Tag:

Identity theft

40 Arrests, 20 Convictions Later: Bladensburg Man With Fake ID Sentenced For $1.5M Fraud Scheme 40 Arrests, 20 Convictions Later: Bladensburg Man With Fake ID Sentenced For $1.5M Fraud Scheme
40 Arrests, 20 Convictions Later: Bladensburg Man With Fake ID Sentenced For $1.5M Fraud Scheme A Maryland man with more than 40 arrests and 20 convictions on his record is heading to federal prison after using a fake driver's license and stolen ID to help launder nearly $1.5 million, authorities announced. James Edward Williams Jr., 45, of Bladensburg, was sentenced to nine years in federal prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering, according to the US Attorney's Office for the District of Maryland. Federal prosecutors said Williams played a key role in a scheme that moved hundreds of thousands of dollars through shell companies, fraudulent bank accounts, …
Baltimore Postal Worker Stole $700K In Checks, Hid Nearly 200 Pieces Of Mail: Feds Baltimore Postal Worker Stole $700K In Checks, Hid Nearly 200 Pieces Of Mail: Feds
Baltimore Postal Worker Stole $700K In Checks, Hid Nearly 200 Pieces Of Mail: Feds A Maryland postal worker was busted with nearly 200 stolen pieces of mail and more than $700,000 in checks after investigators say he spent more than a year raiding the mail stream and funneling the money into his own bank accounts. Derrick Stewart, 34, admitted in federal court to a host of offenses tied to a sweeping check fraud scheme while working at a Baltimore USPS mail processing and distribution center, authorities announced Wednesday, May 20. According to the US Attorney’s Office, Stewart used his position at the postal facility between September 2022 and December 2023 to stea…
LI Man Canceled Ex-Partner’s Vacation To Aruba, Arrested For Identity Theft: Police LI Man Canceled Ex-Partner’s Vacation To Aruba, Arrested For Identity Theft: Police
LI Man Canceled Ex-Partner’s Vacation To Aruba, Arrested For Identity Theft: Police A Long Island man canceled his former business partner’s vacation to Aruba by impersonating him on a travel agency phone call, police said. Robert Fisher, 42, was arrested Thursday, May 7 and charged with first-degree identity theft, the Suffolk County Police Department said. Fisher’s business partner arrived at JFK Airport on March 22, 2025, for a $4,000 trip to Aruba, police said. However, he was told on arrival that the trip had been canceled without his knowledge about three hours earlier, cops said. Investigators determined Fisher had called the travel agency, used his former partner'…
Baldwin Fraudster Made 110 Illegal Transactions In Chase Scam: Police Baldwin Fraudster Made 110 Illegal Transactions In Chase Scam: Police
Baldwin Fraudster Made 110 Illegal Transactions In Chase Scam: Police A Long Island fraudster made 110 illegal transactions from Chase Bank accounts to steal $55,000, police said Friday, April 3. Paras Javed, 26-year-old Baldwin man, was arrested Thursday, April 2 and hit with numerous charges, the Nassau County Police Department said. Javed contacted Chase customer service and claimed to be an account holder on multiple occasions, then changed the victims’ mailing addresses to his own and ordered debit cards, cops said. The scheme began in November 2025 and continued into January 2026, according to investigators. During those two months, he made all 110 una…
Millions Stolen In Bank Scam Run By York Fraud Ring: PA AG (UPDATE) Millions Stolen In Bank Scam Run By York Fraud Ring: PA AG (UPDATE)
Millions Stolen In Bank Scam Run By York Fraud Ring: PA AG (Update) A central Pennsylvania fraud scheme that drained millions from unsuspecting bank customers has led to prison time for its ringleader, Attorney General Dave Sunday announced on Wednesday, March 18. Jeremy Antuan Boria Fraticelli, 23, of Dover, pleaded guilty in January after orchestrating the operation that targeted victims in Cumberland, Dauphin, and York counties, according to the AG’s office. Fraticelli posed as a bank employee along with his co-conspirators, tricking customers into handing over personal banking information. The group then used that data to access accounts, move money int…
Alleged Westport Thief Delivered Himself To Police After Ordering DoorDash On Stolen Card: Cops Alleged Westport Thief Delivered Himself To Police After Ordering DoorDash On Stolen Card: Cops
