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Financial Fraud

'Pig Butchering' Scams: Police In CT Warn Of Fraudulent Investment Schemes 'Pig Butchering' Scams: Police In CT Warn Of Fraudulent Investment Schemes
'Pig Butchering' Scams: Police In CT Warn Of Fraudulent Investment Schemes Authorities are warning Connecticut residents to be wary of complex investment scams targeting victims through online platforms such as dating apps and social media.  In an announcement on Tuesday, March 26, Connecticut State Police warned that there has been an increase in "pig butchering" scams involving scammers convincing victims to invest money into a fake trading platform.  According to state police, the scammer will first contact the victim through dating apps, social media, or professional networking platforms. They will then build trust with the victim over several weeks …
$52M Scheme: Wilton Resident Among 10 Charged By Feds $52M Scheme: Wilton Resident Among 10 Charged By Feds
$52M Scheme: Wilton Resident Among 10 Charged By Feds Ten people have been charged in connection with a massive scheme to defraud a leading cargo airline based in New York of tens of millions of dollars in revenue and the services of its employees, federal authorities announced. The 10 charged are: Connecticut resident Abilash Kurien, age 45, of Wilton in Fairfield County; Hudson Valley resident Carlton Llewellyn, age 55, of Highland Mills in Orange County; Long Island resident Robert Schirmer, age 58, of Port Jefferson Station; Queens resident Patrick Lau, 43, of Flushing; Lars Winkelbauer, age 47, of Bangkok, Thailand; Skye …
Caseworker Who Lives In Danbury Accused Of Stealing More Than $300K From Client Caseworker Who Lives In Danbury Accused Of Stealing More Than $300K From Client
Caseworker Who Lives In Danbury Accused Of Stealing More Than $300K From Client A Westchester County caseworker who resides in Connecticut faces numerous charges after allegedly stealing more than $300,000 from a 95-year-old woman suffering from dementia whom she had been taking care of.  Fairfield County resident Chantel Chenault, age 46, of Danbury, was indicted on multiple charges on Friday, March 24 for stealing from the elderly woman under her care in Westchester, according to New York Attorney General Letitia James.  According to officials from James's office, Chenault became the woman's caseworker in 2017 and was employed with the Westch…
NY AG Suing Donald Trump, 3 Of His Children For Financial Fraud NY AG Suing Donald Trump, 3 Of His Children For Financial Fraud
NY AG Suing Donald Trump, 3 Of His Children For Financial Fraud New York's Attorney General announced that she has filed a $250 million civil lawsuit against Donald Trump and three of his adult children for financial fraud. The AG, Letitia James, said in a press conference in New York City just before noontime on Wednesday, Sept. 21 that Trump "repeatedly and persistently" misstated the value of assets. "The complaint demonstrates Donald Trump inflated his net worth by billions of dollars," said James, who also named Donald Trump Jr., Ivanka Trump, and Eric Trump in the suit.  The 222-page complaint details 23 examples of inflating asset…
Man Sentenced For $12M Ponzi Scheme That Included Victim From Fairfield County Man Sentenced For $12M Ponzi Scheme That Included Victim From Fairfield County
Man Sentenced For $12M Ponzi Scheme That Included Victim From Fairfield County A New York man was sentenced for his role in a $12 million Ponzi scheme that targeted nearly 50 victims from throughout the region and the nation between 2015 and 2017. Long Island resident Matthew Eckstein, age 52, of Syosset, was sentenced on Monday, July 11 to three-and-a-half to 10-and-a-half years in prison. Eckstein originally pleaded guilty to the charges on September 26, 2019, but later withdrew his plea. A new indictment was secured in August 2020, but court closures related to the COVID-19 pandemic further delayed the case. “This defendant preyed upon seniors and hard-working men…
CT Attorney General Issues Alert For Dating App Scams CT Attorney General Issues Alert For Dating App Scams
CT Attorney General Issues Alert For Dating App Scams Connecticut Attorney General William Tong has issued an alert about common scams residents have experienced on dating apps. Scammers often attempt to earn an individual's trust by beginning an online relationship with them in order to steal the victim's money, Tong said in an announcement on Tuesday, Feb. 22. In addition to dating apps, scammers also contact victims on social media apps, such as Instagram and Facebook. “These heartless scammers prey upon people’s loneliness, isolation and their desire to be loved,” Tong said. “Be hypervigilant when a stranger contacts you online and a…
Court Rules That Trump, Ivanka, Don Jr. Must Testify About Their Business Practices Court Rules That Trump, Ivanka, Don Jr. Must Testify About Their Business Practices
