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Press Release - Danielle Lambert

August 16, 2018, 1:21 pm
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FROM: HOLLEY CARNRIGHT
DATE: AUGUST 16, 2018
RE: PRESS RELEASE – DANIELLE LAMBERT

On August 16, 2018, Danielle Lambert, age 28 of Kingston, NY, was arrested by Ulster County Sheriff's Deputies and charged with Felony Offering a False Instrument for Filing 1st (2 counts) and Misdemeanor Welfare Fraud 5th degree.

An investigation conducted by the Ulster County Department of Social Services Special Investigation Unit, along with the Office of the Ulster County District Attorney, found that Ms. Lambert filed both Temporary Assistance and SNAP applications between 5/18 and 7/18 with the Department of Social Services, indicating that she had 2 children in her household, when in fact she does not have any children in her household. Thus, resulting in Ms. Lambert receiving $668.67 in Temporary Assistance and SNAP benefits she would not have received, had she provided truthful information to D.S.S.

Ms. Lambert was processed and issued appearance tickets to appear in Ulster Town Court.

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Press Release - Heather Taylor

August 24, 2018, 1:21 pm
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FROM: HOLLEY CARNRIGHT
DATE: AUGUST 24, 2018
RE: PRESS RELEASE – HEATHER TAYLOR


On August 24, 2018, Heather Taylor, age 42 of Kerhonkson, NY, was arrested by Ulster County Sheriff's Deputies and charged with the felonies of Welfare Fraud 3rd degree and 3 counts of Offering a False Instrument for Filing 1st degree.

An investigation conducted by the Ulster County Department of Social Services Special Investigation Unit, along with the Office of the Ulster County District Attorney and the Office of the New York State Medicaid Inspector General, found that Ms. Taylor did not disclose her true household composition and income to the Department of Social Services from February 2016 to May 2018.  Ms. Taylor filed several SNAP applications with the Dept. of Social Services during that period of time, not disclosing the income, which resulted in her receiving $7,211.00 in SNAP benefits she was not entitled to. 

Ms. Taylor was processed and issued appearance tickets for Ulster Town Court.



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Press Release - Willie Rodriguez conviction

August 27, 2018, 10:07 am
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FROM:   HOLLEY CARNRIGHT
DATE:   AUGUST 27, 2018
SUBJECT: PRESS RELEASE – WILLIE RODRIGUEZ CONVICTION

On Friday August 24, 2018, an Ulster County jury found Willie Rodriguez, age 31, of Kingston, NY, guilty of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the second degree and Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the third degree.

The case arose on December 22nd, 2017, when members of the NYSP and the Ulster County URGENT Task Force, received information about the location of two stolen handguns.  The agencies, working together, conducted an undercover sting operation at 79 Livingston Street in the Village of Saugerties to recover the weapons. That operation resulted in the arrest of 3 people; Skylar Eichert; Willie Rodriguez and Gina Julian.  

Skylar Eichert, who was charged with selling the weapons, pled guilty to Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the second degree on April 23, 2018.Gina Julian was charged with various heroin related charges and pled guilty to Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the third degree on May 16, 2018. Rodriguez was charged with having purchased one of the weapons along with possessing 120 bags of heroin with the intent to sell and was convicted after a jury trial. 

Sentencing for Rodriguez is scheduled for October 25, 2018 in front of Judge Donald A. Williams. Skylar Eichert was previously sentenced to 10 years in state prison. Gina Julian’s sentence is pending. 

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Timothy Lawson with the assistance of Assistant District Attorney Jarrid Blades. The defendant was represented by attorney Edward Bruno.  

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Press Release - Ricardo Almenteros Sentencing

August 29, 2018, 12:13 pm
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FROM: HOLLEY CARNRIGHT
DATE: AUGUST 29, 2018
RE: PRESS RELEASE – RICARDO ALMENTEROS SENTENCING

On August 28, 2018 Ricardo Almenteros of Rochester, New York, was sentenced by Ulster County Court Judge Donald A. Williams to 12 years in state prison with 5 years post release supervision on his conviction of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the first degree.

The events which led to defendant’s indictment occurred on December 3rd, 2017, at 2:40 am, when the New York State Police conducted a vehicle and traffic stop of defendant’s vehicle following a traffic infraction on I87 North in the Town of Plattekill. 

