County chair impersonated in chain of attempted scams, officials say
Dutchess County Legislature Chair Yvette Valdés Smith is warning residents of several scams that are impersonating … her.
According to Valdés Smith, one incident involved an individual falsely claiming to be a relative in an attempt of financial gain. Another involved false phishing text messages sent in her name. And another attempt involved impersonating Valdés Smith in an email to a county official.
“Scammers are getting bolder and more creative every day, and AI technology is making it easy to impersonate me or any other elected official or public figure, so please be alert,” Valdés Smith said in a statement. “Always verify before taking action, especially if it involves sharing sensitive information.”
In addition to the incidents involving Valdés Smith, the Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office recently warned scammers were caught posing as detectives, and the Town of Carmel Zoning Board was also targeted with fake emails.
Officials ask that if you have been contacted by someone claiming to be Chair Valdés Smith, or any other county legislator, to contact the Dutchess County Legislature by calling 845-486-2100.
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