Latest news with #KevinCatalina
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Yahoo
Scammers are using AI to bilk victims out of millions: Here's how to protect yourself
This is no way to keep up with grandma. Cruel scammers are cheating elderly people out of millions of dollars with a new high tech scam that uses AI to find their grandchildren's voices on TikTok and then use the sounds to make phony phone calls designed to trick the seniors, cops on Long Island warned Friday. The scam involves criminals finding a vulnerable and elderly person with grandkids — then scouring social media sites like TikTok for videos of the young people speaking. They then use voice-cloning software and spoofed phone numbers to make panicked calls pretending to be that grandchild, claiming they've been arrested or hurt and urgently need bail money or medical funds. 'They're always trying to stay a step ahead,' Suffolk County Police Commissioner Kevin Catalina told The Post on Friday. Catalina confirmed the department has been seeing a growing number of these cases, and said the software criminals are using can perfectly emulate someone else's voice — often fooling the area's vulnerable and elderly population. 'It's often times a grandchild scheme we're seeing, where the individual will call and say that they are in some kind of trouble that requires money,' Catalina said. Police said victims have been duped into forking over thousands of dollars in cash and wire transfers — thinking they're rescuing a loved one when in fact they're being scammed by a synthetic voice and a criminal on the other end of the line. Catalina said the department has seen an uptick in these types of scams in recent months and warned the public to stay vigilant, especially when receiving emotional pleas involving money and secrecy. He advised families to establish a 'safe word' in case of emergencies, and to reach out to the person they are claiming to be after receiving the call to confirm directly before transferring any money. As for the scammers, Catalina warned that the department is making these crimes a high priority given the large amount of cases. 'If we find the individuals who do this, who know exactly who they're stealing from, we will prosecute you to the fullest — these crimes are a priority to us and we're gonna make sure that we get to the bottom of this,' Catalina said. In 2023, over 3,000 scams were reported on Long Island — resulting in over $126 million stolen from mostly senior citizens, according to the most recent data from AARP. Nearly $74 million was stolen from Nassau, and almost $54 million was taken in Suffolk that year alone. And Catalina warned it will only get worse as AI continues to progress. 'They're getting more and more sophisticated, so everybody has to be very careful,' he said.
New York Post
23-05-2025
- New York Post
Scammers are using AI to bilk victims out of millions: Here's how to protect yourself
This is no way to keep up with grandma. Cruel scammers are cheating elderly people out of millions of dollars with a new high tech scam that uses AI to find their grandchildren's voices on TikTok and then use the sounds to make phony phone calls designed to trick the seniors, cops on Long Island warned Friday. The scam involves criminals finding a vulnerable and elderly person with grandkids — then scouring social media sites like TikTok for videos of the young people speaking. Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine and Police Commissioner Kevin Catalina (right) warned of a new AI scam Friday. Dennis A. Clark They then use voice-cloning software and spoofed phone numbers to make panicked calls pretending to be that grandchild, claiming they've been arrested or hurt and urgently need bail money or medical funds. 'They're always trying to stay a step ahead,' Suffolk County Police Commissioner Kevin Catalina told The Post on Friday. Catalina confirmed the department has been seeing a growing number of these cases, and said the software criminals are using can perfectly emulate someone else's voice — often fooling the area's vulnerable and elderly population. 'It's often times a grandchild scheme we're seeing, where the individual will call and say that they are in some kind of trouble that requires money,' Catalina said. Police said victims have been duped into forking over thousands of dollars in cash and wire transfers — thinking they're rescuing a loved one when in fact they're being scammed by a synthetic voice and a criminal on the other end of the line. Catalina said the department has seen an uptick in these types of scams in recent months and warned the public to stay vigilant, especially when receiving emotional pleas involving money and secrecy. He advised families to establish a 'safe word' in case of emergencies, and to reach out to the person they are claiming to be after receiving the call to confirm directly before transferring any money. As for the scammers, Catalina warned that the department is making these crimes a high priority given the large amount of cases. Suffolk County Police Commissioner Kevin Catalina said as AI continues to progress, scams will get more sophisticated dpa/picture alliance via Getty Images 'If we find the individuals who do this, who know exactly who they're stealing from, we will prosecute you to the fullest — these crimes are a priority to us and we're gonna make sure that we get to the bottom of this,' Catalina said. In 2023, over 3,000 scams were reported on Long Island — resulting in over $126 million stolen from mostly senior citizens, according to the most recent data from AARP. Nearly $74 million was stolen from Nassau, and almost $54 million was taken in Suffolk that year alone. And Catalina warned it will only get worse as AI continues to progress. 'They're getting more and more sophisticated, so everybody has to be very careful,' he said.
CBS News
23-05-2025
- CBS News
A new bank fraud scheme is targeting Long Island seniors. Here's what to know.