A search under the hood of the suspect vehicle revealed 2.8 pounds of cocaine in brick form found hidden in the air intake compartment of the engine. The brick had an identifying mark of “OSO” (bear in spanish)—which is believed to be an identifier of the Sinaloa Cartel in Culiacan Mexico.

The Defendant has a 2011 Federal Felony conviction for Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine. 

The case was prosecuted by Sr. Assistant District Attorney Clifford Owens and assisted by Assistant District Attorney Jarrid Blades. The defendant was represented by Public Defender Russell Schindler.


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Press Release - Wood Pellets Tax

August 30, 2018, 10:14 am
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FROM: HOLLEY CARNRIGHT
DATE: AUGUST 30, 2018
RE: PRESS RELEASE - SALES AND USE TAX TREATMENT OF WOOD PELLETS AND OTHER PRODUCTS USED FOR HOME HEATING PURPOSES

According to the Ulster County District Attorney’s Division of Consumer Affairs, Section 1105-A of the New York State Tax Law provides that certain residential energy sources and services are not subject to sales tax and use tax. Under that section, the following tangible personal property and services used for residential purposes constitute residential energy sources and servicesnot subject to state sales and use tax.

·       Natural gas;
·       Propane sold in containers of 100 pounds or more;
·       Electricity;
·       Steam;
·       Gas, electric and steam services;
·       Fuel oil (except diesel motor fuel);
·       Coal;
·       Wood (including wood pellets, for heating purposes only).

Counties and cities (localities) that impose a local sales tax may choose to either tax or exempt residential energy sources and services. Ulster County imposes no such tax. Consumer Affairs can be reached at 340-3260.

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Press Release - Heidi Litts arrest

September 4, 2018, 11:34 am
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FROM: HOLLEY CARNRIGHT
DATE: SEPTEMBER 4, 2018
RE: PRESS RELEASE

On September 4, 2018, Heidi Litts, age 34 of Ellenville, NY, was arrested by Ulster County Sheriff's Deputies and charged with the felonies of Welfare Fraud 4th degree and 2 counts of Offering a False Instrument for Filing 1st degree.

An investigation conducted by the Ulster County Department of Social Services Special Investigation Unit, along with the Office of the Ulster County District Attorney, found that Ms. Litts had filed several SNAP (Food Stamp) applications between January 2017 and December 2017, not disclosing her complete household composition and income to the Department of Social Services.  Due to the undisclosed income, Ms. Litts received $1,502.00 in SNAP benefits that she would not have received, had she provided complete income information. 
 
Ms. Litts was processed and issued an appearance ticket for Ulster Town Court.




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Press Release - Rental Scam

September 6, 2018, 8:42 am
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FROM: HOLLEY CARNRIGHT
DATE: SEPTEMBER 6, 2018
RE: PRESS RELEASE – BEWARE THE RENTAL SCAM



The Ulster County District Attorney’s Division of Consumer Affairs is warning prospective tenants and landlords of the online rental scam, popular on Craigslist and elsewhere.  Here are some tips to avoid becoming a victim…

·       You can verify the owner of a property by contacting the County Clerk’s Office where the property is located. If it comes up under a different name, it’s a sign that a legitimate landlord’s ad has been hijacked.

·       Do not wire money to pay a security deposit, application fee or first month’s rent. Wiring money is like sending cash.


·       If you can’t see the place before signing a lease, walk away from the deal. You may not be dealing with a legitimate property owner or the place might not even exist.

·       If the prospective landlord or tenant claims to be out of the country, they may very well be…and they may be a scammer. Scammers have been known to offer to get you keys through a lawyer or agent.


·       Never forward a check for more than the agreed upon price. If you are asked to wire the excess to a third party for shipping or other expenses. This is a scam.

Remember, if it sounds too good to be true, it’s likely a scam. Consumer Affairs can be reached at 340-3260.


                                                                  
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Press Release - Credit File Law - Freeze on Cred. Reporting

September 13, 2018, 11:06 am
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FROM: HOLLEY CARNRIGHT
DATE: SEPTEMBER 13, 2018
RE: PRESS RELEASE - UPDATE TO CREDIT FILE LAW ALLOWS CONSUMERS TO FREEZE THEIR CREDIT REPORTING


Beginning September 21, 2018, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) will be putting a new credit file protection layer in place, according to the Ulster County District Attorney’s Division of Consumer Affairs.

