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Phone Scam

Police & Fire
Phone Scam Involving Fake Jury Summons Targets Hudson Valley Residents Phone Scam Involving Fake Jury Summons Targets Hudson Valley Residents
Phone Scam Involving Fake Jury Summons Targets Hudson Valley Residents 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
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
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 Charged In Dutchess County $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
Scam Alert: Police Warn Of Callers Posing As Capital Region Sheriff's Office Scam Alert: Police Warn Of Callers Posing As Capital Region Sheriff's Office
Scam Alert: Police Warn Of Callers Posing As Capital Region Sheriff's Office Don’t fall for it. Authorities are warning residents of phone scammers who are posing as members of a local sheriff’s office. The Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office learned about a fraudulent phone call that was made to a resident on Tuesday, May 28, the agency announced on Facebook. During the call, the scammer instructed the resident to call the sheriff’s office at 518-714-1875, not the agency’s actual phone number, 518-885-6761. When the victim called the phony number, they were greeted by a computer-generated voice indicating they had reached the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office and off…

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by Michael Mashburn
Police & Fire
Scammer Posing As Priest, Soliciting Gift Cards From Victims In Hudson Valley: Police Scammer Posing As Priest, Soliciting Gift Cards From Victims In Hudson Valley: Police
Scammer Posing As Priest, Soliciting Gift Cards From Victims In Hudson Valley: Police Authorities in the Hudson Valley are continuing to warn residents of a scammer who has been posing as a local priest to convince victims to purchase gift cards for them.  The warning was issued on Wednesday, Jan. 10 by the Putnam County Sheriff's Office, which said the scammer is continuing to "exploit the generosity of our community."  According to the Sheriff's Office, the scammer has been posing as a local priest over phone calls to solicit gift cards from victims. Those who receive such a call are warned to verify the identity of the person or organization claiming to be on th…

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by Ben Crnic
Police & Fire
Scam Alert: Don't Believe Call From 'Officer Johnson,' Sheriff From Region Says Scam Alert: Don't Believe Call From 'Officer Johnson,' Sheriff From Region Says
Scam Alert: Don't Believe Call From 'Officer Johnson,' Sheriff From Region Says Another phone scam is making the rounds in the region.  This time, this caller is "Officer Johnson," claiming to be from the Sullivan County Sheriff's Office. "Officer Johnson" claims to be from the Sheriff’s Office and tells the victim that there is a warrant that has been issued for the victim’s arrest because they failed to report for jury duty, said Undersheriff Eric Chaboty, of the Sullivan County Sheriff's Office He then advises the victim that they can avoid arrest if they pay a fine over the phone. The victim is then instructed to purchase a prepaid debit card and provide the …

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by Kathy Reakes
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
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
Sex Offenders Being Targeted By Phone Scammers, Police In Capital Region Say Sex Offenders Being Targeted By Phone Scammers, Police In Capital Region Say
Sex Offenders Being Targeted By Phone Scammers, Police In Capital Region Say Authorities in the region are warning of phone scammers who are targeting a new class of victims: registered sex offenders. In a statement issued Friday, May 5, the Rensselaer County Sheriff’s Office said it was aware of a phone scam in which perpetrators claim to be affiliated with local law enforcement agencies. The caller then tells the victim that they are “non-compliant” for not submitting DNA, and must buy gift cards for specific dollar amounts and send them the card information as a “fine” to avoid being arrested. “The Rensselaer County Sheriff’s Office would like to remind everyone…

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by Michael Mashburn
Police & Fire
Duo's 'Grandparent Scam' Nearly Costs Capital Region Victim $19K, Police Say Duo's 'Grandparent Scam' Nearly Costs Capital Region Victim $19K, Police Say
Duo's 'Grandparent Scam' Nearly Costs Capital Region Victim $19K, Police Say A would-be phone scam victim is being credited with helping to catch two suspects accused of trying to swindle them out of nearly $20,000. In Albany County, police were called at around 10 a.m. Friday, April 21, with reports of a possible scam in progress in Loudonville, according to the Colonie Police Department. The victim told police that they had received a phone call from a man pretending to be their grandson who said he was in jail and needed bail money to be released. A second suspect then got on the phone and pretended to be the grandsons’ attorney, according to police. They told t…

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by Michael Mashburn
News
NY Woman Wires $49K To Scammer Posing As Microsoft Employee NY Woman Wires $49K To Scammer Posing As Microsoft Employee
NY Woman Wires $49K To Scammer Posing As Microsoft Employee A New York woman was scammed out of tens of thousands of dollars over the phone. The 85-year-old Long Island resident, of North Hills, was using her computer when she received a prompt to call a phone number, according to Nassau County Police. A man on the other end claimed to be a Microsoft employee and instructed her to go to her bank and transfer $49,000 to another bank account, which she did.  Once the transfer was complete, the man then instructed the victim to send him a copy of her driver’s license and the bank receipt for the transfer, police said. Nassau County Police said …

