Putnam Sheriff Warns Residents of New Phone Scam

CARMEL, N.Y. – The Putnam County Sheriff’s Department is alerting residents to a new scam after reports of fraudulent phone calls circulating in the area.

Caller Claims to Be Law Enforcement

According to Sheriff Kevin McConville, residents of Carmel have recently received calls from an individual posing as “Captain Mark Jones” of the Putnam Sheriff’s Department. The caller allegedly tells victims that they have an outstanding warrant for their arrest and must make a payment to avoid being taken into custody.

The Sheriff’s Office confirmed that no such person exists within the department.

Sheriff’s Office Issues Warning

Sheriff McConville emphasized that the department does not request payments by phone under any circumstances.

“We would not initiate such a request via phone,” McConville said. “If you encounter such a call, hang up immediately.”

He also urged anyone who has already provided money to the scammer to contact the Sheriff’s Office immediately at (845) 225-4300.

Protecting Yourself Against Scams

Authorities are reminding residents to remain cautious when receiving unsolicited calls, especially those involving threats of arrest, demands for money, or instructions to pay through gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency.

Common signs of a scam call include:

The caller creating a sense of urgency or fear.
Demands for immediate payment to avoid legal trouble.
Requests for sensitive personal information such as Social Security numbers or bank account details.

Officials encourage residents to verify any suspicious call by hanging up and contacting the law enforcement agency directly through an official number, rather than the one provided by the caller.

Community Safety First

The Sheriff’s Office has asked the public to spread the word, particularly to older residents, who are often targeted by such scams.

“This is about protecting our community,” McConville said. “The more people are aware of these tactics, the harder it becomes for scammers to succeed.”

The warning comes amid a nationwide increase in phone scams, where criminals impersonate law enforcement, government agencies, or financial institutions to trick victims into sending money.

What To Do If Targeted

If you receive a call from someone claiming to be from law enforcement demanding payment:

Do not engage – Hang up immediately.
Do not send money – Legitimate agencies never ask for payment over the phone.
Report the call – Contact the Putnam County Sheriff’s Department at (845) 225-4300.

Sheriff McConville reiterated that his office takes these reports seriously and is working to track down the individuals behind the fraudulent calls.