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Earlier this month, State Police issued a similar warning as reported here by Daily Voice.
Capt. John Watterson, a spokesman for the Dutchess County Sheriff's Office, said an increase in complaints about attempted thefts made via phones "is not uncommon around the holidays."
While there has not been a recent increase in complaints in Putnam County, Sheriff Donald B. Smith issued this advisory earlier this year.
Police advise residents to hang up the phone immediately if someone claiming to be from the Tax Department or IRS unexpectedly calls and threatens police arrest, deportation or license revocation. If you have caller ID, make note of the originating telephone number, so that you can provide this information to the police.
The Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office offered these tips to avoid these types of scams:
-- Do not meet up with someone you don’t know; if you’re asked to do this it is surely a scam, and it is very dangerous.
-- If someone calls to tell you that a relative has been hurt or is in jail, confirm it first before sending any money.
-- Sending money overseas is especially risky.
-- Ask the person for their call back number and ask to speak to their supervisor; if it’s a scam they will most likely hang up.
-- If the person is telling you that a loved one is in the hospital or jail, ask which one and contact the institution to confirm.
-- If a loved one has recently died be wary; in some cases perpetrators have preyed on victims by searching through the obituaries and calling survivors.
-- In some cases, someone will call and tell the victim that they’ve won money, but to “process the claim” they need to send money. . . . If it seems too good to be true, it most likely is.
If anyone thinks they may have been a victim of this type of scam, or if they receive these types of calls, they can contact the Sheriff’s Office at 845-486-3800 or via its tip line at 845-605-CLUE or dcsotips@gmail.com.
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