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Saratoga County officials have issued a warning to residents about a potential scam involving impersonation of the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services. The scam involves fraudulent charges on credit card bills that claim to be from the department. However, the agency does not have the capability to process credit card payments, so any such charges should be considered fraudulent.
Residents are advised to report these charges immediately to the Saratoga County Sheriff's Department and their financial institutions. This warning comes amid a rise in scams impersonating government agencies. According to the Federal Trade Commission, scams involving government impersonation have been increasing, with reports rising from 11,554 in 2022 to 17,367 in 2024.
Saratoga County Sheriff Michael Zurlo emphasized the importance of caution, stating, "Scammers are exceptional at creating a false sense of urgency in people. That urgency should be the first clue that something is off." Residents are encouraged to slow down and verify the legitimacy of any claims before taking action.
The Sheriff's Office and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York have both stated that they would never contact individuals to demand money or request payment in the form of gift cards or credit card information. Anyone who suspects they are being targeted by a scam should contact the Saratoga County Sheriff's Office at (518) 885-6761.