Scammers Everywhere: Fake FBI Agents Arrested in Kiryas Joel Sting

Two men have been arrested in connection with a plot to extort thousands of dollars from Haredi Jews in Kiryas Joel, according to a report yesterday (Monday) by VINnews.

Jews in Kiryas Joel have reportedly been subjected to multiple scamming efforts aimed at extorting thousands of dollars from them on the grounds of fake emergencies, legal or otherwise.

The current case involved two men who claimed to be FBI agents saying that the target was wanted for arrest and that he had to pay over $13,000 to avoid arrest.

The intended victim fortunately suspected something fishy and contacted Moshe Vitriol, director of Kiryas Joel Public Safety, who then contacted the New York State Police, which set up a sting to catch the scammers.

The police arranged a meeting where they ostensibly received the money - in cash - but it was in fact toilet paper. The suspects, whose identity has not yet been released, were swiftly arrested. Authorities suspect they may be tied to the broader phenomenon of scams which have hit the community the past few weeks.

According to VINnews, "[t]wo weeks ago, KJSP released a Yiddish-language video alerting the community to a wave of scams targeting Orthodox families. Victims have been tricked into handing over tens of thousands of dollars in fake emergencies or under fabricated threats."

Moshe Vitriol warned members of the community to "Call someone. Verify the story before taking any action. Even if you hear a girl crying, ‘Babby, help!’ — they can fake that with AI." Just as importantly: "The federal government does not demand money over the phone — and they definitely don’t send people to CVS to buy gift cards,” Vitriol said. “If something feels off, contact the police or local authorities immediately.”