Tag:

Identity theft

Holiday Deals Or Fraud? IRS Issues Warning For These Scams Holiday Deals Or Fraud? IRS Issues Warning For These Scams
Holiday Deals Or Fraud? IRS Issues Warning For These Scams As the holiday shopping season begins, the IRS reminds everyone that it’s not just your credit card balance you need to watch — it’s also your personal information. As part of its ninth annual National Tax Security Awareness Week, the IRS is warning taxpayers about a rise in holiday scams.  The scammers aren’t interested in gifts under your tree; they’re after your Social Security number and financial information instead. Here’s how scammers are getting creative—and how you can stay safe: Phishing Emails: Be wary of emails pretending to be from reputable retailers, shipping companie…
New Charges Filed Against Former NJ Mayoral Candidate Accused Of Election Fraud: AG New Charges Filed Against Former NJ Mayoral Candidate Accused Of Election Fraud: AG
New Charges Filed Against Former NJ Mayoral Candidate Accused Of Election Fraud: AG A 70-year-old former mayoral candidate town previously accused of election fraud is facing new charges, New Jersey authorities announced Friday, Aug. 23. An indictment returned against Plainfield's former mayoral candidate Dr. Henrilynn Ibezim charges him with tampering with witnesses and informants and trafficking in personal identifying information pertaining to another person, New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin said. Ibezim had previously been accused of trying to submit hundreds of bogus voter registration applications to Union County's election officials, and th…
UPDATE: NJ Man, 72, Admits Posing As Dead Guy To Collect Social Security, Medicaid For 14 Years UPDATE: NJ Man, 72, Admits Posing As Dead Guy To Collect Social Security, Medicaid For 14 Years
Update: NJ Man, 72, Admits Posing As Dead Guy To Collect Social Security, Medicaid For 14 Years A 72-year-old South Jersey resident admitted that he assumed a dead man's identity to collect more than $200,000 in Social Security payments and Medicaid benefits for 14 years. Dennis Gaudette of Franklinville was 57 years old when U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger said he began the long-running con in March 2009. It continued until he was caught last year, the U.S. attorney said. Gaudette collected $43,464 in Social Security Retirement Income Benefits and $85,332.50 in Supplemental Security that he wasn't entitled to, Sellinger said. During the same time period, the state of Ne…
'King James': NJ Lawyer Gets 4½ Years, No Early Release For $2 Million Theft From Family, More 'King James': NJ Lawyer Gets 4½ Years, No Early Release For $2 Million Theft From Family, More
'King James': NJ Lawyer Gets 4½ Years, No Early Release For $2 Million Theft From Family, More 𝗨𝗣𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘: A once-prominent New Jersey lawyer must spend the next 4½ years in federal prison for swindling a family he represented out of $2 million -- and then, while on pre-trial release, impersonating another attorney in applying for a loan. The family had retained James R. Lisa, 68, of Jersey City, to gather millions that had been moved into offshore bank accounts by relatives decades ago and to resolve any tax issues that arose as a result, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger said. Soon after being retained, Lisa moved more than $6 million back into the United States but told the famil…
Wanted Woman Used Sister's Identity During Stolen Vehicle Arrest In Atlantic City: Police Wanted Woman Used Sister's Identity During Stolen Vehicle Arrest In Atlantic City: Police
Wanted Woman Used Sister's Identity During Stolen Vehicle Arrest In Atlantic City: Police An Atlantic County woman was accused of using her sister's identity when she was arrested in a stolen vehicle investigation, authorities said. Caitlin Rainey, 33, of Northfield, was arrested on Sunday, May 12. The Atlantic City Police Department issued a news release on Thursday, May 16 to update the original information it released about the arrest on Tuesday, May 14. An officer found an empty and stolen minivan on the first block of Tennessee Avenue at around 6:57 p.m. on Sunday. Shortly before police arrived, surveillance video showed two people leaving the minivan, which had been report…
NJ Addiction Centers Victim Of Data Breach NJ Addiction Centers Victim Of Data Breach
