Saratoga County, NY (WRGB) — A Saratoga County resident came within hours of losing $10,000 to an elaborate scam, but quick action by the victim, UPS and New York State Police stopped the cash from ever reaching the scammers.
On April 24, 2026, troopers were contacted by a Saratoga County resident who believed they were the victim of a scam. The resident had been contacted by phone by someone claiming to be a representative from the resident’s financial institution.
The caller told the resident they were following up because the resident’s accounts had been compromised in March 2026, something that was accurate. The caller then instructed the resident to mail $10,000 in cash to an address in the Bronx to serve as “evidence” in the previously reported fraud investigation.
The resident mailed the money, but realized the next day the situation was likely a continuation of the March 2026 compromise and contacted New York State Police immediately.
With help from UPS, investigators located the parcel containing the money in Yonkers before it was delivered and recovered it. State Police said that once they were in possession of the package on April 28, members returned the funds to the complainant.
State Police credited the quick action of the complainant, UPS security specialists and troopers for thwarting the scam, while warning that many victims are not as fortunate.
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation recommends several steps to help people avoid becoming victims of scams:
Be aware that scams can occur via phone call, email and text messages.Use extreme caution when an organization requests gift cards or precious metals as payment, or requests money be sent via mail — strong indicators the interaction is illegitimate.Do not open emails from people you don’t know. If you are unsure whether an email is legitimate, contact the sender directly through other means.Do not click on links in an email unless you are sure it is safe.Be careful with links and new website addresses. Malicious addresses may look almost identical to legitimate sites, and scammers often use slight variations in spelling or logos.Secure personal information. Before providing information such as a date of birth, Social Security number, account numbers or passwords, make sure the website is secure.Stay informed on the latest cyber threats. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency can provide alerts.Use strong passwords and review CISA guidance on choosing and protecting passwords.Keep software up to date and maintain preventative programs, including antivirus, firewall and email filter services.Update operating systems and applications on electronic devices, since older and unpatched versions are frequent targets for hacks.