Scams on the Rise-Local Police Fight Back & Recover Thousands

The North Greenbush Police Department is urging residents to remain vigilant after observing a rise in fraud scams over the past month. Some recent cases have been very serious, with victims losing hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Police stress that government agencies do not call to demand immediate payment and do not accept gift cards, wire transfers, Venmo, or similar services. If money were truly owed, people would receive official letters well ahead of time. A surprise call asking for payment is a strong sign of a scam.

Another common trick involves pop-up messages on computers claiming to be from well-known tech companies like Microsoft or Adobe. The message urges the user to call a number or allow remote access. Doing that can give scammers entry to bank accounts, credit cards, email, and social media.

Read More: Saratoga County Sheriff Warns of Credit Card Scam

Police say real tech companies do not use pop-ups like this and cannot access personal information unless someone allows it.

Police in North Greenbush were able to recover nearly one hundred thousand dollars from a scam victim in December. But they acknowledge that this is just a fraction of what Capital Region residents lose each year.

Anyone who thinks they may have been targeted should stop sending money and contact the police right away. Even if you are unsure, getting a second opinion can help prevent a costly mistake.