ALBANY — A Dutchess County man is facing felony charges for allegedly defrauding trucking and insurance companies in a scheme federal prosecutors said was “virtually identical” to one that sent him to prison in 2012.
Michael McMahon, 69, pleaded not guilty Tuesday to three counts of mail fraud in connection with what federal prosecutors described as a five-year scheme involving fake claims for crashes that never occurred. The alleged scheme netted the Poughkeepsie resident an estimated $400,000 over five years, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York.
Prosecutors said McMahon would park a vehicle along roadsides and wait for tractor-trailers to drive past. He would then allegedly falsely say the trucks had sideswiped his vehicle, claiming mirrors or other parts were damaged and submitting fraudulent claims with photos to trucking companies and…
Trust your gut feeling—if a transaction or a conversation feels pressured, overly emotional, or “off,” stop all communication immediately and seek a second opinion from a trusted friend or professional.