Authorities in New York issue warning about a growing scam where callers pose as investment guides, tricking residents into revealing banking details to drain accounts, amid broader IRS impersonation threats.
New York State Police are warning Twin Tiers residents about a cryptocurrency scam in which callers pose as investment guides and steer people to fake websites designed to look like legitimate trading platforms. Investigators said the scheme depends on building trust first, then persuading victims to hand over banking details that can be used to drain accounts.
Police said the warning was issued this week after reports that some people were being approached with offers involving cryptocurrency, gold bars or gold coins. Troopers urged anyone who receives an unsolicited investment pitch to end the call, avoid opening any website suggested by the caller and contact 9-1-1 if they are worried they may be dealing with fraud.
The alert comes as the Internal Revenue Service has separately been trying to head off a wave of impersonation scams. The IRS says scammers are sending fraudulent calls, emails, texts and social media messages that request personal or financial information, something the agency says it does not do. It also cautions that taxpayers should treat any unexpected communication as suspect and verify it directly with the IRS before responding.
In a separate fraud warning, the IRS said some criminals are mailing counterfeit letters that refer recipients to a so-called “Digital Asset Compliance Portal”. The agency says no such portal exists. It has also warned that while some genuine notices can contain QR codes, people should not trust codes printed on unexpected letters and should instead go straight to IRS.gov or use official contact details. According to the IRS, the safest response to these scams is to stop, verify and report, while State Police say anyone who has already entered information should contact their bank and local law enforcement at once.
Disclaimer: This article is intended to inform and educate, not to recommend or endorse any financial product, investment or strategy. Please consider your own financial circumstances and seek professional advice where appropriate before making financial decisions.
