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Wife Of Notorious NJ House Flipper Indicted After Smashing Phone In Husband's Federal Case Wife Of Notorious NJ House Flipper Indicted After Smashing Phone In Husband's Federal Case
Wife Of Notorious NJ House Flipper Indicted After Smashing Phone In Husband's Federal Case A New Jersey woman has been indicted in a federal case tied to her husband, a notorious house flipper, after she destroyed her cell phone as law enforcement tried to seize it during a fraud investigation, officials announced. Jennifer Iturralde Pina, 43, of Franklin Lakes, was indicted on a charge of destruction of records in a federal investigation, U.S. Attorney Alina Habba announced Thursday, July 3. The case stems from a federal investigation involving her husband, Cesar Humberto Pina, 45 — a real estate influencer better known as “Flipping NJ.” Pina gained national attention through r…

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by Cecilia Levine
News
FBI Announces Site Of New Headquarters FBI Announces Site Of New Headquarters
FBI Announces Site Of New Headquarters After nearly two decades of stalled plans and shifting priorities, the FBI has finally found a new home. The agency just announced that its new headquarters will be located at the Ronald Reagan Building complex at 1300 Pennsylvania Ave. NW in Washington, DC. The decision ends years of discussion over building a new suburban campus — a costly proposal now shelved in favor of repurposing an existing federal site. The move will save taxpayers billions in construction costs and eliminate more than $300 million in deferred maintenance on the aging J. Edgar Hoover Building, according to the Gene…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
IRS Scam Busted: $93M COVID Fraud Tied To Attempted Hit On Alleged Mastermind IRS Scam Busted: $93M COVID Fraud Tied To Attempted Hit On Alleged Mastermind
IRS Scam Busted: $93M COVID Fraud Tied To Attempted Hit On Alleged Mastermind It started with a fake business. It ended with a shootout in broad daylight. Four people are facing federal charges in what prosecutors call the largest COVID-19 tax credit fraud scheme ever identified.  This $93 million operation allegedly involved fake companies, kickbacks, and a botched attempt to silence the ringleader. The sprawling indictment, unsealed in Los Angeles, details an alleged conspiracy to defraud the IRS by submitting false claims for Coronavirus Response Credits.  These federal tax refunds were designed to help small businesses cover sick and family leave wage…

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by Joe Lombardi
Police & Fire
NJ Man Was Part Of North Korean Spy Plot That Conned US Companies To Fund Weapons Program: DOJ NJ Man Was Part Of North Korean Spy Plot That Conned US Companies To Fund Weapons Program: DOJ
NJ Man Was Part Of North Korean Spy Plot That Conned US Companies To Fund Weapons Program: DOJ A New Jersey man and eight foreign nationals from China and Taiwan have been charged in Boston in what federal officials call a major scheme to secretly funnel money to North Korea’s weapons of mass destruction program. Zhenxing “Danny” Wang of New Jersey was arrested and accused of helping North Korean IT workers pose as Americans to get remote jobs with American companies, the US Attorney for Massachusetts said.  The workers allegedly used stolen identities to land jobs at major businesses, including a defense contractor. Authorities say this scam helped generate at least $5 million …

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by Josh Lanier
News
Scam Targets Airlines As Hacking Group Expands Operations, FBI Warns Scam Targets Airlines As Hacking Group Expands Operations, FBI Warns
Scam Targets Airlines As Hacking Group Expands Operations, FBI Warns A cybercriminal group known for extorting people and companies across the world is now targeting the airline industry. The FBI has issued a warning about Scattered Spider, a hacking group that has  expanded its operations to include major US airlines and their vendors.  The group is known for using convincing impersonation tactics to access corporate networks, often bypassing multi-factor authentication by tricking IT staff into adding unauthorized devices. Scattered Spider impersonates employees or contractors to deceive help desks. "These techniques frequently involve methods …

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by Chris Spiker
News
Firefighter Killings: Suspect Found Dead After 'Ambush' Shooting On Idaho First Responders Firefighter Killings: Suspect Found Dead After 'Ambush' Shooting On Idaho First Responders
Firefighter Killings: Suspect Found Dead After 'Ambush' Shooting On Idaho First Responders An armed suspect was found dead following what police described as an ambush shooting that killed two firefighters and injured a third in northern Idaho. The attack unfolded around 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time on Sunday, June 29, when fire crews responded to a brushfire near the 24-acre Canfield Mountain Park in Coeur d’Alene. After intentionally starting the fire to lure first responders, a gunman armed with a “sporting rifle” opened fire, shooting and killing two firefighters and injuring a third, according to the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office. The injured firefighter was listed in stab…