NJ Addiction Centers Victim Of Data Breach Addition centers in five locations have suffered a data breach that may compromise patients' private information, officials said. Maryville, a nonprofit addition agency, is offering credit monitoring services for those who may have had their Social Security numbers and other private details exposed as a result of the incident, according to spokesman Bill Crowe. The centers affected are in Williamstown, Turnersville, Pemberton, Vineland and Franklinville. "We have no indication that any information has been misused for identity theft," the agency said. On or around August 22, 2023, Maryvil…
Fugitive Found With Crystal Meth, Brass Knuckles On Jersey Shore: Police Fugitive Found With Crystal Meth, Brass Knuckles On Jersey Shore: Police
Fugitive Found With Crystal Meth, Brass Knuckles On Jersey Shore: Police A man and woman from Pennsylvania were arrested after police found drugs and brass knuckles during a traffic stop, authorities said. Michal Ray, 47, of Morrisville, PA, and Nicole Olenick, 47, also of PA, were arrested on Monday, Feb. 12. The Brigantine Police Department announced their arrests on Tuesday, Feb. 13. At around 10:45 a.m., a Brigantine officer stopped a vehicle for speeding near the intersection of 31st Street and Bayshore Avenue. The officer noticed Ray was not wearing his seatbelt in the front passenger's seat. Ray and Olenick gave identification to the officer who not…
Elderly Bergen Couple's Trusted Personal Assistant Stole $2.9M Of Their Money, Feds Charge Elderly Bergen Couple's Trusted Personal Assistant Stole $2.9M Of Their Money, Feds Charge
Elderly Bergen Couple's Trusted Personal Assistant Stole $2.9M Of Their Money, Feds Charge An elderly Bergen County couple had $2.9 million stolen by a now-former Ridgewood Public Library tech administrator whom they'd hired to be a part-time assistant at their home, federal authorities said following his arrest. Charles Gallo, 34, of Hawthorne, was responsible for managing the victims’ monthly bills, handling their banking and helping them with email and other issues involving technology after being hired in 2018, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger said. The couple trusted Gallo with their personal bank accounts, credit card accounts, online retail accounts and email, the U.S. at…
George Santos Is Out: Here's How NJ Delegates Voted George Santos Is Out: Here's How NJ Delegates Voted
George Santos Is Out: Here's How NJ Delegates Voted New Jersey's congressional delegation all shared the same sentiment when it comes to Rep. George Santos. They wanted him out, and they got it. The serial fabulist (R-Long Island) was expelled by the US House 311-114, with all 12 New Jersey representatives, including three Republicans, voting in favor of his ouster. The resolution required a two-thirds majority vote in order to pass. Santos was expelled amid mounting accusations of criminality. He is only the sixth member of Congress to be expelled in American history. Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-Dennis), Rob Menendez (D-Jersey City) and Ch…
Case Of Stolen Identity Takes Twisted Turn For Atlantic City Heroin, Coke Dealer: Police Case Of Stolen Identity Takes Twisted Turn For Atlantic City Heroin, Coke Dealer: Police
Case Of Stolen Identity Takes Twisted Turn For Atlantic City Heroin, Coke Dealer: Police Natasha Miller apparently chose the wrong identity to steal. The 34-year-old Atlantic City woman presented police with the identification of a relative, who had several warrants out for her arrest — along with a suspended driver's license — during a traffic stop on North Missouri Avenue around 2:30 a.m. on Nov. 12, city police said. Thinking Miller was the relative whom she was pretending to be, Miller was arrested based on the warrants.  Police then found 132 individual bags of heroin, more than 50 grams of cocaine, and more than $2,600 in cash, in Miller's possession. It …
Teens Arrested For Stealing Mail In Mercer County: Police Teens Arrested For Stealing Mail In Mercer County: Police
Teens Arrested For Stealing Mail In Mercer County: Police A pair of teenagers from Trenton and South Carolina are accused of stealing mail in Lawrenceville, authorities said. On Friday, Oct. 6 at approximately 1 a.m., Lawrence Township Police Sgt. John Stever was on routine patrol when he observed a silver sedan parked near the U.S. Post Office (Circle Branch) at 2601 Brunswick Pike in Lawrenceville. The sedan's occupants allegedly were in possession of various opened pieces of mail and checks/money orders in multiple victims’ names, police said. Further investigation revealed evidence of a burglary to the mailbox at the …