Courtesy of the new Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and ConsumerProtection Act (www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/senate-bill/2155), consumers can contact any of the three major credit reporting agencies – Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion – and request a freeze be placed on their credit files for free, and the agencies have until the next business day to put that freeze in place.

The biggest upside of this act is that it makes it harder for identity thieves to open up new credit accounts under a consumer’s name.

“Credit bureaus play a valuable role in our financial system by helping financial institutions assess a consumer’s ability to meet financial obligations, and also facilitating access to beneficial financial products and services,” wrote (www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/crapo-statement-at-credit-bureau-hearing-) Senator Mike Crapo (R-ID), author of the bill.

Consumer Affairs can be reached at 340-3260.
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Press Release - Christopher Sanchez appeal

September 20, 2018, 10:00 am
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FROM:     HOLLEY CARNRIGHT, DISTRICT ATTORNEY
DATE:     SEPTEMBER 20, 2018



The Appellate Division, Third Department has today unanimously affirmed the September, 2016 conviction of Christopher Sanchez upon his plea of guilty of the crime of aggravated harassment of an employee by an inmate in the first degree, a class E felony. 

Defendant’s conviction stems from an incident which occurred on the morning of June 21, 2015 when he was incarcerated in the special housing unit in Wawarsing serving a sentence for attempted robbery in the first degree.  At that time, while a female corrections officer was in the process of collecting the meal trays, defendant purposely threw urine at her. 

The defendant, a prior felony offender, pled guilty to aggravated harassment of an employee by an inmate in the first degree and waived his right to appeal in exchange for the Court’s promise to sentence him to a two and one-half to five year State prison sentence to be served consecutively to the prison sentence he was then serving.  At that time, County Court Judge Donald A. Williams also imposed a $5,000 fine, together with the mandatory fees and surcharges and issued an order of protection on the victim’s behalf. 

On appeal, defendant claimed that both the agreed upon maximum term of imprisonment, as well as the maximum $5,000 fine were unduly harsh and excessive.  While the Third Department found defendant’s challenge to the sentence was precluded by his valid waiver of appeal, it nonetheless concluded that the sentencing court did not abuse its discretion in imposing either the maximum sentence or fine. 

On appeal, the defendant is represented by Jane M. Bloom, Esq. of Monticello, New York.  Assistant District Attorney Joan Gudesblatt Lamb, Esq. handled the appeal for the District Attorney’s Office.

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Press Release - SS Admin. Impersonation Scheme

September 27, 2018, 6:20 am
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FROM: HOLLEY CARNRIGHT
DATE: SEPTEMBER 27, 2018
RE: PRESS RELEASE – SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION IMPERSONATION SCHEME

According to the Ulster County District Attorney’s Division of Consumer Affairs, the Social Security Administration (SSA) and its Office of the Inspector General (OIG) have received reports from citizens across the country about receiving phone calls from individuals posing as SSA employees. The caller indicates that citizens are due a 1.7 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) increase of their Social Security benefits and goes on to ask citizens to verify personal information, including their name, date of birth, Social Security number (SSN), etc. to receive the increase. If the impersonator is successful in acquiring this information, they use it to contact SSA and request changes to the victim’s direct deposit, address and telephone information.

What Can You Do?
Be cautious of unsolicited phone calls or other communications from people claiming to be from SSA or other government agencies. Know the source of the communication before providing any information. Avoid providing personal information such as your SSN or bank account numbers to unknown persons over the phone or internet unless you are certain of who is receiving it.

How To Report?
If you receive a suspicious call from someone allegedly from SSA, you may report the call to the OIG:

·       Phone: 1-800-269-0271
·       Online: https://oig.ssa.gov/report

If you have questions about any communication – email, letter, text or phone call – that claims to be from SSA or the OIG, please contact your local Social Security Office at 1-877-405-6747. Consumer Affairs can be reached at 845-340-3260.

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Press Release - Seth Lyons conviction

September 27, 2018, 11:46 am
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FROM:  HOLLEY CARNRIGHT
DATE:  SEPTEMBER 27, 2018
RE:  PRESS RELEASE – PEOPLE V. SETH LYONS

On this date, after deliberating for just under seven hours, an Ulster County Jury found Seth Lyons guilty of Murder in the Second Degree.