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by Michael Mashburn
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DHS Warns Of Terror Attacks, Cyber Threats In US Amid Iran Conflict; NY On High Alert DHS Warns Of Terror Attacks, Cyber Threats In US Amid Iran Conflict; NY On High Alert
DHS Warns Of Terror Attacks, Cyber Threats In US Amid Iran Conflict; NY On High Alert Federal officials are warning of a heightened threat environment in the United States due to the ongoing conflict with Iran, according to a new DHS National Terrorism Advisory Bulletin issued Sunday, June 22. The alert says low-level cyberattacks, plots against U.S. officials, and extremist violence at home could all rise in the coming weeks as tensions overseas continue. “The ongoing Iran conflict is causing a heightened threat environment in the United States,” the Department of Homeland Security said in the bulletin, which remains active through Sept. 22. The warning has prompted New Yo…

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by Cecilia Levine
News
Crypto Crackdown: $225M In Stolen Funds Seized In Global ‘Pig Butchering’ Scam: DOJ Crypto Crackdown: $225M In Stolen Funds Seized In Global ‘Pig Butchering’ Scam: DOJ
Crypto Crackdown: $225M In Stolen Funds Seized In Global ‘Pig Butchering’ Scam: DOJ Federal officials seized more than $225 million in stolen cryptocurrency in what they say is the largest-ever seizure of funds linked to a crypto confidence scam in US history. The civil forfeiture complaint, filed in Washington, DC, targets over $225.3 million in crypto assets that investigators say were tied to a complex global fraud operation.  According to the Justice Department, scammers used fake cryptocurrency investment platforms to trick hundreds of victims into transferring money into fraudulent accounts. Authorities say the scammers dispersed stolen funds across hundreds of…

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by Zak Failla
News
'Heartless Frauds': Feds Seize Record $225M In Crypto From 'Pig Butchering' Scammers 'Heartless Frauds': Feds Seize Record $225M In Crypto From 'Pig Butchering' Scammers
'Heartless Frauds': Feds Seize Record $225M In Crypto From 'Pig Butchering' Scammers Federal agents have seized the largest amount of cryptocurrency ever related to "pig butchering" scams, where victims were tricked into fake online relationships. The Department of Justice announced the seizure of $225.3 million in crypto from the global "confidence scam" on Wednesday, June 18. The scam is also known as "pig butchering" since it uses tactics used to "fatten up" victims before draining their savings. Scammers relied on false identities through online messaging to gain trust and enter fake relationships before pushing fraudulent investments. "These scams prey …

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by Chris Spiker
News
Ex-Hoboken Official Who Stole Half A Million In Taxpayer Funds For Lavish Life Sentenced Ex-Hoboken Official Who Stole Half A Million In Taxpayer Funds For Lavish Life Sentenced
Ex-Hoboken Official Who Stole Half A Million In Taxpayer Funds For Lavish Life Sentenced A former top Hoboken official who oversaw city recreation programs will spend the next two years behind bars for embezzling nearly half a million dollars from taxpayers, federal officials said. Pantaleo “Leo” Pellegrini, Hoboken’s former Director of Health and Human Services and Director of the Department of Environmental Services, was sentenced to 24 months in prison for embezzling money from the City of Hoboken and filing a false tax return, U.S. Attorney Alina Habba said on Tuesday, June 17. Pellegrini had previously pleaded guilty to the charges before U.S. District Judge Michael E. Far…

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by Cecilia Levine
News
Don’t Answer If You Get This Call, FBI Says Don’t Answer If You Get This Call, FBI Says
Don’t Answer If You Get This Call, FBI Says If you get a call from someone claiming to be the FBI or another government agency and threatens arrest unless you pay up, hang up. Scammers across the country are impersonating federal authorities and spoofing legitimate government phone numbers in a rising wave of fraud, authorities say. Victims are being told they face immediate arrest unless they send money via prepaid gift cards, wire transfers, cash, or cryptocurrency. The threats are fake, but the financial losses are very real. Here’s how the scam works: Caller ID spoofing — Scammers manipulate phone numbers so it looks like the …

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by Joe Lombardi
News
Phony Texts Threaten Drivers With Suspensions: Here's What To Know Phony Texts Threaten Drivers With Suspensions: Here's What To Know
Phony Texts Threaten Drivers With Suspensions: Here's What To Know There’s a scam targeting drivers through text messages pretending to be from the DMV. Cybercriminals who once claimed victims owed unpaid tolls are now pivoting to a new phishing attack, according to authorities. If you’ve received a text message warning that your driver’s license is about to be suspended due to unpaid tickets, stop and think before you click. It might be a scam. The FBI and other law enforcement agencies are alerting the public about a new wave of phishing scams — specifically “smishing,” or fraudulent text messages — that claim to be from the Department of Motor Vehicles…

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by Joe Lombardi