Court Rules That Trump, Ivanka, Don Jr. Must Testify About Their Business Practices Former President Donald Trump and his two eldest children have been ordered to testify as New York Attorney General Letitia James continues her years-long probe into his company’s business dealings. On Thursday, Feb. 17, James announced that she had won a major victory in her office’s civil investigation into the former president and the Trump Organization’s business practices. Earlier story - NY AG Files Motion To Block Trump Lawsuit Interfering With Her Investigation New York State Supreme Court Judge Arthur Engoron ruled that Trump, Ivanka Trump, and Donald Trump, Jr. must all appear fo…
Don't Let Them Break Your Heart: FBI Issues Alert For Romance Scams Don't Let Them Break Your Heart: FBI Issues Alert For Romance Scams
Don't Let Them Break Your Heart: FBI Issues Alert For Romance Scams While Valentine's Day is a time for romantic gestures, the FBI has issued an alert to the public about romance scams.  The agency said in an alert on Monday, Feb. 14, that the scams take place when a criminal adopts a fake identity online to get the victim's trust and uses the close relationship to manipulate and/or steal from the victim. "The criminals who carry out romance scams are experts at what they do and will seem genuine, caring, and believable," the FBI said. "Con artists are present on most dating and social media sites." The FBI said eventually the scammer will ask the vic…
Ivanka Trump, Don Jr. Subpoenaed In NY AG Probe Ivanka Trump, Don Jr. Subpoenaed In NY AG Probe
Ivanka Trump, Don Jr. Subpoenaed In NY AG Probe Former President Donald Trump’s two eldest children have been the latest to be subpoenaed by the New York Attorney General’s Office as it investigates the family’s business practices. On Monday, Jan. 3 news leaked that Ivanka Trump and Donald Trump, Jr. have been subpoenaed by New York Attorney General Letitia James as she continues her yearslong investigation into the Trump Organization. The AG's office previously subpoenaed Donald Trump for testimony and set a deadline of Friday, Jan. 7, though the former president's lawyers have said they would move to block the action. Eric Trump, an …
CT Investment Advisor Sentenced For Stealing More Than $600K From Client CT Investment Advisor Sentenced For Stealing More Than $600K From Client
CT Investment Advisor Sentenced For Stealing More Than $600K From Client A Connecticut man has been sentenced for stealing more than $600,000 from an investment client.  New Haven County resident Matthew Clason, age 40, of Cheshire, was sentenced on Tuesday, Dec. 7, to 30 months in prison followed by two years of supervised release for one count of wire fraud, according to an announcement from Leonard Boyle, acting United States attorney for the District of Connecticut. Clason pleaded guilty to the charge on May 12, Boyle said.  The US Attorney's Office said that beginning in 2015, while working as an investment advisor and representative of Linc…
Police In Fairfield County Town Alert Residents After Recent Mail Theft Reports Police In Fairfield County Town Alert Residents After Recent Mail Theft Reports
Police In Fairfield County Town Alert Residents After Recent Mail Theft Reports Police in a Fairfield County town have issued an alert after a number of residents reported that their outgoing mail was stolen and checks were cashed. The Darien Police Department reported on Thursday, Nov. 18, that some residents have also reported that their stolen checks were altered to larger amounts, and money was withdrawn from their bank accounts. The department recommended that residents who need to pay a bill or send someone a check drop the mail off directly in the post office, or pay the bill online.  Police also recommend that residents regularly check their bank statemen…
'High Probability' Human Remains Found Are Brian Laundrie's, Family Attorney Tells Daily Voice 'High Probability' Human Remains Found Are Brian Laundrie's, Family Attorney Tells Daily Voice
'High Probability' Human Remains Found Are Brian Laundrie's, Family Attorney Tells Daily Voice Updated story: Remains Found At Florida Reserve Identified As Brian Laundrie, FBI Says The attorney for Brain Laundrie's family says there is a high probability the remains found in a Florida nature reserve are those of their son. Steven Bertolino told Daily Voice on Thursday, Oct. 21, that "the probability was high, that it is Brian's remains" found by the FBI. On Wednesday, Oct. 20, law enforcement authorities in Florida, including the FBI and the North Port Police, found a backpack and a notebook they believe belong to Laundrie, age 23, near the suspected remains while they were search…
New Alert For Scams Issued By Police In Fairfield County New Alert For Scams Issued By Police In Fairfield County
