Ulster County Sheriff Warns of Phone Scam

Callers impersonating deputies demand payments to bail out fake inmates

Apr. 17, 2026 at 3:22pm

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An extreme close-up photograph of a crumpled gift card with a faint reflection of a phone screen, conceptually representing the gritty details of a phone scam investigation.A recent wave of phone scams targeting Ulster County residents has prompted a sheriff's office warning about the dangers of impersonation fraud.Kingston Today

The Ulster County Sheriff's Office in New York is warning residents about a phone scam where callers are impersonating deputies and instructing people to make payments to bail someone out of jail. The sheriff's office has confirmed they will never contact anyone by phone to solicit payments and that government entities do not request payments via gift cards or mobile payment apps.

Why it matters

Phone scams targeting the elderly and vulnerable are an ongoing issue, and the sheriff's warning aims to raise awareness and prevent residents from falling victim to this particular scheme involving impersonation of law enforcement.

The details

The sheriff's office has received multiple complaints from individuals who were contacted by phone by people claiming to be members of the sheriff's office. The callers instructed the residents to make payments, often through gift cards or mobile payment apps, in order to bail someone out of jail. The sheriff's office has confirmed they do not operate in this manner and will never contact anyone to solicit payments.

  • The sheriff's office began receiving complaints about this scam on April 15, 2026.

The players

Ulster County Sheriff's Office

The law enforcement agency for Ulster County, New York that issued the warning about the phone scam.

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What’s next

The sheriff's office is urging anyone who believes they may have been a victim of this scam to contact the dispatch center at (845) 338-3640 to report it.

The takeaway

This phone scam targeting Ulster County residents is a reminder for the public to be vigilant about unsolicited calls from anyone claiming to be a government official and requesting immediate payments, as legitimate agencies will not operate in this manner.