NYC women charged in connection with scam

The Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office would like to take this opportunity to warn the residents of Dutchess County and surrounding areas about scams that once again seem to be on the rise, and to also report the arrest of two subjects in connection with a recent scam.
 

Scams are ways in which criminals will attempt to get money from people by contacting them and making up elaborate stories. In some cases the perpetrators have tried, sometimes successfully, to use the victim’s emotions about a loved one in trouble to get money. It’s common for the perpetrators of these scams to try to get money by telling people that one of their relatives has been seriously hurt or is in jail, and that they need money right away. In many cases they will pose as a law enforcement official or another relative to try and convince the victim that it’s legitimate.
 

The latest scam involves the perpetrators posing as representatives of a legal team in order to scam the victims out of money. On 1/28/22 Sheriff’s Office Detectives became aware of a possible scam in which the perpetrators contacted the victim and informed them that a relative was a suspect in a DWI-related fatal crash, and that they were looking for $25,000 to bail them out. After some research the victim was able to recognize it as a scam and didn’t pay the money, but contacted the Sheriff’s Office. Sheriff’s Office Detectives were then able to further the investigation and identify the perpetrators, identified as Elizabeth Y. Taveras (age 29 of NYC) and Sade N. Rosario (age 29 of NYC). Both subjects were arrested on 1/28/22 and charged with attempted grand larceny, which is a felony.

After being processed both subjects were released on appearance tickets and are due to reappear before the Town of Wappinger Court on 3/3/22 at 5:30 pm. If anyone has any further information about this case or similar cases involving these subjects they are urged to contact Detective David Meyer at 845-486-3778 or dmmeyer@dutchessny.gov. The Sheriff’s Office can also be contacted via the tip line at 845-605-2583 or dcsotips@gmail.com, and all information will be kept confidential.
 

As with any criminal case the charges described above are merely accusations and both Ms. Taveras and Ms. Rosario are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Sheriff’s Office Detectives were assisted in the investigation by members of the Dutchess County Drug Task Force, and more information may be released at a later time as it becomes available.
 

Finally the Sheriff’s Office would like to offer the following tips to help people avoid these scams:

• Legitimate law enforcement would not attempt to satisfy a warrant or make promises to avoid prosecution by soliciting money.
• If you receive an email about an order you didn’t place or asking you to send money call the company using a legitimate number. DO NOT follow the instructions in the email or call the number provided in the email.
• If someone asks you to purchase merchandise, transfer money, provide bank information, or enter a code given to you by them use caution as it is likely a scam.
• Do not meet up with someone that you don’t know; if you’re asked to do this it is surely a scam, and it is very dangerous as well.
• If you’re contacted by someone you don’t know asking for money, for any reason, that’s a signal that it’s most likely a scam.
• If someone calls you and tells you that a relative has been hurt or is in jail, confirm it first before sending any money. Call other relatives or a legitimate law enforcement agency for confirmation before any money is sent. If they’re posing as a relative, try and contact that relative for confirmation.
• Sending money overseas is especially risky; use extreme caution.
• Ask the person for their call back number and ask to speak to their supervisor to confirm the info; if it’s a scam they will most likely hang up at this point and the number they give you will be bogus.
• If the person is telling you that a loved one is in the hospital or jail, find out which one and contact the institution yourself to confirm.
• If a loved one has recently passed away be wary; in some cases perpetrators have even preyed on victims by searching through the obituaries and calling surviving loved ones. If you get calls from people you don’t know soon after someone passes away, be careful and confirm it before you send any money.
• In some cases someone will call and tell the victim that they’ve won money, but to “process the claim” they need to first send money. Beware this is most definitely a scam and don’t send any money – you should never have to pay money to claim a prize. If it seems too good to be true, it most likely is.
• If there’s any doubt about a phone call or email you’ve received contact the Sheriff’s Office before sending any money.
• Scams tend to increase during the holiday season, be especially alert for them during those times.

It is very important to not send any money to anyone that you don’t know until you’ve confirmed the situation through an independent source and feel comfortable with it. If it’s a scam once the money is sent it’s very difficult, and most times impossible, to get it back. If anyone thinks they may have been the victim of a scam they are encouraged to contact the Sheriff’s Office at 845-486-3800 or via the tipline at 845-605-CLUE or dcsotips@gmail.com.