New Alert For Scams Issued By Police In Fairfield County It seems that every day a new scam is hitting the internet, and members of the Fairfield Police Department are offering tips on how to avoid becoming a victim. Many of the scams are common, but people still fall for them, Town of Fairfield Police Chief Robert Kalamaras said. Some common-sense reminders offered by the department include never give out personal or financial information to a person they do not know or whose identity cannot be verified. That includes Social Security numbers or credit card numbers.  Recently, Fairfield Police received a report regarding an elaborate scam t…
Body Found In NY May Be Linked To Shooting Involving Judge's Family Body Found In NY May Be Linked To Shooting Involving Judge's Family
Body Found In NY May Be Linked To Shooting Involving Judge's Family Click here for an updated story: ID Released For Man Found Dead In Sullivan County After Allegedly Killing Federal Judge's Son A body found in the Hudson Valley may be linked to the shooting death of the son and wounding of the husband of a federal judge just assigned to a financial fraud case tied to the late convicted sex offender billionaire Jeffrey Epstein and the wounding of her husband, according to a new report. The fatal gunshot wound victim was discovered on a roadway in the Sullivan County town of Rockland on Monday morning, July 20. A town employee reportedly made the d…
Son Of Federal Judge Assigned Case Linked To Jeffrey Epstein Slain, Husband Critical In Attack Son Of Federal Judge Assigned Case Linked To Jeffrey Epstein Slain, Husband Critical In Attack
Son Of Federal Judge Assigned Case Linked To Jeffrey Epstein Slain, Husband Critical In Attack Click here for an updated story: Body Found In Sullivan County May Be Linked To Shooting Involving Judge The son of a federal judge just assigned to a financial fraud case tied to the late convicted sex offender billionaire Jeffrey Epstein was killed and her husband critically injured after both were shot by a gunman dressed as a FedEx deliveryman at their New Jersey home, according to authorities. Daniel Anderl, 20, was shot immediately after the door to the house in North Brunswick Township was opened around 5 p.m. Sunday, July 19, reports said. Judge Esther Salas' hus…
COVID-19: Alert Issued For Contact Tracer Scam COVID-19: Alert Issued For Contact Tracer Scam
Covid-19: Alert Issued For Contact Tracer Scam Fraudsters posing as contact tracers have been exploiting the COVID-19 crisis to ascertain personal information from residents in the region. Multiple reports of scammers posing as COVID-19 contact tracers have been reported since the pandemic began, prompting officials to issue an alert and provide guidance on how to avoid becoming a victim. Officials said that the imposters claim to work on behalf of local law enforcement or health departments and are required to install contact tracing software onto their victims’ computers. The scammers have threatened fines, asked for personal financi…
Man Nabbed For Pulling Renter's Scam In Greenwich, Police Say Man Nabbed For Pulling Renter's Scam In Greenwich, Police Say
Man Nabbed For Pulling Renter's Scam In Greenwich, Police Say A man who had allegedly pulled a financial fraud scam on a Greenwich resident was nabbed following a lengthy investigation. The incident began in March 2019 when a Greenwich resident reported to police they had rented an out-of-state property through an on-line listing, Greenwich Police said.  A person, later identified as Jelil Olawale Aboila, 23, of Newark, New Jersey, contacted the victim and agreed to rent the property. He then sent a check to the victim in excess of the amount agreed upon, police said. Aboila then called the victim and requested a refund of th…
Bridgeport Woman Paid Travel Agent $6,600 With Checks From Blocked Account, Police Say Bridgeport Woman Paid Travel Agent $6,600 With Checks From Blocked Account, Police Say
Bridgeport Woman Paid Travel Agent $6,600 With Checks From Blocked Account, Police Say A Bridgeport woman has been arrested on a warrant for allegedly paying her travel agent in checks from a frozen/blocked account. Regina Salcedo, 60, was arrested on Wednesday, Sept. 25, on a warrant for in regards to issuing the two checks, said Milford Police. “Salcedo is accused of issuing two checks from a ‘frozen/blocked’ bank account to a Milford travel agent totaling over $6,600 in October 2018, leaving the victim responsible for returned check fees and unpaid travel bookings,” police said in a press release. Salcedo was charged with two counts of issuing a bad check and released on …
Financial Adviser From New Canaan Admits To Defrauding Clients In Fake Investment Scheme Financial Adviser From New Canaan Admits To Defrauding Clients In Fake Investment Scheme
Financial Adviser From New Canaan Admits To Defrauding Clients In Fake Investment Scheme A Fairfield County man who served as a financial adviser at two investment banks in Manhattan has admitted to defrauding clients out of hundreds of thousands of dollars. Elias Herbert Hafen, 64, of New Canaan, pleaded guilty one count of wire fraud and will face up to five years in prison, U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Berman announced. Hafen was taken into custody and appeared in Manhattan federal court on Wednesday, Sept. 4, where he pleaded guilty. Between 2013 and 2018, Hafen defrauded at least 11 of his financial advisory clients into believing he had access to a high-yield investment fund wi…