Lyons was charged by Indictment with Murder in the Second Degree for beating Anthony Garro, Jr., to death.  Garro was found deceased under the Elmendorf St. Bridge during the early morning hours of November 29th, 2017.  An intensive investigation by members of the City of Kingston Police Department and the New York State Police led them to Lyons, who was located in the City of Kingston that same morning.  Lyons was subsequently arrested and charged with Murder in the Second Degree.

At trial, the defense argued that Lyons was experiencing an Extreme Emotional Disturbance at the time of the murder resulting from a combination of mental illness, chronic drug abuse and sleep deprivation, and thus should not be found guilty of Murder.

The prosecution countered by offering evidence that the defendant had an acute recollection of the murder, and that following the murder, Lyons lied to the police several times; first, stating that he was attacked by five men in midtown and later, offering different narratives minimizing his conduct before eventually admitting he assaulted the victim.

The case was prosecuted by Chief Assistant District Attorney Michael Kavanagh and Senior Assistant District Attorney Lisa Bondarenka. The defendant was represented by Kingston attorney, Bryan Rounds.

Lyons is scheduled to be sentenced in Ulster County Court by the Hon. Donald A. Williams on December 3rd, 2018.  


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Press Release - Jeremiah Smith indictment

September 28, 2018, 7:51 am
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FROM: HOLLEY CARNRIGHT  
DATE:SEPTEMBER 28, 2018
RE: PRESS RELEASE – JEREMIAH SMITH INDICTMENT

KINGSTON MAN INDICTED FOR BURNS ON 2 YEAR OLD GIRL IN BATHTUB

Ulster County Grand Jury on Thursday reported an indictment charging Jeremiah Smith, age 30, of Salem Road in Port Ewen, with two counts of felony assault in the second degree and one count of child endangerment. The charges stem from an investigation conducted by Kingston Police and District Attorney’s Child Advocacy Investigators regarding significant burn injuries suffered by a 2-year old girl in the bathtub of her home on July 9, 2018, when she was left alone with Jeremiah Smith. The child sustained second degree burns from her waist down. 

Jeremiah Smith is expected to be arraigned next week in Ulster County Court. He is presumed innocent of these charges.

The case is being prosecuted by Sr. Assistant District Attorney Emmanuel Nneji and the defense is represented by Joseph O’Connor, a Kingston attorney.


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Press Release - Driveway Repair Scams

October 4, 2018, 7:09 am
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FROM: HOLLEY CARNRIGHT
DATE: OCTOBER 4, 2018
RE: DRIVEWAY REPAIR SCAMS


The Ulster County District Attorney’s Division of Consumer Affairs cautions homeowners to be wary of paving businesses who solicit door-to-door; be wary of pressure to have the work done immediately; get a written estimate/contract beforehand and make certain the paperwork has the name, address and telephone number of the business; compare estimates before hiring; and always note license plate numbers and vehicle descriptions. 

Consumer Affairs can be reached at 340-3260.


                                                             
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Press Release - Gordan Lew appeal

October 4, 2018, 12:02 pm
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FROM:     HOLLEY CARNRIGHT, DISTRICT ATTORNEY
DATE:     OCTOBER 4, 2018



The Appellate Division, Third Department has unanimously affirmed the April, 2016 conviction of Gordan Lew upon his plea of guilty of the crimes of aggravated unlicensed operation of a  motor vehicle in the first degree and driving while ability impaired by the combined influence of alcohol and drugs. 

Defendant’s conviction stems from an incident which occurred in the Town of Olive in February, 2015.  After being stopped by a State trooper for an equipment violation, the trooper detected the smell of marijuana and observed other indicia of intoxication.

Defendant later pled guilty to aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle in the first degree and driving while ability impaired in the Ulster County Court (Williams, J.) and as part of the plea bargain which included an agreed upon aggregate one to three year State prison sentence, he waived his right to appeal.  In addition to the one to three year prison term, the Court imposed a $1,000 fine, revoked defendant’s license and ordered him to install an ignition interlock device. 

On appeal defendant challenged his sentence as being harsh and excessive and, further, maintained that he was deprived of meaningful representation.  However, the Appellate Division, Third Department rejected both claims.

On appeal, the defendant is represented by Tracy Steeves, Esq. of Kingston, New York.  Assistant District Attorney Joan Gudesblatt Lamb, Esq. handled the appeal for the District Attorney’s Office.

