State police say they have been getting from complaints from locals who have received calls by individuals claiming to be troopers. The callers purport to advise the resident their identity has been stolen, or they are being investigated, troopers said.

These calls have been made in an attempt to phish personal information or solicit money. The number displayed during these calls on their caller ID is (518) 897-2000, a number for State Police in Ray Brook, NY. The calls are not originating from the Ray Brook state police station, troopers said.

Troopers ask who receives a call like this is asked to contact the New York State Police at (518) 873-2750.

The New York State Police says neither they nor any agency authorized by solicit donations from the general public.

The New York State Police receives its funding through the state budget and does not solicit public donations. The only organization authorized to accept donations on behalf of the New York State Police is the not-for-profit Trooper Foundation, Inc., headquartered in Latham.

Although the Trooper Foundation does accept donations for the State Police Summer Program (to benefit underprivileged children) and other state police initiatives, it does not engage in telephone solicitations to the general public.

The New York State Office of the Attorney General investigates illegal and questionable telemarketing operations in New York State. Anyone who receives a solicitation by telephone, mail, email or in person, from someone seeking money and who purports to be a representative or employee of the New York State Police, or suggests an affiliation with the New York State Police, is advised to get as many details as possible about the caller and to report this to the New York State Attorney Generals Charities Bureau or the nearest Attorney Generals Office.