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by Michael Mashburn
Police & Fire
Alert Issued In Hudson Valley For Scammers Pretending To Be Power Companies Alert Issued In Hudson Valley For Scammers Pretending To Be Power Companies
Alert Issued In Hudson Valley For Scammers Pretending To Be Power Companies Police in the Hudson Valley are warning people of phone calls coming from scammers posing as power companies.  Residents in Putnam County are receiving false automated phone calls from New York State Gas and Electric or Central Hudson that claim their power will be shut off in thirty minutes because of an unpaid balance, Putnam County Sheriff Kevin J. McConville said.  The false calls will then direct victims to call a number to speak with a representative, McConville said.  "These calls are a scam. NYSEG and Central Hudson would never shut off power via an automat…

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by Ben Crnic
Police & Fire
Don't Fall For It: Scammers In Area Pretending To Be 'Sergeant Jason Cooke,' Authorities Say Don't Fall For It: Scammers In Area Pretending To Be 'Sergeant Jason Cooke,' Authorities Say
Don't Fall For It: Scammers In Area Pretending To Be 'Sergeant Jason Cooke,' Authorities Say Authorities are warning residents in the region of a new phone scam from a person pretending to be a deputy. Putnam County Sheriff Kevin McConville said in the last couple of days, several county residents have reported receiving phone calls from a man impersonating a member of the Sheriff’s Office.  The man has been calling residents, saying he is “Sergeant Jason Cooke” from the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office at 3 County Center in Carmel, the sheriff's office said. The caller tells the person they are facing legal consequences for failing to comply with a prior or current criminal ma…

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by Kathy Reakes
Business
Verizon Issues Warning For Spam Messages Sent From Person's Own Number Verizon Issues Warning For Spam Messages Sent From Person's Own Number
Verizon Issues Warning For Spam Messages Sent From Person's Own Number Verizon customers are being cautioned to be on alert as a tricky new scam involving one’s own telephone number has been making the rounds. Customers have been reporting that they've received text messages from their own phone numbers alerting them that they’ve won a prize, including a link to claim their "gift." The messages claim that the user has paid their most recent phone bill, providing the link for a free prize in response. However, if one clicks the link, they’re instead transported to a Russian state TV network. Verizon issued a statement following the recent reports of the scam,…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Alert Issued For Scammers Posing As Detectives In Hudson Valley Alert Issued For Scammers Posing As Detectives In Hudson Valley
Alert Issued For Scammers Posing As Detectives In Hudson Valley Authorities in the Hudson Valley are alerting residents about phone scams where suspects impersonate detectives. The Rockland County Sheriff’s Office said it has received reports of scammers calling potential victims and claiming to be a detective with the sheriff's office. The suspects reportedly tell the victims they were served a subpoena to appear as a witness in Rockland County Court, and they didn't appear. They then say the victim is in contempt of court, with a warrant being issued, and the victim can pay the court a civil penalty instead of undergoing criminal proceedings.  …

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by Nicole Valinote
News
Rise In Phone Scams Under Investigation In Area Rise In Phone Scams Under Investigation In Area
Rise In Phone Scams Under Investigation In Area A Hudson Valley sheriff's office is warning residents of a rise in phone scams in the surrounding area. The Dutchess County Sheriff's Office said scammers are at work again attempting to get money from residents by making up elaborate stories, in most cases involving family members in trouble. "It’s common for the perpetrators of these scams to try to get money by telling people that one of their relatives has been seriously hurt or is in jail and that they need money right away," said Capt. John Watterson, of the Sheriff's Office. In many cases, they will pose as a law enfo…

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by Kathy Reakes
Police & Fire
NY State Police Issue Alert For Phone Scam Where Caller Poses As Trooper NY State Police Issue Alert For Phone Scam Where Caller Poses As Trooper
NY State Police Issue Alert For Phone Scam Where Caller Poses As Trooper New York State Police have issued a warning about a recent phone scam where callers pretend to be state troopers.  Police said many of the calls centered on the Highland area in Ulster County. The callers would pretend to be state troopers and say that charges are pending against the person they called. They would then request money or bank information, police said. "Neither the state police, nor any agency authorized by it, will ever solicit for money or ask for personal information over the phone," State Police said.  Anyone who receives these calls is advised to report detail…

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by Nicole Valinote
Police & Fire
New Warning Issued For Con Artists Posing As Amazon Workers New Warning Issued For Con Artists Posing As Amazon Workers
New Warning Issued For Con Artists Posing As Amazon Workers Local law enforcement agencies are cautioning area residents to be wary following recent reports of opportunistic fraudsters posing as Amazon employees over the phone to gain access to personal information. Officials said that con artists have been posing as Amazon employees claiming to need verification about their account or that something is wrong with an order, allowing them to attempt stealing their victims’ identities. According to police, once a call is answered, a recorded message will claim to be from Amazon stating there is a problem with their account. Messages included claims …

