Duo's $387K Bank Scam Of Port Washington Victim Ends In Crash With Police Car, Cops Say Duo's $387K Bank Scam Of Port Washington Victim Ends In Crash With Police Car, Cops Say
Duo's $387K Bank Scam Of Port Washington Victim Ends In Crash With Police Car, Cops Say A months-long phone scam that tricked a Long Island woman out of nearly $400,000 ended in a dramatic crash and two Massachusetts men in handcuffs, police said. Port Washington Police arrested Dominique Jones, 24, and Jean Saint Fort, 22, both of Chelsea, Massachusetts, following an undercover operation on Friday, May 2, in Greenvale. Investigators determined that the pair called the victim in February, claiming to be a Chase Bank fraud department representative, Nassau County Police said. Over the next two months, they convinced her to withdraw large sums of money in response to supposed “s…
Columbia Co. Victim Gave $100K In Gold, Cash To Scammer Posing As Federal Agent, Police Say Columbia Co. Victim Gave $100K In Gold, Cash To Scammer Posing As Federal Agent, Police Say
Columbia Co. Victim Gave $100K In Gold, Cash To Scammer Posing As Federal Agent, Police Say A Long Island man posing as a federal agent conned a Hudson Valley woman into handing over nearly $100,000 in cash and gold, police said. Mykhaylo Mykhaylov, 39, of Copiague, was busted during an undercover operation in Columbia County on Wednesday, May 7 — just as the victim was about to deliver yet another payment, New York State Police said. The 73-year-old victim first contacted police on Monday, May 5, after realizing she may have been targeted in a fraud scheme that began in March. She told troopers that people claiming to be agents with the Federal Trade Commission had convinced her …
Batman And Robin Bust Gambling Suspects On Westminster Bridge In Real-Life Superhero Sting Batman And Robin Bust Gambling Suspects On Westminster Bridge In Real-Life Superhero Sting
Batman And Robin Bust Gambling Suspects On Westminster Bridge In Real-Life Superhero Sting Not-so-vigilante justice?  Batman and Robin aren’t just fighting crime in Gotham—they’re taking down street scammers on London’s Westminster Bridge, too. Tourists on Westminster Bridge were treated to more than just a view when a real-life Batman and Robin swooped in to take down two suspected street scammers in London. Inspector Darren Watson and Police Constable Abdi Osman Metropolitan Police Department Metropolitan Police officers Inspector Darren Watson and Police Constable Abdi Osman went full caped crusader, donning Batman and Robin suits to bust illegal gambling sus…
Victims Lose $20K To Scammers Asking For Cash In Shoebox In Putnam Valley, Southeast: Sheriff Victims Lose $20K To Scammers Asking For Cash In Shoebox In Putnam Valley, Southeast: Sheriff
Victims Lose $20K To Scammers Asking For Cash In Shoebox In Putnam Valley, Southeast: Sheriff Two men have been arrested in separate incidents after allegedly attempting to scam elderly residents in Putnam County out of tens of thousands of dollars, authorities announced. Both incidents, which happened in late March and early April, involved similar tactics in which scammers impersonated government officials and instructed victims to place large amounts of cash in shoeboxes to be picked up at their homes, Putnam County Sheriff Kevin J. McConville said on Wednesday, April 9.  First Incident: Putnam Valley On Monday, March 31, deputies responded to the home of a 79-year-old …
IRS Warns Of Bogus Refund Schemes: Here's What To Know IRS Warns Of Bogus Refund Schemes: Here's What To Know
IRS Warns Of Bogus Refund Schemes: Here's What To Know A new tax-season scam circulating online is encouraging people to falsify wage information on federal tax returns in an attempt to score large refunds — sometimes in the five-figure range. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has issued a consumer alert warning taxpayers not to fall for the scheme, which involves manually entering made-up income and tax withholding figures on Form W-2, the Wage and Tax Statement. In some cases, scammers even urge users to invent an employer altogether.  The goal is to trick the system into issuing inflated refunds based on the false data. The IRS says i…
Car Wash Discriminated Against Jewish Customers Before Passover In Spring Valley, NY AG Says Car Wash Discriminated Against Jewish Customers Before Passover In Spring Valley, NY AG Says
Car Wash Discriminated Against Jewish Customers Before Passover In Spring Valley, NY AG Says A Rockland County car wash has been ordered to end a discriminatory "Passover Special" scam that allegedly charged Jewish customers more than three times the standard price for services, New York Attorney General Letitia James announced.  The investigation by the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) found that Super 4 Seasons, a car wash business located in Spring Valley at 68 Eeast Route 59, promoted inflated pricing in the weeks leading up to Passover, a Jewish holiday that involves extensive cleaning, including the removal of leavened products—or "chametz"—from homes and vehicles, Ja…