Feds: Mailbox ‘Fisher’ Who Plagued Bergen, Morris, Hudson Gets 27 Months Without Parole Feds: Mailbox ‘Fisher’ Who Plagued Bergen, Morris, Hudson Gets 27 Months Without Parole
Feds: Mailbox ‘Fisher’ Who Plagued Bergen, Morris, Hudson Gets 27 Months Without Parole UPDATE: A member of a crew that fished more than $100,000 worth of checks from mailboxes in Bergen, Hudson and Morris counties is headed to federal prison for more than two years. Brando Mancebopujols, 24, will have to serve just about all of the plea-bargained 27-month sentence because there’s no parole in the federal prison system. Mancebopujols, formerly of Paterson, admitted that he and his associates pocketed the money by depositing the checks into bank accounts that they controlled, U.S. Attorney for New Jersey Philip R. Sellinger said. As many as 40 postal boxes had been broken into…
Cape May County Phone Scammers Claimed They Were From Amazon, DEA: Prosecutor Cape May County Phone Scammers Claimed They Were From Amazon, DEA: Prosecutor
Cape May County Phone Scammers Claimed They Were From Amazon, DEA: Prosecutor Two people have been arrested in connection with a phone scam, authorities said. On Aug. 29, the victim in this investigation received a call from a subject claiming to be from Amazon Customer Service, according to Cape May County Prosecutor Jeffrey H. Sutherland, This individual claimed that they were calling because of an issue with a purchase and the victim’s identity was stolen. The victim was subsequently transferred to another individual claiming to be from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). The victim was then told that there were multiple bank a…
South Jersey Man Had $10M In Stolen Checks In Large-Scale Money Laundering Scheme: Prosecutor South Jersey Man Had $10M In Stolen Checks In Large-Scale Money Laundering Scheme: Prosecutor
South Jersey Man Had $10M In Stolen Checks In Large-Scale Money Laundering Scheme: Prosecutor A 31-year-old man from Mays Landing and 35 others were indicted on charges stemming from a large-scale money laundering operation, authorities said. Isaiah Edwards-Stewart was indicted on Tuesday, Aug 29, according to the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office. The 120-count indictment charged Edwards-Stewart with multiple counts of money laundering, theft, forgery, computer crimes, identity theft, trafficking of personal identifying information, and other offenses. The investigation, which began in 2022, revealed Edwards-Stewart’s alleged involvement with the financial operati…
South Jersey Woman Stole $675K In Investment Scheme: Prosecutor South Jersey Woman Stole $675K In Investment Scheme: Prosecutor
South Jersey Woman Stole $675K In Investment Scheme: Prosecutor A 59-year-old woman from South Jersey has admitted to defrauding a woman out of $600,000 and then stealing her identity, authorities said. Wei Song, 59, of Egg Harbor Township, faces 16 years in New Jersey State Prison under her plea agreement on money laundering and identity theft charges, according to the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office. This case involved a multi-year social engineering scheme that resulted in financial losses of over $600,000 from one victim and over $75,000 in identity theft damages, the prosecutor said. The defendant preyed upon the victim, convincing he…
South Jersey Man Ran $10M Money-Laundering Operation: Prosecutor South Jersey Man Ran $10M Money-Laundering Operation: Prosecutor
South Jersey Man Ran $10M Money-Laundering Operation: Prosecutor A South Jersey man is accused of running a nearly $10 million money-laundering operation and stealing nearly 2,000 checks, authorities said. Isaiah Edwards-Stewart, 31, of Mays Landing, was arrested on 17 counts, including first-degree money laundering, identify theft, computer crimes and forgery, according to the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office. The investigation, which began in 2022, found Edwards-Stewart in possession of over 1,988 stolen checks, amounting to $9,763,588 as well over 1,000 items of personal identifying information for other individuals, n…
PA Thief Goes Shopping In NJ With Victim's Stolen Cards: Police PA Thief Goes Shopping In NJ With Victim's Stolen Cards: Police