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Man, Woman Charged For Scamming $15,500 From Westchester Woman Man, Woman Charged For Scamming $15,500 From Westchester Woman
Man, Woman Charged For Scamming $15,500 From Westchester Woman An investigation by police in Westchester led to the arrest of a man and woman who allegedly bilked a woman out of more than $15,000. On Saturday, March 13, the Onalaska Wisconsin Police Department requested the assistance of the Town of Greenburgh Police Department after an elderly resident of Onalaska reported she had been defrauded out of $15,500.00, Greenburgh Police Lt. Kobie Powell said. According to Onalaska Police, the elderly woman received a call from a person who stated the victim’s grandson had been in an accident in White Plains.  In order to avoid having the victim’…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Scammers Posing As PayPal, Amazon Employees, Dutchess County Sheriff Says Scammers Posing As PayPal, Amazon Employees, Dutchess County Sheriff Says
Scammers Posing As PayPal, Amazon Employees, Dutchess County Sheriff Says Scammers have been impersonating PayPal and Amazon employees and calling area victims, asking them to transfer money, purchase merchandise, or to provide banking information, passwords and personal information, according to the Dutchess County Sheriff's Department.  They offered the following suggestions to avoid falling prey to scam artists: If you are contacted by anyone that you don't know asking you for money, it is probably a scam.  Exercise caution and restraint when asked by callers to purchase items, transfer money, relay banking information or enter any kind of code—it i…

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by Christina Coulter
News
Alert Issued For Phony Amazon Callers, Emails Seeking Info Alert Issued For Phony Amazon Callers, Emails Seeking Info
Alert Issued For Phony Amazon Callers, Emails Seeking Info Con artists are calling and emailing Amazon users and attempting to obtain their login information and credit card number by posing as Amazon employees. According to the Better Business Bureau, victims are met with a recorded message claiming to be from Amazon, notifying them of problems with their Amazon account ranging from supposed fraudulent charges on Amazon Prime cards to damaged packages to unfulfilled orders that the victim never placed. The callers are reportedly using phone numbers of reputable organizations--like the Better Business Bureau--to lend them credibility. Amazon wil…

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by Christina Coulter
News
Don't Fall For It: Victim Details New Amazon Scam Don't Fall For It: Victim Details New Amazon Scam
Don't Fall For It: Victim Details New Amazon Scam Scammers sought to take advantage of a Hudson Valley woman through an elaborate Amazon scheme. A Hudson Valley woman said that she received a call last week that was a recording from “Amazon” claiming that her account had been used to make a $760 purchase of a laptop. The woman, who resides in Dutchess County, was instructed to press “1” to approve, or “2” to dispute the alleged purchase. After pressing “2,” the woman said that a man came on the phone saying that a laptop had been purchased and was being delivered to an address in Albany, claiming that he had sent a code to her phone …

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by Zak Failla
Lifestyle
Don't Fall For These New Email Scams, Police Say Don't Fall For These New Email Scams, Police Say
Don't Fall For These New Email Scams, Police Say There are two new email scams that have been reported and police are warning area residents to be aware of them. The emails claim to be from Apple or iCloud and both ask for specific, personal information. (Examples of each are shown above.) Two other Apple-related scams are also making the rounds: The FBI and U.S. Marshals Service issued an alert cautioning Americans to be on alert following a recent rash of phony phone calls coming from opportunistic fraudsters posing as AppleCare employees. For more, click here. An area resident told Daily Voice that she received three calls purporting…

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by Daily Voice
News
New Scam Alert: Police Warn Rocklanders To Be Wary Of These Phone Calls New Scam Alert: Police Warn Rocklanders To Be Wary Of These Phone Calls
New Scam Alert: Police Warn Rocklanders To Be Wary Of These Phone Calls Police in Clarkstown are warning local residents to be wary of a phone scam that has made the rounds in Rockland County. The Clarkstown Police Department issued an alert on Friday, warning of numerous frauds that town residents have both reported and fallen victim to in the area. Most recently, a woman from Nanuet reported that she had received multiple phone calls from 1-800-945-2000, a number that appears on the Caller ID as “Chase Card Services.” The robocall recording says that the caller must type in your last four digits of their credit card number. The victim hung up the phone and ca…

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by Zak Failla
News
Court Fee Phone Scam Sparks Warning Court Fee Phone Scam Sparks Warning
Court Fee Phone Scam Sparks Warning Officials are warning residents about a phone scam sweeping the area in which the caller claims to a representative of the Sheriff's Office civil division and demands payment for a legal matter. Orange County Sheriff Carl DuBois said a scam of that type was operating recently in Cayuga County, where the caller said they were from the civil division and that the resident must go purchase a pre-paid Visa card and pay the money owed or face legal trouble. Department officials said they never contact residents by phone regarding court-ordered legal judgments, and they do not ask for payment by …

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by Kathy Reakes