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Press Release - Torjuan McClain Appeal

October 11, 2018, 12:07 pm
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TO:       ALL NEWS MEDIA
FROM:     HOLLEY CARNRIGHT, DISTRICT ATTORNEY
DATE:     OCTOBER 11, 2018



The Appellate Division, Third Department has unanimously affirmed the June, 2014 conviction of Torjuan McClain, a/k/a Tyler James, a/k/a T.J., upon his plea of guilty convicting him of the crime of rape in the first degree.

Defendant’s conviction stems from an attack on a young homeless victim in Kingston’s Forsyth Park in June, 2013.  After grabbing her by the throat, defendant forcibly raped her.  Following his arrest, defendant pled guilty in the Ulster County Court (Donald A. Williams, J.) to rape in the first degree, a class B violent felony, in satisfaction of a three count indictment.  As part of the plea agreement, he also waived his right to appeal.

Consistent with the terms of the plea agreement, defendant was sentenced to a 15 year State prison term to be followed by 20 years of postrelease supervision. 

On appeal, defendant challenged the factual sufficiency of his plea allocution and the sufficiency of the evidence supporting his indictment.  After concluding that his combined oral and written waiver was knowing and voluntary, the Appellate Division, Third Department determined that these claims were precluded by his valid waiver of appeal. 

The Court also rejected defendant’s argument that his plea was not knowing, voluntary and intelligent because he was cognitively impaired. 

On appeal, the defendant is represented by Theodore J. Stein, Esq. of Woodstock, New York.  Assistant District Attorney Joan Gudesblatt Lamb, Esq. handled the appeal for the District Attorney’s Office.




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Press Release - Medicare Fraud

October 11, 2018, 12:11 pm
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FROM: HOLLEY CARNRIGHT
DATE: OCTOBER 11, 2018
RE: PRESS RELEASE - HELP FIGHT MEDICARE FRAUD

There are con artists who may try to get your Medicare Number or personal information so they can steal your identity and commit Medicare fraud. Medicare fraud wastes millions of dollars each year and results in higher health care costs and taxes for everyone.

According to the Ulster County District Attorney’s Division of Consumer Affairs, you should guard your Medicare card like it’s a credit card. Give your Medicare Number only to people you know should have it. Medicare, or someone representing Medicare, will never contact you for your Medicare Number or other personal information unless you’ve given them permission in advance. Learn more about the limited situations in which Medicare can call you at www.medicare.gov. 

Click on the link, Forms, Help & Resourcesat www.medicare.gov for lots of useful information. Consumer Affairs can be reached at 340-3260.
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Press Release - Christopher Gertz Jr. conviction

October 16, 2018, 10:55 am
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FROM: HOLLEY CARNRIGHT
DATE: OCTOBER 16, 2018
RE: PRESS RELEASE – CHRISTOPHER GERTZ JR.


ULSTER COUNTY TRIAL JURY CONVICTS PLATTEKILL MAN FOR SEXUAL ABUSE OF GIRL
     An Ulster County jury of 7 women and 5 men returned a verdict on October 15, 2018 convicting 41 year old Christopher Gertz, Jr., of Plattekill, of Sexual Abuse in the 1stcommitted against his 12 year old step-daughter in September of 2017. Gertz lived in the same home with the victim’s mother at that time. 

The abuse occurred at night on September 14, 2017. The victim complained to her mother very early the following morning that her “dad” (step-dad) had inappropriately touched her private areas and that he may have taken pictures with his smart phone in the process. The mother called the defendant to return home from his way to work and she confronted him with the allegation, which he denied. 

When the mother left with the child to report the incident to the police the defendant left his job without notice and fled from Ulster County to Indiana. Investigators from Ulster County District Attorney’s Child Advocacy Center enlisted the help of the Fulton County Sheriff’s Department in Indiana to find and arrest Gertz. He was then extradited on November 14 of last year to Ulster County to answer for this offense. During his apprehension investigators in Indiana found his smart phone in the water-tank of a toilet at the home where he was hiding out.

The defendant did not testify or call any witnesses at trial. In his closing arguments Gertz’s attorney, Bryan Rounds of Kingston, suggested to the jury that the allegations against his client were a complete fabrication. Sr. Assistant District Attorney Emmanuel Nneji, in his closing remarks, countered that the victim had no reason to subject herself to the arduous  legal process she had just been through. He highlighted the facts that when defendant was confronted he fled, that he tried to hide his cell phone when he was arrested, and that Y DNA matching the defendants was found on the button and zipper of the clothing the victim had been wearing, as well as on her undergarments.

