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The Ulster County Sheriff's Office is alerting residents about an ongoing phone scam targeting individuals in Ulster County and surrounding areas. The scam involves perpetrators falsely identifying themselves as employees from a police department or sheriff’s office. They often tell the victim there is a bench warrant for their arrest, according to a press release. To clear their names, victims are told they must send a check, cash, or money order, provide a credit card number, or provide their bank account information over the phone.
“We will never intimidate and call people for money over the phone,” Lt. Joseph Sciutto said to the Daily Freeman. Residents are advised never to provide any personal or financial information without verifying the caller. The sheriff's office has received several reports from community members who have been contacted about providing wire transfers and gift cards to cancel warrants. They're urging residents to never give out personal information such as social security numbers or bank account numbers.
Victims of fraud are advised to file complaints with the Federal Trade Commission at https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/.