Alleged Westport Thief Delivered Himself To Police After Ordering DoorDash On Stolen Card: Cops An alleged Connecticut thief may have delivered himself to police after he used a stolen credit card to order DoorDash to his home, effectively outing himself to investigators, authorities said. William Torres, 18, of Meriden, turned himself in to police on Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026, months after authorities say he stole credit cards from an unlocked car in a Westport home's garage last year and used them to make purchases, officials said. Westport officers responded to a home on Tuesday, Oct. 21, after receiving a report of a motor vehicle burglary. The homeowners told police they started g…
Town Wins Privacy Battle: NY’s Top Court Blocks Release Of Mount Pleasant Residents’ Email Info Town Wins Privacy Battle: NY’s Top Court Blocks Release Of Mount Pleasant Residents’ Email Info
Town Wins Privacy Battle: NY’s Top Court Blocks Release Of Mount Pleasant Residents’ Email Info New York’s highest court has ruled that a Westchester County town does not have to release the names and email addresses of residents who subscribe to its “E-news” alert system, finding that disclosure would be an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy.  In a Thursday, Feb. 19 decision in Matter of Russell v. Town of Mount Pleasant, N.Y., the Court of Appeals reversed a lower court order that would have forced the town to turn over its news subscriber list in response to a 2022 Freedom of Information Law request filed by resident James C. Russell.  Writing for a unanimous court,…
Police Sweep Businesses For Credit Card Skimmers In Haverstraw: Here's What They Found Police Sweep Businesses For Credit Card Skimmers In Haverstraw: Here's What They Found
Police Sweep Businesses For Credit Card Skimmers In Haverstraw: Here's What They Found Police in a Rockland County town searched gas stations and convenience stores for credit card skimmers as part of an effort to prevent fraud and identity theft.   The inspections took place on Tuesday, Jan. 20, when Haverstraw Police, working with investigators from the Rockland County Intelligence Center, checked businesses that use card readers accessible to the public, where skimming devices can sometimes be placed.  In total, police examined more than 130 credit card machines at gas stations, convenience stores, and other locations across Haverstraw using specialized dete…
Ramsey Traffic Stop Unravels Alleged Fake ID, Phone Fraud Scheme: Cops Ramsey Traffic Stop Unravels Alleged Fake ID, Phone Fraud Scheme: Cops
Ramsey Traffic Stop Unravels Alleged Fake ID, Phone Fraud Scheme: Cops A traffic stop off of Route 17 in Bergen County last week led police to uncover an alleged scheme involving fraudulent identification used to buy Verizon phones, authorities said. Officers stopped a Honda Accord off Route 17 North and Lake Street in Ramsey on Thursday, Jan. 15, and learned the driver, Xavier Brito, 31, of the Bronx, New York, had a suspended license and no valid driver’s license, Ramsey Police Detective Jaclyn Sabatelli said. Police then checked the passenger, Alexandra Calderone, 31, of Newark, and found she also had a suspended license along with six out-of-state warrants…
PA Woman Accused Of $150K Wire, Check Fraud In Syosset: Police PA Woman Accused Of $150K Wire, Check Fraud In Syosset: Police
PA Woman Accused Of $150K Wire, Check Fraud In Syosset: Police A Pennsylvania woman is accused of stealing more than $150,000 through a wire transfer scam and altered check scheme targeting New York businesses, police announced on Saturday, Jan. 10. Danesha Glenn, 28, of Philadelphia, was arrested following an investigation by the Nassau County Police Department’s Electronics Squad Fraud and Forgery Section, according to police. Zench Eye Care, located on Merrick Road in Baldwin, received a fraudulent email on Monday, Sept. 20, requesting a wire transfer of $49,300 that appeared to be a legitimate vendor payment, detectives said. The transfer was compl…
NY AG Letitia James, Hairdresser At Center Of New Federal Probe: Report NY AG Letitia James, Hairdresser At Center Of New Federal Probe: Report
