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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