State Police recover scam proceeds but urge the public to avoid being the next victim

On April 24, 2026, troopers were contacted by a resident of Saratoga County reporting that they believed they were the victim of an elaborate scam. The complainant was contacted via phone by an individual who identified themselves as a representative from his financial institution. The representative stated they were following up with the complainant, as they had reported that their accounts had been compromised in March 2026, which was accurate. The complainant was instructed to mail $10,000 in cash to an address in the Bronx, NY, to serve as “evidence” in the previously reported fraud investigation. The complainant mailed the money but realized the next day that this situation was most likely a continuation of the March 2026 compromise and contacted State Police immediately.  

With assistance from United Parcel Service Inc. (UPS), investigators located the parcel containing the money in Yonkers, NY, before it was delivered, and recovered the package. Once in possession on April 28th, State Police members returned the funds to the complainant (pictured below and released with the complainant’s permission).

Thanks to the quick action of the complainant, UPS Security Specialists, and State Police members, this scam was thwarted, but many others are not as fortunate. Below are tips from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to help you avoid becoming a victim. FDIC website- avoiding scams and scammers. Be aware that scams can occur via phone call, Email, and text messages. Use extreme caution when an organization requests gift cards or precious metals as payment or request money be sent via mail as these are STRONG indicators the interaction is illegitimate. 

• Do not open emails from people you don’t know. If you are unsure whether an email you received is legitimate, try contacting the sender directly via other means. Do not click on any links in an email unless you are sure it is safe.
• Be careful with links and new website addresses. Malicious website addresses may appear almost identical to legitimate sites. Scammers often use a slight variation in spelling or logo to lure you. Malicious links can also come from friends whose email has unknowingly been compromised, so be careful.
• Secure your personal information. Before providing any personal information, such as your date of birth, Social Security number, account numbers, and passwords, be sure the website is secure.
• Stay informed on the latest cyber threats. Keep yourself up to date on current scams. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) can provide you with Alerts.
• Use Strong Passwords. Strong passwords are critical to online security. Review CISA guidance on Choosing and Protecting Passwords.
• Keep your software up to date and maintain preventative software programs. Keep all of your software applications up to date on your computers and mobile devices. Install software that provides antivirus, firewall, and email filter services.
• Update the operating systems on your electronic devices. Make sure your operating systems (OSs) and applications are up to date on all of your electronic devices. Older and unpatched versions of OSs and software are the target of many hacks. Read the CISA security tip on Understanding Patches and Software Updates for more information.