BAINBRIDGE, NY — New York State Police are warning the public, especially older adults and their families, about a continued rise in scams where individuals are falsely told they are “wanted on a warrant” and must pay money immediately to avoid arrest.
Scammers are contacting victims by phone, text or email, often impersonating law enforcement officers, court officials or government agencies.
They claim the victim owes fines or has an active arrest warrant.
The victim is then pressured to make payment using cash, gift cards, wire transfers, cryptocurrency or other non-traceable methods.
These claims are false.
Law enforcement will never demand payment over the phone or request payment.
Most recently, on April 1, New York State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation at Sidney arrested Tushar Sharma, 23, of Arcadia, California, following an investigation into a fraud scheme that targeted a victim and resulted in a loss exceeding $200,000.
It is believed there are other victims.
The New York State Police is releasing Sharma’s mugshot in an effort to identify victims who may have had contact with him.
The investigation began after a victim reported receiving a phone call from an individual claiming to be a representative from the Department of Homeland Security.
The caller falsely stated that there was a warrant for the victim’s arrest related to money laundering and narcotics trafficking.
The victim was told that, to avoid arrest, he needed to withdraw large sums of cash.
He was then instructed to package the money in a very specific way and drop it off at designated locations in the Bainbridge area.
The victim was directed not to tell anyone and ultimately turned over large sums of cash on two separate occasions.
On April 1, the victim was instructed to meet an individual who was purported to be a law enforcement officer to collect additional funds at a location in Bainbridge.
This would have been the third occasion for a sum of money of more than $100,000.
After the victim handed over the cash, troopers intervened and took the suspect into custody.
The money was recovered.
The individual was identified as Tushar Sharma.
Sharma was charged with grand larceny in the second degree, a class C felony; scheme to defraud in the first degree, a class E felony; and conspiracy in the fourth degree, a class E felony.
Sharma was processed at SP Sidney and subsequently arraigned at the Chenango County Jail.
He was released on his own recognizance, ordered to remain in New York state, and is scheduled to appear at Bainbridge Town Court on April 20.
The New York State Police remind the public that law enforcement agencies will never contact individuals by phone demanding money or threatening arrest.
Any such calls are fraudulent.
Residents are urged to remain vigilant and report suspicious activity to their local law enforcement agency.
Common red flags include urgent threats of arrest if payment is not made; requests for payment using cash, gift cards, wire transfers or cryptocurrency; caller ID spoofing to appear as a police department or government office; repeated calls or instructions to stay on the phone while making payment or going to the bank; and telling the victim not to tell anyone else.
