The Yates County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents about an increase in consumer fraud scams targeting people in the area, particularly older adults.
According to Sheriff Frank Ryan, the sheriff’s office has recently received multiple complaints involving scammers attempting to obtain personal or financial information from victims over the phone or online.
Authorities say one common scam involves callers posing as representatives from companies such as Microsoft. In these cases, scammers claim a victim’s computer has been involved in illegal activity or contains harmful content. Victims may then be pressured to provide personal information or allow remote access to their devices.
Officials say these calls and pop-up messages are scare tactics designed to pressure people into acting quickly. If someone receives one of these messages, the sheriff’s office advises them to immediately disconnect their computer from the internet and contact a qualified computer repair company.
Another scam involves individuals pretending to be police officers or federal agents demanding money to resolve a supposed legal issue. In other cases, scammers claim a relative is in jail in a foreign country and needs money right away.
The sheriff’s office stresses that law enforcement agencies will never ask for money over the phone.
Residents are advised not to provide personal or financial information to unknown callers and to hang up immediately if something does not seem right.
Officials say these fraud cases can be difficult to investigate because many scammers operate overseas. As a result, prevention remains the best defense.
Anyone who believes they may be the target of a scam is encouraged to stop communication immediately and contact their local law enforcement agency to report the incident.
