Fair 61°
Police & Fire
$140K Stolen From Checks Taken From Mailboxes In Northern Westchester Town, Police Say $140K Stolen From Checks Taken From Mailboxes In Northern Westchester Town, Police Say
$140K Stolen From Checks Taken From Mailboxes In Northern Westchester Town, Police Say Law enforcement officials in Northern Westchester are cautioning about a recent rash of stolen checks that were taken from mailboxes in the area to the tune of nearly $150,000. The New Castle Police Department issued an alert after receiving eight reports of checks stolen from various mailboxes throughout the month of January, prompting concern from some in the area. According to police, the thefts took place from both standard and tamper-proof residential mailboxes, and the checks were then altered for large sums and cashed at different banks. To date, police said that more than $140,000 …

SHARE

by Zak Failla
News
Northern Westchester Business Victimized By ID Theft/Direct Deposit Scheme Northern Westchester Business Victimized By ID Theft/Direct Deposit Scheme
Northern Westchester Business Victimized By ID Theft/Direct Deposit Scheme A business in the Hudson Valley has become the latest to be targeted by high-tech fraudsters who targeted the company’s direct deposit database to re-route cash being sent to an employee, police said. In Northern Westchester, the North Castle Police Department received a report shortly before 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 23, when an employee of a Bedford Road business in Armonk reported that he and his employer had become the victim of fraud. According to police, the employee said that he received an email purportedly from one of the company’s workersrequesting to change the account to which …

SHARE

by Zak Failla
News
Music Manager Sentenced For Stealing Thousands From Hudson Valley Rock Band Music Manager Sentenced For Stealing Thousands From Hudson Valley Rock Band
Music Manager Sentenced For Stealing Thousands From Hudson Valley Rock Band A music manager who took advantage of a Hudson Valley band to the tune of tens of thousands of dollars will spend time behind bars for stealing from his clients, authorities announced. Richard Clair, Jr., age 52, a resident of Ohio and former manager of the Orange County-based band “The Racer,” has been sentenced to one year in jail for stealing $50,000 from them while falsely claiming that he was promoting an album and concert tour. Instead, Clair used the band’s funds to subsidize his own personal expenses, which included groceries, fast food purchases, and over $8,500 in cash withdrawal…

SHARE

by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Don't Fall For It: Police Issue Alert For Social Security Scam Don't Fall For It: Police Issue Alert For Social Security Scam
Don't Fall For It: Police Issue Alert For Social Security Scam Alarm bells are sounding for law enforcement agencies as a new Social Security scam continues making the rounds as opportunistic fraudsters look to exploit the elderly. An alert was issued by police agencies in New York after they received multiple reports of scammers impersonating Social Security Administration (SSA) employees over the phone requesting personal information or money. Police said that some of the imposters have made threats or demanded immediate payment to help their victims avoid arrest or potential legal action. Officials noted that SSA employees will never threaten anyon…

SHARE

by Zak Failla
News
Alert Issued For Fraudulent FEMA Claims In Westchester Alert Issued For Fraudulent FEMA Claims In Westchester
Alert Issued For Fraudulent FEMA Claims In Westchester With many still seeking federal assistance in the wake of the destruction caused by Hurricane Ida, some law enforcement agencies have reported an uptick in fraudulent FEMA claims. An alert was issued by police agencies cautioning about a rise in fraudulent FEMA claims filed in the name of people who did not experience disaster-related damage and who did not file any legitimate claim. According to police, companies have been contracted by fraudsters to appear at individuals’ homes or to contact people about the claims to collect personal information or compensation. It is believed that the …

SHARE

by Zak Failla
News
Man Wanted In Westchester After Posing As Fire Chief Man Wanted In Westchester After Posing As Fire Chief
Man Wanted In Westchester After Posing As Fire Chief Recognize him? An alert has been issued by police investigators in Westchester as they attempt to locate and identify an alleged fraudster who posed as a fire chief to bilk employees at an area restaurant. The City of Rye Police Department released photos of a man who walked into Playa Bowls on Purdy Avenue at approximately 6:15 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 8, identifying himself as a fire chief in the city. Police said that the unidentified man proclaimed that he was there to perform an inspection of the building, and after a brief walkthrough, he wrote two bills for approximately $480 and was h…