Don't Fall For Them: Alert Issued For These Scams Don't Fall For Them: Alert Issued For These Scams
Don't Fall For Them: Alert Issued For These Scams Residents in the area are being warned about scams that seem to be on the increase. The scams provide ways for criminals will attempt to get money from people by contacting them and making up elaborate stories, the Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office said in the warning to residents of Dutchess and nearby counties in New York and Connecticut. In some cases the perpetrators have tried, sometimes successfully, to use the victim’s emotions about a loved one in trouble to get money.  It’s common for the perpetrators of these scams to try to get money by telling people that one of their …
FBI Issues Valentine's Day Romance Scam Warning After Woman Bilked Out Of $2M FBI Issues Valentine's Day Romance Scam Warning After Woman Bilked Out Of $2M
FBI Issues Valentine's Day Romance Scam Warning After Woman Bilked Out Of $2M With love in the air on Valentine’s Day, the FBI is warning that if an online courtship seems too good to be true, it just might be. Citing an incident when a woman in her 50s was bilked out of $2 million, the FBI issued an alert on Thursday regarding romance scams, which is an Internet crime that is on the rise. 
The FBI said that “victims - predominantly older, widowed or divorced women targeted by criminal groups usually from Nigeria - are, for the most part, computer literate and educated. But they are also emotionally vulnerable. And con artists know exactly how to exploit that vulnera…
Ex-CFO From Area Sentenced, Ordered To Pay $21M Accounting Fraud Ex-CFO From Area Sentenced, Ordered To Pay $21M Accounting Fraud
Ex-cfo From Area Sentenced, Ordered To Pay $21M Accounting Fraud A former chief financial officer of Bankrate Inc. who lived in Fairfield County was given a “significant” prison sentence for accounting and securities fraud and must pay back more than $20 million. Monroe resident Edward DiMaria was sentenced to 10 years prison followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty in June to conspiracy to make false statements about a public company; falsifying a public company’s books, records and accounts; securities fraud and making false statements to the SEC. DiMaria must also pay $21.23 million in restitution. According to prosecutors, …
Police Warn Residents Of Scam Involving Internet Transactions Police Warn Residents Of Scam Involving Internet Transactions
Police Warn Residents Of Scam Involving Internet Transactions A new scam is making the rounds in the area, police are cautioning. The scam has become prevalent involving Internet transactions on platforms such as Craigslist and other similar sites, the Stamford Police Department said. Police said that the scam takes place when a suspect, posing as a buyer, pays the victim for an item with either a fraudulent or bad check. Before the check can bounce or be discovered as a fake, and before the item is shipped, the suspect will then claim he no longer wants to complete the transaction, asking for the victim to refund the money. According to police, “un…
More Than A Dozen Thefts From Public Mailboxes Reported In New Canaan More Than A Dozen Thefts From Public Mailboxes Reported In New Canaan
More Than A Dozen Thefts From Public Mailboxes Reported In New Canaan New Canaan Police are warning residents to avoid using the large USPS mailboxes if possible after a rise in thefts from the boxes. Lt. Jason Ferraro said the town has experienced at least 12 reported cases of the "phishing" type thefts from mailboxes on Main and Pine streets.  "We even had instances where bills and checks are being stolen from residential mailboxes which have a flag up," Ferraro said. He advises that residents take their mail inside the post office and hand it to a clerk. "This is going on around the country," he added. "There was a repo…
Former Executive From Westport Sentenced For Violating Supervised Release Former Executive From Westport Sentenced For Violating Supervised Release
Former Executive From Westport Sentenced For Violating Supervised Release A former rental company executive in Westport who spent more than two years in prison for cooking his company’s books is heading back behind bars after failing to pay back several million dollars since his release. John Durham, the United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced this week that John Milne, 58, has been sentenced to a term of 24 months in prison for violating the conditions of his post-prison supervised release. Milne was sentenced to 27 months in prison on March 11, 2010, followed by three years of supervised release for conspiring to falsify the books and …