Nassau County warns of potential types of scams

Following several reported scams, that have led to arrests in Nassau County, including an elder scam in East Meadow on July 31, the county is reminding residents to be vigilant and know the warning signs of potential scams.

According to a news release shared by the Nassau County Police Department and Patrick Ryder, commissioner of police, the county is urging residents, particularly seniors, to remain vigilant as numerous scams continue to circulate in the area.

Just last month, two Bronx men were arrested after attempting to scam a 73-year-old East Meadow resident. The men allegedly called the East Meadow man, and told him his bank account had been compromised. Police were called and the men were arrested without incident. A subsequent investigation revealed that they were responsible for numerous additional scams.

Fraudulent activities by scammers are designed to exploit vulnerable individuals, costing them thousands of unrecoverable dollars.

One of the more prevalent scams is the home improvement scam, where fraudulent contractors approach homeowners with unsolicited offers for home inspections or repairs. In some cases, these individuals even cause damage themselves to justify their services. Residents are advised not to let unknown persons into their homes and to avoid paying for work that wasn’t approved or completed. To protect themselves, they should try to pay by check or credit card to ensure a record of the transaction.

Another scam that has been reported is the flat tire scam. Victims are often targeted shortly after exiting a bank or shopping center. The scam involves a staged flat tire, where a seemingly helpful person offers assistance. While the victim is distracted, an accomplice enters their vehicle and steals property.

The relative arrested scam is also a common tactic used by scammers. Victims receive a phone call informing them that a relative has been arrested or involved in an accident. The caller demands bail money, often arranging to meet the victim in person or instructing them to pay with gift cards.

In the social security scam, scammers claim that the victim’s Social Security number has been used in fraudulent activities. They threaten financial loss unless the victim provides their bank account information or sends gift cards.

The IRS scam involves callers impersonating IRS agents, claiming that the victim is in danger of being arrested or fined due to tax discrepancies. Victims are pressured to make immediate payments, often via gift cards, which the IRS would never request.

Other scams include the lottery scam, where victims are falsely notified that they have won a cash prize but must pay a handling fee to claim it, and the computer scam, in which victims receive a message while online stating there is a problem that requires remote access control to fix. The scammer then gains access to personal information and online banking details, stealing funds.

Additionally, the arrest warrant scam sees victims receiving a message from supposed law enforcement officers requesting gift cards to void an arrest warrant, while the PSEG Scam targets residents and small business customers, demanding immediate payment to avoid service disconnection.

The Amazon scam alerts victims to fraudulent activity on their accounts and instructs them to pay off the balance with gift cards.

Illegal scams are costing honest citizens significant amounts of money, the county says. Nassau County officials are urging residents to stay informed and share this information with family members, neighbors, and particularly the elderly, to help prevent further victimization.

Those who believe they’ve been a victim of a scam should call 911 immediately. Residents with information that could lead to the arrest of those responsible are encouraged to contact Nassau County Crime Stoppers at (800) 244-8477.