Every warning below is checked against an official source — Yonkers PD, New York State, the FTC or Con Edison. If we can't verify it, we say so. Share this with someone who answers unknown numbers.
YPD just re-posted the fake "Planning & Development" invoice warning scam
The department is still getting reports, so police put the alert back up this week: Planning & Development does not send invoices to anyone. Any letter or email with the department's logo demanding payment is a scam. YPD also published the real contact lines so you can check — Planning Bureau (914) 377-6555, Zoning Board (914) 377-6136, now at 20 South Broadway, 9th floor.
Spoofed YPD calls — now including headquarters scam
Callers are faking caller ID to show real Yonkers police numbers, including Police Headquarters at (914) 377-7900, then demanding money transfers or personal info while threatening fines or arrest. YPD never demands payment by phone. Hang up, look up the number yourself, call back.
State warns: deepfake "AI investment" pitches are cleaning people out statewide
New York's Division of Consumer Protection issued an AI investment scam warning on Aug 26. The pitch: a cloned celebrity voice or polished fake video promotes a crypto platform, then the platform demands fees before you can "withdraw." Consumers reported more than $8 billion lost last year, a 38% jump, with a median loss of $10,560. Guaranteed returns + pressure + crypto = walk away.
Source: NYS Division of Consumer Protection alert (Aug 26, 2026) ·
coverage
FTC: the most useful thing you can do with a scam is talk about it ftc alert
The agency's Aug 28 alert is blunt: most fraud never gets reported, and silence is what scammers bank on. Two moves — report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov, and tell one person what the pitch looked like so they recognize it.
Those steep "designer deal" ads in your feed ftc alert
The FTC's August warning on social media ads: platforms don't reliably screen advertisers, so scammers pose as real brands. Before buying, search the seller's name plus "scam" or "complaint." Gift card, wire or crypto payment requested? That's your answer.
Still circulating: gold bar couriers, "fund recovery" calls, toll texts ongoing
The NY AG's gold bar scam warning (100+ cases, about $100M lost statewide) and the FTC's recovery-scam alert both still apply — no bank or agency asks you to buy gold, and nobody legitimate charges a fee to get your money back. NY toll agencies still never text payment links.