New Saratoga County Scam Targets Residents-How to Stay Safe

The Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents to be on alert after a resident was recently tricked out of nearly ten thousand dollars by a scammer pretending to be from law enforcement.

According to the Sheriff’s Office, the scam started when a man left a voicemail for a county resident claiming they had missed a high-profile jury duty case and that there were warrants out for their arrest.

When the victim called back, the scammer threatened them with arrest and told them their children could be taken away. The victim, fearing serious consequences, sent the scammer money through Apple Pay.

Sheriff Michael Zurlo stated that the Sheriff’s Office will never contact residents to solicit money or payment of any kind. Anyone who receives a call like this should hang up immediately and call the Sheriff’s Office at 518-885-6761 or dial 911 if they believe they are in danger.

Zurlo said scammers often use fear and pressure to get people to act quickly. That sense of urgency should be a red flag that something is not right. Taking a few moments to pause and check with local authorities could prevent someone from losing money or becoming another victim.

The Sheriff’s Office encourages everyone to discuss this scam with family members and friends so that others can be aware of it and avoid falling for it.