Rochester, NY – The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office is urging residents across the Rochester area to stay alert this week as holiday-season scams continue to rise. Officials shared a new set of prevention reminders Wednesday, noting that many of the most common fraud attempts are now appearing through text messages, pop-ups, and unsolicited phone calls.
According to the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, scammers are increasingly posing as government agencies, police departments, banks, and even well-known delivery services. The agency says any unexpected message demanding money, requesting cryptocurrency or gift cards, offering to “fix” a device, or threatening legal action should be treated as a scam.
Officials also warn that residents should never download software from a text message or pop-up window and should not transfer funds to an unfamiliar account. Another growing trend involves scams claiming a “courier is coming,” which investigators say is a tactic used to pressure victims into handing over cash or valuables.
The Sheriff’s Office recommends immediately contacting authorities if any of these red flags appear. Residents can reach out to their local police department, bank or financial institution, the New York State Police, the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), or the Federal Trade Commission’s fraud reporting portal. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service also handles cases involving mail-related scams.
Officials encourage residents to share these reminders with family members—especially seniors—who are often targeted during the holiday season.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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