PUTNAM COUNTY CLERK’S OFFICE WARNS RESIDENTS OF TELEPHONE ‘SCAM”

Friday, August 1, 2014

PUTNAM COUNTY CLERK’S OFFICE WARNS RESIDENTS OF TELEPHONE ‘SCAM”

First Deputy County Clerk Michael C. Bartolotti today warned Putnam County residents of a telephone scam which claims the phone call recipient will have a warrant for their arrest if they fail to dial an out-of-state phone number by 5:00 p.m. that same day and make payment.  In this current scam, the caller ID appears as a number from the County Clerk’s Office and the fraudulent person identified herself as calling from the Putnam County Clerk’s Office.  In a message left to one resident, the phone number to return the call was (423) 536-6354 which is a telemarketing agency in Tennessee.

“It is very important for residents to know that the Clerk’s Office does not make phone calls pertaining to warrants or demanding that anyone make payment over the phone,” said First Deputy County Clerk Michael Bartolotti.  “If you receive this phone call, do not return the call and never send money to an unknown caller who demands payment.”

The Putnam County Clerk’s Office has been notified by a resident who received this type of call.  “We are alerting residents to be aware of this scam so others won’t be sending their hard earned money to these criminals,” added Bartolotti.

Bartolotti provided further guidance on how to handle these types of scams.  “People should never provide personal information over the phone when receiving these types of calls.  If you do get a phone call from any purported government agency requesting personal information or a credit card payment over the phone, hand up immediately and contact the government agency’s public telephone number for clarification.

Bartolotti also urges those receiving these fraudulent calls to contact the Putnam County Clerk’s Office at 845-808-1142 Ext. 49301 and file a report.  Bartolotti has also alerted the New York State Attorney General’s Office for further review of these types of scams.