New Scam Involving Fraudulent Texts Impersonates IRS New Scam Involving Fraudulent Texts Impersonates IRS
New Scam Involving Fraudulent Texts Impersonates IRS A new scam involves unsolicited text messages impersonating the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the agency says. The fraudulent messages falsely claim recipients are eligible for a $1,400 Economic Impact Payment and instruct them to click a deceptive link to "claim" the funds. How The Scam Works Victims receive a text message that appears to be from the IRS, stating they are owed an Economic Impact Payment. The message urges them to provide personal information to process the supposed payment. Scammers promise the money will be deposited into a bank account or mailed as a check within 1-2…
Hawthorne Facebook Marketplace Scammer ID'd As Ex-Con Linked To Similar Fraud Cases: Cops Hawthorne Facebook Marketplace Scammer ID'd As Ex-Con Linked To Similar Fraud Cases: Cops
Hawthorne Facebook Marketplace Scammer ID'd As Ex-Con Linked To Similar Fraud Cases: Cops A 28-year-old man from Hawthorne was arrested after using counterfeit U.S. currency to scam a Facebook Marketplace seller out of an iPhone, authorities said. Hawthorne police launched an investigation after a victim reported being scammed during a Jan. 30, transaction, according to Hawthorne Police Detective Capt. Robert King. Detectives identified the suspect as Ashari Wilson, who was later linked to similar fraud cases in Glen Rock and Elmwood Park, police said. Wilson, who gave the victim $700 in bogus cash, was taken into custody on March 13, and charged with theft and forgery, King sa…
Online Scammers Using This Method To Steal Personal Info, FBI Says Online Scammers Using This Method To Steal Personal Info, FBI Says
Online Scammers Using This Method To Steal Personal Info, FBI Says The FBI has issued a warning about cybercriminals exploiting victims to distribute malware and steal personal information. ​ Fraudulent free online file converter tools offer services like converting or merging files—such as transforming a .doc file to a .pdf or combining multiple images into a single document. While they perform the advertised tasks, they may also install hidden malware on users' computers.  This malware can grant criminals access to sensitive data, including Social Security numbers, banking details, cryptocurrency information, email addresses, and passwords.  …
$130K+ Stolen From Virginia Grandmother During Elaborate Hoax, Police Say $130K+ Stolen From Virginia Grandmother During Elaborate Hoax, Police Say
$130K+ Stolen From Virginia Grandmother During Elaborate Hoax, Police Say A pair of out-of-state scammers are facing charges after allegedly swindling a 77-year-old Virginia woman out of more than $130,000 in a months-long scheme, according to Prince William County police. The elaborate hoax started in March 2024, when the Woodbridge woman received a call from a man who claimed she had won a massive cash prize and a brand-new car—but first, she had to pay some fees to claim her winnings. Over the next several months, detectives say the scammers manipulated the woman into sending money in various forms, opening multiple bank accounts, and even handing over debit c…
Father-Daughter Duo Who Stole $230K From Elderly Victim In Kingston Dodges Prison Father-Daughter Duo Who Stole $230K From Elderly Victim In Kingston Dodges Prison
Father-Daughter Duo Who Stole $230K From Elderly Victim In Kingston Dodges Prison A father and daughter who scammed a 92-year-old woman out of more than $230,000 in Ulster County won’t spend a day in prison. Frank Whittaker, 56, of Kingston, and his daughter, Christine Ellsworth, 39, of Accord, were sentenced to probation and ordered to pay restitution in Ulster County Court on Tuesday, March 4. The daddy-daughter duo gained the victim’s trust by helping with yard work and household tasks, according to the New York Attorney General’s office. Over time, Whittaker convinced the woman to grant him Power of Attorney over her finances. But instead of managing her money resp…
Fake Cops, Real Crimes: Paterson Crew Busted In $190K Bergen County Bail Scam: Prosecutor Fake Cops, Real Crimes: Paterson Crew Busted In $190K Bergen County Bail Scam: Prosecutor
Fake Cops, Real Crimes: Paterson Crew Busted In $190K Bergen County Bail Scam: Prosecutor Three Paterson residents have been arrested in connection with a phony bail bond scam that swindled nearly $190,000 from unsuspecting victims across Bergen County, authorities announced. Yasen R. Delgado, 26; Ahjainay N. Gawthney, 27; and Delareese Delgado, 31, were taken into custody on Thursday, Feb. 27, following a multi-agency investigation, Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella said. The suspects are accused of posing as law enforcement officers and bail bondsmen, calling victims and threatening them with arrest warrants for missing court dates or jury duty. Victims were told to hand o…