New York State Police warned Twin Tiers residents this week about a phone scam that nudges people into cryptocurrency or gold bars and coins, then drains accounts after victims enter banking details on a fake investment website. Troopers said callers first build trust, and they urged anyone who gets an unsolicited pitch to avoid sharing information, skip any suggested website, hang up and dial 9-1-1. People who may already have been targeted should contact local law enforcement or the NYSP immediately, then notify their bank and close all accounts. The alert followed a July 30 warning from IRS Criminal Investigation that fraudsters were mailing crypto holders fake notices demanding enrollment in a nonexistent "Digital Asset Compliance Portal" through QR codes linked to an IRS lookalike site seeking personal information, wallet information, and exchange login credentials. Coinbase and the cybersecurity firm DarkTower traced that operation to a domain set up through a Hong Kong registrar and hosted in Romania. The warnings landed amid a broader fraud wave that the FBI said cost Americans about $21 billion to cyber-enabled crimes and online scams in 2025.