NY AG Letitia James, Hairdresser At Center Of New Federal Probe: Report New York Attorney General Letitia James and her longtime hairdresser, Iyesata Marsh, are the focus of a newly opened federal investigation, according to a report published Friday, Jan. 9, by The New York Times. The alleged new probe is examining “financial transactions” connected to James and her political campaign. The federal investigation marks the third of its kind involving James, following two previous cases that were both dismissed. The nature of the latest inquiry has not been fully detailed, but it reportedly centers on financial transactions potentially involving James' campaign. …
$65K In Liquor Bought By NY Man With Stolen Credit Cards Across 21 PA Counties: AG $65K In Liquor Bought By NY Man With Stolen Credit Cards Across 21 PA Counties: AG
$65K In Liquor Bought By NY Man With Stolen Credit Cards Across 21 PA Counties: AG A NY man is accused of buying more than $65,000 in liquor with stolen credit cards across 21 Pennsylvania counties, Attorney General Dave Sunday announced on Wednesday, Dec. 3. Eugene Antwi, 26, of Brooklyn, allegedly placed more than 200 online orders for expensive liquors using stolen credit and debit cards, according to the Attorney General’s Office. Investigators said he then picked up the orders at Fine Wine & Good Spirits stores statewide. The scheme ran from August 2023 through September 2024 and involved falsified identities and multiple stolen financial accounts, authorities de…
New Rochelle Roommates Used Dead Men's Names To Steal Over $150K In COVID-19 Benefits: Jury New Rochelle Roommates Used Dead Men's Names To Steal Over $150K In COVID-19 Benefits: Jury
New Rochelle Roommates Used Dead Men's Names To Steal Over $150K In Covid-19 Benefits: Jury A Westchester County man was convicted of stealing identities—including those of two men who died more than a decade ago—to collect over $150,000 in COVID unemployment benefits. Aly Kaba, 30, of New Rochelle, was found guilty Tuesday, Oct. 21, by an Albany federal jury after a five-day trial on conspiracy to commit mail fraud, mail fraud, and aggravated identity theft. Jurors deliberated less than three hours before convicting him on all counts. Evidence showed that in late 2020, Kaba and his former roommate, Tony Brobbey, filed fraudulent unemployment claims using multiple stolen identitie…
How To Avoid Lottery, Prize Scams: You Didn’t Enter, But You 'Won'? How To Avoid Lottery, Prize Scams: You Didn’t Enter, But You 'Won'?
How To Avoid Lottery, Prize Scams: You Didn’t Enter, But You 'Won'? A surprise message says you hit the jackpot, but there’s a catch: you must pay a fee or hand over personal details to claim it.  That’s the hallmark of a lottery or prize scam—designed to separate you from your money and identity. These schemes often arrive by email, text, phone, or mail and lean on pressure tactics to force quick decisions.  Scammers frequently demand “taxes,” “processing,” or “shipping” upfront, or ask for sensitive data to “verify” you.  Legitimate lotteries do not require payment to release a prize, and you should never be asked for your Social Security…
Don't Fall For Automatic Withdrawal Scams: Here's What To Know Don't Fall For Automatic Withdrawal Scams: Here's What To Know
Don't Fall For Automatic Withdrawal Scams: Here's What To Know The latest trick to drain your checking account doesn’t require your debit card. Just your bank and routing numbers.  Fraudsters posing as prize promoters or special-offer reps convince victims to “verify” account details, then use that information to pull money out—often again and again. Here’s what to know to spot these schemes and protect your money. What They Are These scams hinge on a criminal getting your bank account and routing numbers, often from a check image, a cold call, a mailed postcard, or a too-good-to-be-true email. The criminal then initiates unauthorized autom…
$30K Stolen From 90-Year-Old Nassau County Woman By Home Care Aide, Police Say $30K Stolen From 90-Year-Old Nassau County Woman By Home Care Aide, Police Say