SHARE

by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: Alert Issued For Child Tax Credit Payment Scams COVID-19: Alert Issued For Child Tax Credit Payment Scams
Covid-19: Alert Issued For Child Tax Credit Payment Scams Opportunistic fraudsters have taken advantage of some consumers during the COVID-19 pandemic, this time targeting child tax credit payments that have been sent out to assist families. The IRS recently issued an alert after it began sending tens of millions of dollars to families, though scammers have been attempting to pull a fast one over on some to steal thousands of dollars in federal benefits. According to the IRS, scammers have been reaching out to families using emails, text messages, and through social media, asking to verify personal information to receive the child tax credit payme…

SHARE

by Zak Failla
News
Don't Fall For It: Beware Of 'Boss Scam,' Authorities Say Don't Fall For It: Beware Of 'Boss Scam,' Authorities Say
Don't Fall For It: Beware Of 'Boss Scam,' Authorities Say Officials are cautioning about “boss scams” that have been making the rounds in the region as fraudsters target vulnerable employees as the latest wave of the COVID-19 pandemic surges. New York Attorney General Letitia James issued an alert warning of “boss scams,” which involve scammers using text messages and emails to pose as employers and request gift cards for alleged work emergencies. James said that the scam has been on the rise during the pandemic as many employees have been working remotely for months, some more than a year. According to James, “an employee receives a text or an …

SHARE

by Zak Failla
News
Ex-Business Owner From Area Admits To Stealing $531K From Clients Ex-Business Owner From Area Admits To Stealing $531K From Clients
Ex-Business Owner From Area Admits To Stealing $531K From Clients The former owner of a Hudson Valley funeral home has pleaded guilty to two counts of grand larceny and other crimes in connection with the theft of more than $531,000 from some 90 clients. Rockland County District Attorney Tom Walsh announced the plea by Leonard Scarr, who owned Scarr Funeral Home in Suffern, on Wednesday, July 28. Scarr, the son of a former Suffern mayor Leonard A. Scarr, and a third-generation funeral home owner, admitted to defrauding just two of the 90 victims and stealing more than $3,000 under a plea agreement, said the DA's Office. He was indicted following an …

SHARE

by Kathy Reakes
News
NY Man Indicted In $700,000 Investment Scheme NY Man Indicted In $700,000 Investment Scheme
NY Man Indicted In $700,000 Investment Scheme A New York man has been indicted for scamming investors out of more than $700,000, authorities announced. Long Island resident Matthew Gallagher, age 37, of Rocky Point, used various investment schemes to scam 24 victims over a period of about four years, according to an investigation by Suffolk County Police and Suffolk County District Attorney Timothy D. Sini. “We have 24 people here who gave their savings to this defendant with the promise of sound investments only to be lied to and swindled out of their hard-earned money,” Sini said. “He was allegedly selling them on investing in b…

SHARE

by Joe Lombardi
Police & Fire
Man Wanted For Stealing Victim's ID To Buy $1.1K Worth Of Items At Northern Westchester Walmart Man Wanted For Stealing Victim's ID To Buy $1.1K Worth Of Items At Northern Westchester Walmart
Man Wanted For Stealing Victim's ID To Buy $1.1K Worth Of Items At Northern Westchester Walmart New York State Police are asking the public for help identifying a man who allegedly fraudulently purchased more than $1,000 in goods from a Northern Westchester Walmart. Police said on Wednesday, April 28, that the suspect made the alleged illegal purchase at the Mohegan Lake Walmart on 3133 East Main Street, Mohegan Lake. Anyone with information regarding his identity is asked to contact the New York State Police at 914-769-2600. Please reference case# 9424093

SHARE

by Kathy Reakes
News
NY Man Accused Of Scamming Investors Of Over $700K NY Man Accused Of Scamming Investors Of Over $700K
NY Man Accused Of Scamming Investors Of Over $700K A New York man has been accused of scamming investors of more than $700,000 over the past year and a half, authorities announced. Long Island resident Matthew Gallagher, age 37, of Rocky Point, used investment schemes in fraudulent startup business ventures and insurance-related frauds to scam 16 victims between November 2019 and April 2021, according to an investigation by Suffolk County Police. Gallagher was arrested just before 10 p.m. Wednesday, April 28 at the Seventh Precinct in Shirley, according to police. He was charged with: Two counts of first-degree schemi…

SHARE

by Joe Lombardi