Complicated Email Scam Costs Local Family $40K : Putnam County Sheriff

PUTNAM COUNTY, NY — A Hudson Valley resident was victimized by online predators, according to law enforcement officials, who are using the unfortunate incident as a teachable moment for all of us.

Putnam County Sheriff Kevin J. McConville warns county residents about a recent email scam that targeted a local family.

On January 13, the victim received a fraudulent email that appeared to be from PayPal. The email claimed an account had been opened in the victim's name with a charge of around $400.

After calling the phone number provided in the fraudulent email, the victim unknowingly engaged with a suspect pretending to be from PayPal support. The victim gave the suspect access to their computer and personal information.

The sheriff says that the scam escalated further when the suspect tricked the victim into thinking they needed to withdraw $40,000 from the bank in order to fix the issue. The victim agreed and handed the cash to an unknown person who arrived at their home to collect it.

The suspect then claimed additional mistakes had been made and demanded even more money, according to the sheriff.

"We urge everyone to remain vigilant and cautious when receiving unsolicited emails or phone calls," the sheriff's office said. "Always verify the caller's identity, and never share personal information or grant access to your devices. If you suspect you are being targeted by a scam, please report it to local authorities immediately. Your safety and security are our top priority!"