OTSEGO COUNTY, NY — The Otsego County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents about an increase in fraudulent activity targeting community members.
Scammers are contacting victims by phone, email or text while pretending to represent trusted organizations, according to authorities.
The fraudsters often create a sense of urgency and request personal information, passwords or payments.
Officials are advising residents never to share sensitive information such as Social Security numbers, bank details or passwords with unknown contacts.
Residents should not click on suspicious links or download unexpected attachments, authorities said.
The sheriff’s office recommends verifying requests by contacting organizations directly using official contact information.
Anyone who believes they have been targeted or affected should report the incident immediately to local authorities or the appropriate organization.
