The Yates County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents about an increase in consumer fraud complaints, including scams targeting elderly and uninformed victims.
Sheriff Francis Ryan said scammers often pose as trusted organizations or government officials to trick people into sharing personal or financial information.
Authorities said victims should never provide financial information to someone who calls unexpectedly and should hang up immediately if they receive a suspicious request.
Officials warned that scammers may claim to represent companies such as Microsoft or law enforcement agencies to convince victims their computer has been hacked or contains illegal material.
“These are scare tactics that scammers use to force a person into making a quick decision,” the sheriff’s office said.
Police said clicking links in scam emails or pop-up messages can install malicious software such as ransomware, allowing criminals to access personal information or demand money.
Another common scam involves callers pretending to be police or federal agents demanding payment to resolve legal issues.
Authorities also warned about callers posing as relatives in trouble, often claiming to be jailed in a foreign country and requesting immediate financial help.
Officials said many fraud cases involve suspects operating outside the United States, making investigations difficult.
Residents are urged to hang up, disconnect from suspicious messages and contact local law enforcement if something does not seem right.
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