Scammers on the Line

Thu, 05/23/2019 - 07:22

By T.E. McMorrow

April 9, 2015

Another week closer to April 15, and there are two more reports of scammers posing as Internal Revenue Service agents. Both incidents occurred last Thursday.

Lee Young of Two Holes of Water Road, East Hampton, recognized immediately that he was being scammed when “Agent Ford of the I.R.S.” called him, demanding he send $3,130 using a prepaid card. East Hampton Town police traced the call to a Voice Over Internet Protocol number. These are used by grifters via programs like Skype, “and can be masked to look like any number,” the report says. Police then notified the Federal Trade Commission consumer hotline, which handle phone scams for the I.R.S.

Another East Hampton Town resident, Christine Oms of Tall Tree Court, received two similar voicemail messages. She too recognized them as scams and did not return the calls.

Residents who receive such calls can contact the F.T.C.’s consumer hotline directly at 877-382-4357.

On the Logs 01.22.26

Someone stole a plaster elephant statue from outside the front door of an apartment on Montauk Highway in Amagansett. The resident told police that she had an idea of who stole the statue, but the accused denied taking it.

Jan 22, 2026

911 Switch Is Delayed

When contract negotiations for 911 dispatching broke down between East Hampton Town and Village last spring, it became clear that the East Hampton Town Police Department would begin taking the bulk of 911 calls in the township from the village. The turnover was to occur on Jan. 1, but it has now been delayed for at least a month.

Jan 15, 2026

On the Logs 01.15.26

“Unwanted guests” were trying to take his belongings and refusing to leave, a Brandywine Drive, Sag Harbor, resident reported to 911 last Thursday, adding that one of them wouldn’t wake up and “may have overdosed.”

Jan 15, 2026

Teen Is Struck in Crosswalk

An 18-year-old was struck by a Honda sedan while crossing Newtown Lane in East Hampton on Saturday evening, near the intersection of Muchmore Lane.

Jan 15, 2026

Your support for The East Hampton Star helps us deliver the news, arts, and community information you need. Whether you are an online subscriber, get the paper in the mail, delivered to your door in Manhattan, or are just passing through, every reader counts. We value you for being part of The Star family.

Your subscription to The Star does more than get you great arts, news, sports, and outdoors stories. It makes everything we do possible.