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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
News
IRS Scam Offers $1.4K To Victims In Hudson Valley, DA Warns IRS Scam Offers $1.4K To Victims In Hudson Valley, DA Warns
IRS Scam Offers $1.4K To Victims In Hudson Valley, DA Warns Scammers posing as the IRS are targeting Rockland County residents with fake text messages promising $1,400 economic impact payments, officials warned. In a public alert on Monday, Feb. 10, Rockland County District Attorney Tom Walsh's Office said residents have been contacted by scammers claiming to be from the Internal Revenue Service. The scam involves text messages claiming recipients are “eligible for a $1,400 economic impact statement.” The messages come from a Hotmail address, not a secure government email, and contain links to nonexistent websites. Walsh emphasized that the IR…

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by Ben Crnic
Police & Fire
Scammers Claim Relatives Are in Trouble Over Phone Calls In Dutchess, Police Say Scammers Claim Relatives Are in Trouble Over Phone Calls In Dutchess, Police Say
Scammers Claim Relatives Are in Trouble Over Phone Calls In Dutchess, 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
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
Driveway Paving Scammers Targeting Residents In Brewster Driveway Paving Scammers Targeting Residents In Brewster
Driveway Paving Scammers Targeting Residents In Brewster Authorities in the Hudson Valley are warning residents to be on the lookout for scammers claiming to be from a paving company.  The Putnam County Sheriff's Office detailed the scam in an announcement on Thursday, Oct. 17, saying that the suspects targeted a resident in Brewster.  According to authorities, two men approached a resident and claimed to be from a paving company that had leftover asphalt from a previous job. The duo arrived in a black, unmarked Ford F-150 pickup truck, a tactic scammers use to "appear professional and legitimate," the Sheriff's Office said. Scammers w…

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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
Police & Fire
Roofer Scam In Hudson Valley Sparks Police Warning Roofer Scam In Hudson Valley Sparks Police Warning
Roofer Scam In Hudson Valley Sparks Police Warning Police in the Hudson Valley warn homeowners about a roofer scam in which the scammers demand money upfront and do not return to complete the job. The incidents are happening in Rockland County in the Ramapo area. The Ramapo Police Department is currently investigating a scam in which a person claiming to be a professional roofer knocked on the homeowner's door to notify the owner about damage to their roof.  They offered their services at a reduced cost and then began work. After the job was started, Ramapo Police said they drastically raised the price of repairs and demanded that the…

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by Kathy Reakes
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 Fairfield County Warn Of Fake Jury Duty Phone Calls Scam Alert: Police In Fairfield County Warn Of Fake Jury Duty Phone Calls
Scam Alert: Police In Fairfield County 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
News
2 Suspects Posing As Law Enforcement Nabbed In Hudson Valley $27K Phone Scam 2 Suspects Posing As Law Enforcement Nabbed In Hudson Valley $27K Phone Scam
2 Suspects Posing As Law Enforcement Nabbed In Hudson Valley $27K Phone Scam Two suspects from New Jersey posing as law enforcement authorities in New York were nabbed after allegedly scamming residents out of $27,000. The Hudson Valley incident occurred in Dutchess County on Tuesday, June 18, and Wednesday, June 19. According to Capt. John Watterson of the Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office, Vivek B. Shingarakhia, age 24, and Kishan Gajera, age 31, both of Jersey City, in connection with the investigation into a phone scam that was reported to the Sheriff’s Office, Wednesday, June 19. Watterson said the victims reported to sheriff’s deputies that they susp…

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by Kathy Reakes
Police & Fire
Scammer Caught Red-Handed With $36K Taken From Woman From Region, Police Say Scammer Caught Red-Handed With $36K Taken From Woman From Region, Police Say
Scammer Caught Red-Handed With $36K Taken From Woman From Region, Police Say A man was captured in the region after allegedly scamming a woman out of $36,000. The incident occurred in Sullivan County on Wednesday, May 1 in the village of Liberty. According to Chief Steven D'Agata of the Liberty Police, the department received a call from a 76-year-old resident who said the money had been taken from her as part of an elaborate scam. The woman told officers that what appeared to be a virus appeared on her computer. Shortly after she received a phone call from a man claiming to be from an anti-virus company and he would help her. D'Agata said the man, identified as H…

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by Kathy Reakes
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
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
Don't Fall For It: Phone Scammers Posing As Cops Targeting Capital Region Residents Don't Fall For It: Phone Scammers Posing As Cops Targeting Capital Region Residents
Don't Fall For It: Phone Scammers Posing As Cops Targeting Capital Region Residents If you get a suspicious phone call threatening arrest, don’t worry, it’s most likely bogus. Several concerned citizens contacted the Albany Police Department on Monday, Oct. 16, reporting a man who was posing as an Albany cop, according to the agency. The caller told people that they had an outstanding warrant and they needed to make a payment in order to “take care of it.” If payment was not received, he told them, they would be arrested. Albany Police addressed the scam in a Facebook post Tuesday, Oct. 17, saying the department will never ask for financial or credit card information over…