This conviction is the third felony conviction for Christopher Gertz, Jr. He has served state prison sentences on each of his two prior felony burglary convictions. He also has five criminal misdemeanor convictions. Information regarding the defendant’s criminal history was not allowed before the jury due to the evidentiary rules of New York State’s Criminal Procedure Law.
Ulster County District Attorney stated “unfortunately there is no easy way to bring people like Gertz to justice. I have the deepest respect for this victim and her mother who stood up to this defendant even though they knew they would be subjected to difficult and very unpleasant scrutiny in the process.”

Sentencing is set for December 19, 2018, in Ulster County Court.

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Facebook cloning scam

October 18, 2018, 6:57 am
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FACEBOOK SCAM

Facebook users are being warned that a scam is circulating in which users receive a personal message that appears to be from a friend warning them that they received “another friend request from you,” according to the Ulster County District Attorney’s Division of Consumer Affairs.

One variation of the message reads:
“Hi. I actually got another friend request from you yesterday…which I ignored so you may want to check your account. Hold your finger on the message until the forward button appears…then hit forward and all the people you want to forward to…I had to do the people individually. Good luck!”
Other variations of the message are also making the rounds, including one that begins, “Heads up!! Almost every account is being cloned. Your picture and your name are used to create a new Facebook account (they don’t need your password to do this).”

Experts say the messages are part of a long-running hoax. No variation of “Got another friend request from you” message should be passed on to other users, and the claims in the message shouldn’t be believed. If one of the messages is received, users should simply ignore and delete the message. As an additional precaution, users can also change their privacy settings. The best way to keep your Facebook account from really getting cloned is to hide your friends list, according to tech experts. Instructions for how to do so can be found on Facebook’s Your Profiles and Settings link.
Consumer Affairs can be reached at 340-3260.
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Press Release - Daniel Mikalonis

October 22, 2018, 12:30 pm
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DISTRICT ATTORNEY D. HOLLEY CARNRIGHT ANNOUNCES:  KERHONKSON MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO ORAL SEX WITH TEEN  

Daniel Mikalonis, 27, formerly of Krum Road in Kerhonkson, entered a plea of guilty Monday, October 22, 2018, to the Class “D” violent felony of Criminal Sexual Act in the Second Degree in Ulster County Court, admitting that in June of 2015, he engaged in oral sexual conduct with a fourteen year old child.  The plea took place on the morning a jury was to be selected for trial in this matter. 

The defendant was arrested on September 13, 2017, following an investigation by the New York State Police Ellenville Barracks. 

The defendant faces up to a maximum of seven years in state prison to be followed by up to ten years of post-release supervision.  He will be required to register under the New York State Sexual Offender Registration Act for a minimum of twenty years.  The case was prosecuted by Special Victims Bureau Chief, Katherine R. Van Loan.  The defendant was represented by the Ulster County Public Defender’s Office.     
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Government grant scams

October 25, 2018, 12:37 pm
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                                                GOVERNMENT GRANT SCAMS

Sometimes it’s an ad that claims you will qualify to receive a “free grant” to pay for education costs, home repairs, home business expenses or unpaid bills. Other times, it’s a phone call supposedly from a “government” agency or some other organization with an official sounding name. In either case, the claim is the same: your application for a grant is guaranteed to be accepted and you’ll never have to pay the money back.

But the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the nation’s consumer protection agency, says that “money for nothing” grant offers usually are scams, whether you see them in your local paper or a national magazine, or hear about them on the phone.

According to the Ulster County District Attorney’s Division of Consumer Affairs, some scam artists advertise “free grants” in the classifieds, inviting readers to call a toll-free number for more information. Others are more bold: they call you out of the blue. They lie about where they’re calling from, or they claim legitimacy using an official-sounding name like “Federal Grants Administration.” They may ask you some basic questions to determine if you qualify to receive a grant. Calls and come-ons for free money invariably are rip-offs.

Grant scammers follow a script: they congratulate you on your eligibility, then ask for your checking account information so they can “deposit your grant directly into your account,” or cover a one-time “processing fee.” The caller may even reassure you that you can get a refund if you’re not satisfied. In fact, you’ll never see the grant they promised; they will disappear with your money.
Consumer Affairs can be reached at 340-3260.
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