$30K Stolen From 90-Year-Old Nassau County Woman By Home Care Aide, Police Say A Queens woman is accused of stealing $30,000 from a 90-year-old Long Island woman she was hired to care for in North Woodmere, police announced on Wednesday, Sept. 17. Sarika Mangru, 48, of Jamaica, was employed as a home care aide for the elderly victim between June 2024 and January 2025, according to detectives with the Nassau County Police Department’s Fourth Squad. During that time, Mangru allegedly used the victim’s credit card to make unauthorized purchases totaling about $30,000, detectives said. Following an investigation, Mangru was arrested without incident on Tuesday, Sept. 16.…
Jimmy Kimmel Gets Last Laugh As Appeals Court Tosses George Santos’ Cameo Lawsuit Jimmy Kimmel Gets Last Laugh As Appeals Court Tosses George Santos’ Cameo Lawsuit
Jimmy Kimmel Gets Last Laugh As Appeals Court Tosses George Santos’ Cameo Lawsuit Looks like the joke’s on George Santos. A federal appeals court rejected the disgraced former New York congressman’s lawsuit against Jimmy Kimmel, siding with the late-night host over his use of Santos’ Cameo videos that were used on-air. In a ruling Monday, Sept. 15, the 2nd US Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan said Santos’ copyright infringement claims were properly rejected by a lower court. Santos had accused Kimmel and ABC of deceiving him into creating personalized videos on the Cameo app that were later broadcast on Jimmy Kimmel Live! as part of a recurring bit called “Will Sant…
NY Man Impersonated FBI Agent, Tried To Scam $21K: Clinton Twp PD NY Man Impersonated FBI Agent, Tried To Scam $21K: Clinton Twp PD
NY Man Impersonated FBI Agent, Tried To Scam $21K: Clinton Twp PD A 44-year-old Flushing, NY man was arrested and charged after he impersonated an FBI agent and tried to scam someone out of $21,000 in Clinton, authorities announced Thursday, Sept. 11. A resident told officers he was contacted by a man, later identified as Dengjin Chen, who claimed to be an FBI agent, cautioning him of unauthorized access to his bank account, Clinton Township police said. Chen requested the resident surrender $21,000 to the FBI to ensure the safety of his account, police said.  The resident was scheduled to meet and drop off the money to the alleged FBI agent outside …
10K+ Fake Xanax Sold In Mail Scheme, Montco Dealer Caught With Cocaine: AG 10K+ Fake Xanax Sold In Mail Scheme, Montco Dealer Caught With Cocaine: AG
10K+ Fake Xanax Sold In Mail Scheme, Montco Dealer Caught With Cocaine: AG A Pennsylvania man has been sentenced to state prison for running a mail-order scheme that sold fake Xanax pills, Attorney General Dave Sunday announced on Tuesday, Sept. 9. Charles Dewayne Myers, 28, of Montgomery County, received up to four years in prison during a hearing on Thursday, Sept. 4, according to the Office of the Attorney General. He was convicted of cocaine possession and of representing non-controlled substances as controlled substances. Myers was immediately taken into custody. He will also serve five years of probation for identity theft, authorities said. “These syn…
Fake Amazon Recall Texts Prompt FTC Warning Fake Amazon Recall Texts Prompt FTC Warning
Fake Amazon Recall Texts Prompt FTC Warning The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is urging the public to ignore and delete a new wave of phishing texts that masquerade as recall notices from Amazon and dangle instant refunds. According to the agency’s consumer-protection unit, the messages claim a “routine quality inspection” found a defect in a recent Amazon purchase. Buyers can secure a full refund — no return required — simply by tapping a supplied link. In reality, there is no refund. Clicking routes victims to look-alike sites designed to harvest Amazon credentials, credit-card numbers, or other personal data that can be resold or…
NY Man Racked Up 67 Charges In Multi-Stop Wawa Fraud Scheme In Stafford, Sheriff Says NY Man Racked Up 67 Charges In Multi-Stop Wawa Fraud Scheme In Stafford, Sheriff Says
NY Man Racked Up 67 Charges In Multi-Stop Wawa Fraud Scheme In Stafford, Sheriff Says A New York man racked up more than 60 charges after deputies busted him in a multi-stop fraud scheme at Wawa convenience stores in Virginia, authorities said. On Sunday, Aug. 24, at 9:14 p.m., deputies received a report from a California victim whose credit card was being used without permission at the Wawa at 105 Garrisonville Road, according to the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office. Investigators said surveillance cameras showed the suspect making 11 unauthorized transactions and leaving in a black Nissan. Deputies began canvassing other Wawa stores and learned the same suspect had made a…
