NYSP warns about scammers posing as law enforcement
The New York State Police issued a warning on Tuesday alerting residents of Dutchess County about scammers pretending to be law enforcement.
DUTCHESS COUNTY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The New York State Police issued a warning on Tuesday alerting residents of Dutchess County about scammers pretending to be law enforcement. These scammers posing as law enforcement will say you will be arrested, fined, or deported if you don't pay some kind of debt.
The State Police remind people that the police will never call and threaten you for money. The scammer's goal is to use urgency to scare you into paying.
Police give a list of ways scammers will pose as law enforcement. Be wary of the following:
- A person demanding payment for a missed court date, jury duty, or another legal matter
- Placing the claim that there is a warrant out for your arrest
- Threatening arrest if a fine is not paid
- Telling you to buy a prepaid money transfer card and then provide the card number
- Disguising the caller ID so it appears as a valid caller
They also give a list of ways to protect yourself. Make sure you keep yourself safe by:
- Refusing to give scammers any information
- Not sending any payments
- Hanging up and not trusting the caller ID to be their true identity
- Recording their number and saving voicemails
- Finding the real number and calling the law enforcement agency the person is pretending to represent
If you have fallen victim to a scam within Dutchess County, call state police at (845) 677-7300. If a scam is suspected but you have not fallen victim, report the fraud to the Federal Trade Commission.