID-19: Beware Of These Vaccine Scams, FBI, DOJ Warn
Covid-19: Beware Of These Vaccine Scams, FBI, DOJ Warn Scammers are using the arrival of COVID-19 vaccines in the United States to trick people into paying for doses or early access that never comes, federal authorities are warning. As COVID-19 vaccines become more available, there has been a spike in scams seeking to exploit people’s desire to protect themselves and their loved ones from the virus, according to the U.S. Department of Justice as well as local police departments and other law enforcement agencies. “Members of the public should be suspicious of unexpected or unsolicited contact from anyone unknown to them claiming to have inform…

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by Kristin Palpini
News
COVID-19: Alert Issued For Fake Mask Exempt Cards Being Sold Online COVID-19: Alert Issued For Fake Mask Exempt Cards Being Sold Online
Covid-19: Alert Issued For Fake Mask Exempt Cards Being Sold Online While mask-wearing amid the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has become politicized, federal officials are cautioning of a new scam for fraudulent face mask exempt flyers that have been circulating online. The Department of Justice has issued a warning of a card that has been circulating online which falsely claims its holder is exempt from wearing a mask - contrary to local, state, and federal mandates. The cards are purportedly from the “Freedom to Breathe Agency” - which is not an official federal or state agency - and states that wearing a mask will incur mental or physical risk fo…

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by Zak Failla
News
Here's How You Can Avoid Being Reeled In By Mail Fishing Here's How You Can Avoid Being Reeled In By Mail Fishing
Here's How You Can Avoid Being Reeled In By Mail Fishing Though it’s not officially fishing season, police are cautioning area residents to be wary of scammers going “fishing” in United States Postal Service mailboxes. Law enforcement agencies in the tri-state area issued alerts warning of scammers who have been making the rounds “fishing” in USPS mailboxes in an attempt to steal checks and personal information. Police said that “mail fishing” is a crime that involves thieves using a weighted object that is attached to a string or wire and covered in a sticky substance to retrieve mail from out of postal boxes. According to police, “‘mail fisher…

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: Beware Of Scammers Posing As Contact Tracers, FTC Says COVID-19: Beware Of Scammers Posing As Contact Tracers, FTC Says
Covid-19: Beware Of Scammers Posing As Contact Tracers, FTC Says Some opportunistic fraudsters are taking advantage of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis by posing as contact tracers hired by the state to obtain personal information and money. Since the outbreak began, state officials have stressed the importance of ramping up COVID-19 testing, then tracing the people they’ve come into contact with, and isolating those people. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “contact tracing, a core disease control measure employed by local and state health department personnel for decades, is a key strategy for preventing further spread…

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: Alert Issued For Testing, Supply, Other New Scams COVID-19: Alert Issued For Testing, Supply, Other New Scams
Covid-19: Alert Issued For Testing, Supply, Other New Scams The United States Postal Inspection Service is warning consumers to be wary of opportunistic fraudsters looking to take advantage of fear-mongering during the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis. An alert was issued by the USPIS due to scammers who have “identified the public’s concern as a target for scams and fraud.” Current scams that have been reported include testing scams, supply scams, provider scams, app scams and investment scams, each of which is designed to convince targets to hand over money during the COVID-19 pandemic. According to USPIS, to protect oneself from COVID-19 sca…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Police: Duo Nabbed For Attempting To Scam Suffolk Woman Out Of Thousands Police: Duo Nabbed For Attempting To Scam Suffolk Woman Out Of Thousands
Police: Duo Nabbed For Attempting To Scam Suffolk Woman Out Of Thousands Two fraudsters attempted to bilk a Long Island woman out of thousands of dollars by pretending her grandson had been involved in a drunk driving crash, police said. A 95-year-old Lindenhurst resident was contacted by two men who stated that her grandson was in a drunk driving crash and required $8,000 cash to cover bail and attorney fees. The callers directed her to place the cash in her mailbox and they would come by to pick up the money. Police said that the woman said she would comply, even though she knew it was a scam and alerted detectives at the Suffolk County Police Department. Off…

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by Zak Failla
News
Police Intercept Cash Sent By Suffolk County Man As Part Of Phone Scam Police Intercept Cash Sent By Suffolk County Man As Part Of Phone Scam
Police Intercept Cash Sent By Suffolk County Man As Part Of Phone Scam Quick-acting police investigators on Long Island were able to save an elderly man thousands of dollars after he was caught up in a grandparent scam. Suffolk County Police Financial Crimes Unit detectives and members of the United States Postal Inspection Service intercepted cash sent by a St. James man as part of a phone scam this week. Police said that a 79-year-old man in St. James received a phone call on Wednesday, April 8 from scammers who claimed that his grandson had been involved in a motor vehicle crash and was arrested. The caller said that the man needed to send $9,500 to an addr…

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: Nassau County District Attorney Announces Launch Of Scam Hotline COVID-19: Nassau County District Attorney Announces Launch Of Scam Hotline
Covid-19: Nassau County District Attorney Announces Launch Of Scam Hotline As the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to spread on Long Island so to do reports of scammers looking to take advantage of the pandemic, prompting Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas to take action. Singas announced the creation of Nassau County’s “Coronavirus Scam Hotline,” which will allow area residents to report possible scams to the DA’s Financial Crimes Bureau. According to the District Attorney, her office has been receiving reports of new identity theft scams and opportunistic schemes peddling fake tests and bogus calls. Anyone who believes they had been targeted …

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by Zak Failla
Lifestyle
COVID-19: Be Aware Of These Scams, Police Say COVID-19: Be Aware Of These Scams, Police Say
Covid-19: Be Aware Of These Scams, Police Say Police agencies in the area are cautioning residents to be vigilant and wary of potential scams surrounding the fear of the spread of novel coronavirus (COVID-19). There have been reports of: Individuals and businesses selling fake cures for COVID-19 online and engaging in other forms of fraud. Phishing emails from entities posing as the World Health Organization or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Malicious websites and apps that appear to share virus-related information to gain and lock access to your devices until payment is received. Seeking donations fraudulently for ille…

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by Zak Failla
Politics
COVID-19: Stop Selling Bogus 'Coronavirus-Killing' Devices, State AG Tells Scammers COVID-19: Stop Selling Bogus 'Coronavirus-Killing' Devices, State AG Tells Scammers
Covid-19: Stop Selling Bogus 'Coronavirus-Killing' Devices, State AG Tells Scammers The New York Attorney General is striking back against scammers who have been marketing and selling phony “novel coronavirus-killing” devices. Three companies have allegedly been misrepresenting to consumers that COVID-19 is a primarily airborne disease and that its air purifiers can effectively prevent people from contracting the virus by removing the virus particles from the air.  On Thursday, March 26, James announced that she ordered AllerAir Industries, Airpura Industries, and Sylvane, Inc., to cease and desist marketing their products as tools that can prevent the spread of the v…

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19 Scams: Texts, Emails Promise Updates On Latest Cases COVID-19 Scams: Texts, Emails Promise Updates On Latest Cases
Covid-19 Scams: Texts, Emails Promise Updates On Latest Cases The global outbreak of the novel strain of coronavirus (COVID-19) has led to a rash of new scams from fear-mongering fraudsters, officials warned. Scams ranging from texts and emails from scammers posing as health officials and other professionals to others brewing up phony vaccines and cleaning cocktails have become more prevalent in the weeks since the COVID-19 outbreak, the United States Attorney General’s Office announced. According to the FTC, to help weed out scammers, the organization has issued a joint statement with the FDA to seven sellers of unapproved and misbranded products, cl…

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by Zak Failla