Man Sharing Babe Ruth’s Name Accused Of Fraud Using Dead Ballplayers’ IDs Man Sharing Babe Ruth’s Name Accused Of Fraud Using Dead Ballplayers’ IDs
Man Sharing Babe Ruth’s Name Accused Of Fraud Using Dead Ballplayers’ IDs He shares a name with baseball’s greatest legend, but prosecutors say this “Babe Ruth” swung for a different kind of home run, by allegedly stealing the identities of hundreds of ballplayers, dead and retired. A federal grand jury in Greeneville, Tennessee, returned a sweeping 91-count indictment late last week, charging George Herman Ruth, age 69, with masterminding an elaborate fraud scheme that netted more than half a million dollars. Ruth, whose full name matches that of Hall of Famer Babe Ruth (who was born George Herman Ruth in 1895), stands accused of mail fraud, aggravated identity …
$200K Scheme: Ex-Finance Manager Stole From Construction Firm In White Plains, DA Says $200K Scheme: Ex-Finance Manager Stole From Construction Firm In White Plains, DA Says
$200K Scheme: Ex-Finance Manager Stole From Construction Firm In White Plains, DA Says A former construction company finance manager is accused of orchestrating a months-long scheme to steal more than $200,000 from her Westchester-based employer, prosecutors said. Michele Rinaldo, 52, of The Bronx, was arraigned Wednesday, Aug. 13, in Westchester County Court on a sweeping set of charges connected to her alleged theft from a White Plains-based construction firm, the Westchester County District Attorney's Office announced on Friday, Aug. 22. According to a felony complaint filed in the case, Rinaldo handled payroll and accounting for the firm, which the DA's Office did not nam…
$1.6K Identity Theft: Man Used Credit Card Left At Sloatsburg Service Area, Police Say $1.6K Identity Theft: Man Used Credit Card Left At Sloatsburg Service Area, Police Say
$1.6K Identity Theft: Man Used Credit Card Left At Sloatsburg Service Area, Police Say A 28-year-old man was arrested after allegedly using a customer’s forgotten credit card to rack up more than $1,600 in charges in Rockland County, police said.  The incident happened on Monday, Aug. 11, around 8:21 p.m. at the Sloatsburg Service Area, New York State Police said on Monday, Aug. 18.  According to investigators, 28-year-old Raufoliana O. Louis Jean of Spring Valley, who worked at the service area, took a credit card that had been left behind and made purchases without the owner’s permission. Police said Louis Jean then used the card at several businesses in Spring V…
Phony Amazon Messages Target Shoppers With New Tricks: What To Know Now Phony Amazon Messages Target Shoppers With New Tricks: What To Know Now
Phony Amazon Messages Target Shoppers With New Tricks: What To Know Now That email claiming to be from Amazon about a mysterious order or urgent account issue? It could be a scammer’s trap waiting for you to click. Amazon users are being warned about a fresh wave of sophisticated scams hitting inboxes.  Fraudsters are sending emails and texts that look like they're from Amazon, often claiming something’s wrong with your account or a suspicious purchase has been made.  The messages urge you to click a link or call a customer service numbe, leading you straight into a scam. According to online security firm ExpressVPN, these phishing emails are design…
PA Corrections Officer Had Sex With Inmates, Ran ID Fraud Scheme, Attorney General Says PA Corrections Officer Had Sex With Inmates, Ran ID Fraud Scheme, Attorney General Says
PA Corrections Officer Had Sex With Inmates, Ran ID Fraud Scheme, Attorney General Says A former Pennsylvania state prison corrections officer had sexual relationships with inmates and ran a financial fraud scheme using their personal information, Attorney General Dave Sunday announced on Wednesday, Aug. 6. Kristina Miller, 35, of McKean County, is facing multiple felonies for institutional sexual assault and unlawful use of a computer. She’s also charged with several misdemeanors for conspiracy to commit identity theft and conspiracy to commit theft by deception, state police say. Miller allegedly engaged in sexual relationships with three inmates while working at SCI Forest …
