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As Gov. Kathy Hochul and the Legislature work on our state budget, it is crucial that they include safeguards and resources to stop what law enforcement across the country and New York’s attorney general have dubbed the "grandparent scam."

What is this scam? It is an insidious form of elder fraud. It preys on the love and trust of our elderly grandparents and other older relatives, robbing them of their savings and security.

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The con artist pretends to be a family member asking for financial help in an emergency situation. This crime usually starts with an elderly grandparent getting a call from a scammer........

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