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by Michael Mashburn
Police & Fire
Don't Fall For It: Scammers Posing As Police Officers From Capital Region Don't Fall For It: Scammers Posing As Police Officers From Capital Region
Don't Fall For It: Scammers Posing As Police Officers From Capital Region Authorities are warning of scammers who are posing as police officers from a local agency. In Schenectady County, someone is posing as a member of the Schenectady Police Department and using the name of an active officer, the agency said in a statement on Monday, June 26. On several occasions, the caller has left messages telling people that they are involved in a “legal matter” and leaving a phone number to call back, police said. The numbers given do not belong to the Schenectady Police Department. Investigators said it appears that the calls are coming from outside of the Capital Regio…

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by Michael Mashburn
Police & Fire
Suspect At Large After Woman Scammed By Email From 'Familiar Name At Workplace' Suspect At Large After Woman Scammed By Email From 'Familiar Name At Workplace'
Suspect At Large After Woman Scammed By Email From 'Familiar Name At Workplace' A suspect is at large after allegedly scamming a  woman out of money in an email scam pretending he was someone from her workplace in Connecticut. In Fairfield County, the incident took place on Wednesday, March 15 when Darien Police met with the victim of the larceny involving an email scam. The victim reported that earlier in the day she received an email from a familiar name at her workplace. The email requested that she purchase gift cards related to her work function, Darien PD Sgt. Dan Skoumbros said. The email explained to the victim that pictures of the gift cards wi…

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by Kathy Reakes
Police & Fire
Scammers Targeting Religious Groups, Parishioners In Hudson Valley Scammers Targeting Religious Groups, Parishioners In Hudson Valley
Scammers Targeting Religious Groups, Parishioners In Hudson Valley Authorities in the Hudson Valley are warning residents of scammers who have been asking for fraudulent donation requests from religious groups and parishioners.  The warning was issued by the Putnam County Sheriff's Office on Friday, March 10, which said that the scams consist of fraudulent solicitors asking parishioners to donate to their local houses of worship. Usually, the scenario will consist of religious victims being sent an email or text message stating that their house of worship is collecting donations in the form of cash or gift cards, authorities said. The Sheri…

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by Ben Crnic
News
Fraudster Posing As City Worker Scammed Elderly Victim Out Of $3K, Capital Region Police Say Fraudster Posing As City Worker Scammed Elderly Victim Out Of $3K, Capital Region Police Say
Fraudster Posing As City Worker Scammed Elderly Victim Out Of $3K, Capital Region Police Say An elderly man from the region was scammed out of thousands of dollars by a fraudster posing as a city worker, authorities said. Rensselaer County resident Joseph Celeone, age 40, of Troy, was arrested Monday, Feb. 6, for grand larceny and criminal impersonation, according to the Watervliet Police Department in Albany County. Detectives were initially contacted in late December 2022 by a 75-year-old Watervliet resident who told police he was approached by a man claiming to work for the City of Watervliet. The supposed employee, who police identified as Celeone, told the victim that his dr…

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by Michael Mashburn
Police & Fire
Scam Alert: Fake Fundraiser Involves Police Sweatshirts In Northern Westchester Scam Alert: Fake Fundraiser Involves Police Sweatshirts In Northern Westchester
Scam Alert: Fake Fundraiser Involves Police Sweatshirts In Northern Westchester A police department in Northern Westchester is warning of a fake fundraiser involving the sale of sweatshirts emblazoned with the department's logo.  Sweatshirts sold by MONZANO24 that display the Yorktown Police Department's logo have been falsely advertised as a fundraiser for the department, Yorktown Police said in a post on Monday, Jan. 23.  This is a SCAM if advertised as a fundraiser for YPD. If we ever advertise any item for sale as a fundraiser (like our... Posted by Yorktown Police Department on Monday, January 23, 2023 Members of the department said that any actual fundraise…

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by Ben Crnic
Police & Fire
Scam Alert: Sweatshirts With Patch Are Fake, Fire Department In Hudson Valley Says Scam Alert: Sweatshirts With Patch Are Fake, Fire Department In Hudson Valley Says
Scam Alert: Sweatshirts With Patch Are Fake, Fire Department In Hudson Valley Says A fire department in the Hudson Valley is warning people not to buy fake sweatshirts that scammers are offering online.  The sweatshirts display a patch with the name of the Lake Carmel Fire Department and are offered by different users on Facebook, including one by the name of "Shawon Rohan Amhad," which the department reported and blocked.  "We are NOT selling these and have NEVER authorized the use of our patch for anyone else to do so!" the department said in a post on Friday, Dec. 23, adding, " In the event we ever have shirts available for sale they will be sold directly fro…

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by Ben Crnic
Police & Fire
Don't Fall For It: Police In Hudson Valley Warn Of E-Mail Scam Involving Geek Squad Don't Fall For It: Police In Hudson Valley Warn Of E-Mail Scam Involving Geek Squad
Don't Fall For It: Police In Hudson Valley Warn Of E-Mail Scam Involving Geek Squad Police in the Hudson Valley are warning residents of a scam allegedly involving Best Buy's popular Geek Squad after receiving multiple complaints. Victims are being contacted via email reporting that they owe money for a service plan and that there is a past due balance on their account, according to the Spring Valley Police. Victims then provide their bank account information or pre-paid gift cards only to realize a day later a large sum of money is removed from their account without permission, police said. Please contact Detective Fantasia at 845-721-9562 if you have any information on …

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by Kathy Reakes