Man Charged With Stealing Check Meant For Contractor Building Wilton Police HQ Man Charged With Stealing Check Meant For Contractor Building Wilton Police HQ
Man Charged With Stealing Check Meant For Contractor Building Wilton Police HQ A New York man has been arrested and charged with stealing a check intended for a construction company building a new police headquarters in Connecticut. Davis Segui, 62, of the Bronx, faces charges of first-degree larceny and identity theft. He is being held on a $1 million bond, Wilton police said.  The case began when Wilton town officials mailed a check to A. Secondino & Son Inc., the contractor on the police headquarters project. But the Branford company never received the payment, even though bank records showed it had been deposited into what appeared to be a legitimate acco…
$1.4M Maryland Fraud: Couple Lived Large With Cruises, Exotic Birds, Home Renovations: Feds $1.4M Maryland Fraud: Couple Lived Large With Cruises, Exotic Birds, Home Renovations: Feds
$1.4M Maryland Fraud: Couple Lived Large With Cruises, Exotic Birds, Home Renovations: Feds A South Carolina husband and wife lived it up for more than a decade — jetting off on cruises, renovating their home, spoiling their pets, and racking up six figures at Walmart — all on the dime of a Maryland business they targeted in a $1.4 million fraud scheme, federal prosecutors said. Robin Joseph, 64, of Murrells Inlet, South Carolina, was sentenced on Monday, July 28, to 39 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release for his role in the massive embezzlement and identity theft scheme, according to the US Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland. Joseph …
Nurse Impersonator With 20 Fake Names Stole Meds Across Multiple States: PA State Police Nurse Impersonator With 20 Fake Names Stole Meds Across Multiple States: PA State Police
Nurse Impersonator With 20 Fake Names Stole Meds Across Multiple States: PA State Police A woman accused of posing as a nurse under 20 fake names and stealing prescription drugs from health care facilities across Pennsylvania and other states is now at the center of a growing criminal investigation — and police say they don’t even know who she really is. The woman has been charged under the name Shannon Nicole Womack, 39, but Pennsylvania State Police announced on Friday, July 25, that they are now seeking the public’s help in positively identifying her true legal name. Investigators have uncovered additional false identities since her April 2025 arrest, prompting police to rele…
George Santos Surrenders To NJ Prison: Inside His New Life Behind Bars George Santos Surrenders To NJ Prison: Inside His New Life Behind Bars
George Santos Surrenders To NJ Prison: Inside His New Life Behind Bars Disgraced former New York Rep. George Santos is officially trading Cameo videos for commissary lines. The ousted lawmaker, 37, surrendered to Federal Correctional Institution Fairton in New Jersey on Friday, July 25, to begin serving his seven-year sentence for wire fraud and identity theft. And, true to form, Santos did not go quietly: “Well, darlings… The curtain falls, the spotlight dims, and the rhinestones are packed,” Santos told his 211,000 followers on X the night before. “From the halls of Congress to the chaos of cable news, what a ride it’s been! Was it messy? Always. Glamorous…
NYPD Officer Steals $87K From Elderly Bank Clients In Rye For BMW, Aruba Trip: DA NYPD Officer Steals $87K From Elderly Bank Clients In Rye For BMW, Aruba Trip: DA
Nypd Officer Steals $87K From Elderly Bank Clients In Rye For BMW, Aruba Trip: DA An NYPD officer who previously worked at a Westchester bank has been charged in a sweeping financial crimes case accusing him of stealing over $85,000 from elderly customers and using the funds to pay for personal expenses—including a Caribbean vacation, luxury car payments, and fitness program subscriptions. Yeison Rodriguez Acosta, age 27, of Manhattan, was arraigned Thursday, July 17, in Rye City Court on a 30-count felony complaint stemming from a months-long investigation by the City of Rye Police Department and the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office, both agencies announced.…