A new banking scheme is targeting senior citizens in New York, police on Long Island say. Suffolk County police and multiple banks are warning the public about alerts asking for pin numbers coming from made-up, and sometimes spoofed, bank fraud hotlines. "They're using AI-generated voice phone calls" Criminals claiming to represent multiple banks are making phone calls telling customers they need new pin numbers and cards, investigators said. "Your bank account is under attack. Your cards don't work. We'll pick them up," Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine said. "And guess what? Then they go to the machine and steal their money." Surveillance photos from Bohemia and Garden City show some of the alleged ringleaders, who experts said are targeting elderly and vulnerable victims. They're not just stealing their money, they taking away their trust and dignity, experts said. "They're always trying to stay a step ahead. They're using AI-generated voice phone calls," Suffolk County Police Commissioner Kevin Catalina said. "They can spoof phone numbers." Woman targeted says she learned her lesson A grandmother from Long Island said she learned her lesson after being targeted in multiple other schemes. She did not want to be identified in this story out of fear of retribution. "Tried to get into my bank account because he said there was some fraudulent activity ... It was a QR code," she said. "The scams come over the phone, too. You know, 'Hi grandma!' ... It came up PSEG, so of course I answered it. And it was, they were trying to get information from me, and I just said goodbye." Criminals almost took a sizable chunk from her bank account in an elaborate gift card scheme last year, according to police. "When you are prompted to give information, hang up," Suffolk County Chief of Detectives William Doherty said. The last time a fake call came in, the woman notified police and her bank, then told the person on the other end, "I'm sorry ... you can go on to your next scam."
Yahoo
10-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Long Island brush fires were caused by a resident trying to make s'mores
Saturday brush fires in Long Island have been linked to a backyard s'mores session in Manorville, New York, according to investigators. Officials said Monday that the fires were sparked accidentally after a group of people tried to make the sweet treats s'mores — Graham cracker 'sandwiches' of chocolate and toasted marshmallows — in their backyard. The group reportedly used cardboard to ignite their fire to toast the marshmallows, according to Suffolk Police Commissioner Kevin Catalina. "The individual making s'mores was unable to get the fire lit due to the winds, but they used cardboard to initially light that fire," Catalina said at a news conference on Monday. "The person subsequently discovers that the fire does ignite in the backyard area and all goes up in fire." Strong winds over the weekend whipped through the backyard and carried embers from the fire east toward Westhampton, where a large fire occurred, according to NBC News. Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine said that recently downed trees and the 35 mph winds helped to fuel the fires into significant blazes. The Westhampton Pines Fire burned approximately 600 acres over the weekend before fire responders managed to contain the flames. According to Catalina, the initial fire was contained by 10:30 a.m., but by then the embers had already been scattered east, where they ignited the brush fire near Westhampton. "It was initially reported that there were four separate fires, or reported at one time," Catalina said. "All of those fires are in a direct line with the strong northwest wind that was blowing that day. And it is believed that the embers from each fire traveled and continuously started more fires. So that is the operating theory right now,' he added. New York Governor Kathy Hochul has ordered a burn ban for the area in the wake of the fires. She prohibited most types of outside camping, cooking and warming fires in Long Island and parts of the Hudson Valley, citing the ongoing dry conditions in the region. Backyard fire pits, small campfires, and small cooking fires in contained units are exempt from the ban. The burn prohibition will remain in place until an annual fire ban on outdoor fires starts on March 16, according to Hochul's office. Only two buildings were damaged in the fire, with one being "fairly destroyed," according to fire officials. Another was significantly damaged, officials said.
The Independent
10-03-2025
- Climate
- The Independent
Long Island brush fires were caused by a resident trying to make s'mores
Saturday brush fires in Long Island have been linked to a backyard s'mores session in Manorville, New York, according to investigators. Officials said Monday that the fires were sparked accidentally after a group of people tried to make the sweet treats s'mores — Graham cracker 'sandwiches' of chocolate and toasted marshmallows — in their backyard. The group reportedly used cardboard to ignite their fire to toast the marshmallows, according to Suffolk Police Commissioner Kevin Catalina. "The individual making s'mores was unable to get the fire lit due to the winds, but they used cardboard to initially light that fire," Catalina said at a news conference on Monday. "The person subsequently discovers that the fire does ignite in the backyard area and all goes up in fire." Strong winds over the weekend whipped through the backyard and carried embers from the fire east toward Westhampton, where a large fire occurred, according to NBC News. Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine said that recently downed trees and the 35 mph winds helped to fuel the fires into significant blazes. The Westhampton Pines Fire burned approximately 600 acres over the weekend before fire responders managed to contain the flames. According to Catalina, the initial fire was contained by 10:30 a.m., but by then the embers had already been scattered east, where they ignited the brush fire near Westhampton. "It was initially reported that there were four separate fires, or reported at one time," Catalina said. "All of those fires are in a direct line with the strong northwest wind that was blowing that day. And it is believed that the embers from each fire traveled and continuously started more fires. So that is the operating theory right now,' he added. New York Governor Kathy Hochul has ordered a burn ban for the area in the wake of the fires. She prohibited most types of outside camping, cooking and warming fires in Long Island and parts of the Hudson Valley, citing the ongoing dry conditions in the region. Backyard fire pits, small campfires, and small cooking fires in contained units are exempt from the ban. The burn prohibition will remain in place until an annual fire ban on outdoor fires starts on March 16, according to Hochul's office. Only two buildings were damaged in the fire, with one being "fairly destroyed," according to fire officials. Another was significantly damaged, officials said.
