New York State’s top prosecutor has filed a lawsuit against a fraud company that allegedly defrauded unsuspecting victims out of about $100,000 by impersonating the beloved Sahadi grocery store in Brooklyn.
Scammers allegedly used names and addresses similar to Sahadi Fine Foods Co. and collected checks from people they believed were dealing with iconic brands, according to State Attorney General Letitia James. .
However, the victim was not dealing with a genuine Sahadi grocery store established in 1895. Since then, Atlantic He has a flagship store on Avenue, an expansion store in Industry City in Sunset Park, and Brooklyn He has become a staple in the community. (The business was so beloved that it was added to the New York State Historic Business Preservation Register last year).
Instead, they did business with Sahadi Fine Foods Products Inc. This name is almost indistinguishable from the actual store’s parent company.
The scammer used the store’s physical address, opened a bank account, and wired a check worth approximately $100,000 to the fraudulent company’s bank account.
of lawsuit We are trying to defuse fake business and stop a whole series of scams.
“Scammers who steal identities and create fake companies can wreak havoc on unsuspecting New Yorkers,” James said in a statement. My office has taken steps to close these scammers.”
“I urge New Yorkers to be vigilant and to file a complaint with my office if they believe their name or address has been misused.”
Sahadi’s rightful owners say they appreciate the Attorney General’s efforts to protect other Brooklyn stores from potential fraud.
“This scam is seriously damaging small businesses,” said Pat Whelan, an employee at Sahadi’s Fine Foods, in a statement. “Thank you Attorney General James for taking swift action to stop these scammers and protect small businesses.
Alongside these scams, the AG office warns New Yorkers to beware of unrelated business emails from the New York State Department of Taxation and Treasury.
Attorney General James has used the announcement of the new lawsuit to ask small businesses that they believe have been victims of this scam to: Please report it to her office.