PA Thief Goes Shopping In NJ With Victim's Stolen Cards: Police Police in Bucks County are pressing charges against a Philadelphia woman who they say snatched a wallet from a diner at a Feasterville restaurant.  Diane Doughty, 32, of Philadelphia, is wanted for felony identity theft, said Lower Southampton police in a release.  Investigators believe Doughty swiped the wallet from a customer at an eatery on the 100 block of East Street Road on Feb. 13. After that, detectives say she used the victim's cards at retail stores in Pennsylvania and out-of-state.  Police tracked the debit and credit activity to a business in Deptford, New Jersey…
Greedy PA Workers Paid Off Student Loans, Took Trips To Jersey Shore On Doctor's Dime: DA Greedy PA Workers Paid Off Student Loans, Took Trips To Jersey Shore On Doctor's Dime: DA
Greedy PA Workers Paid Off Student Loans, Took Trips To Jersey Shore On Doctor's Dime: DA Trips to the Jersey Shore, student loan payments and gifts to their boyfriends. Two employers of a West Chester doctor sneakily stole $450,000 of his money to do just that and more, but not before trying to sell one of the doctor's $1 million properties without his permission, according to authorities in Chester County. Mikayla Zeigler, 22, of West Chester, and Danielle King, 25, of Chadds Ford, "engaged in a cunning scheme to steal from their boss and spent it lavishly on themselves," District Attorney Deb Ryan said. "They used the money to pay their rent, student loans, and credit card d…
Boyfriend Of Newark Woman Missing Since 2017 Charged With Stealing Disabled Son's Benefits Boyfriend Of Newark Woman Missing Since 2017 Charged With Stealing Disabled Son's Benefits
Boyfriend Of Newark Woman Missing Since 2017 Charged With Stealing Disabled Son's Benefits The former live-in boyfriend of a Newark woman who's been missing more than five years accessed her personal information and within days began embezzling benefit payments meant for her disabled son, federal authorities charged. Asmar Earp, a 37-year-old ex-con with an extensive criminal record, first changed the pin code on the benefits debit card belonging to Venika Williams less than a week after she was reported missing in December 2017, U.S. Attorney for New Jersey Philip R. Sellinger said. A few months later, he used Williams's name, date of birth and Social Security number to receive …
Raid At New Teaneck Apartment Complex Yields Arrests Of Couple, NYC Murder Suspect From PA Raid At New Teaneck Apartment Complex Yields Arrests Of Couple, NYC Murder Suspect From PA
Raid At New Teaneck Apartment Complex Yields Arrests Of Couple, NYC Murder Suspect From PA A Teaneck couple was arrested along with a Pennsylvania ex-con wanted in connection with a New York City homicide during a raid of the pair’s swanky apartment, authorities said. Rickey D. Richardson, 56, and Taisha Tamika Bramwell, 39, were seized following the SWAT-led operation late last week at the recently opened One500 luxury complex on Teaneck Road, Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella said. They were later released pending court action, records show. Also arrested following the Feb. 23 raid was the target of the raid, Ron Reeder, 54, of Windber, PA, who’s being held in the Bergen C…
Jersey Shore Cyberthief Swipes $300,000 From Bergen Retiree's Account: It Happens A Lot Jersey Shore Cyberthief Swipes $300,000 From Bergen Retiree's Account: It Happens A Lot
Jersey Shore Cyberthief Swipes $300,000 From Bergen Retiree's Account: It Happens A Lot An unemployed cyberthief from the Jersey Shore swiped more than $300,000 from an elderly Lodi resident’s retirement account after stealing the victim’s identity, authorities charged. Joseph Bilotta, 65, hijacked the online account, along with others in New Jersey and Maryland, “to fund his lifestyle,” Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella said. Lodi police notified members of the prosecutor’s Financial Crimes Unit of the account takeover scheme in 2021, Musella said. They arrested Bilotta on theft charges following an investigation and sent him to the Bergen County Jail only to have a judg…
Philly Man Made $150K In ID Theft Purchases: Police Philly Man Made $150K In ID Theft Purchases: Police
Philly Man Made $150K In ID Theft Purchases: Police Police in South Jersey have charged a Philadelphia man with making more than $150,000 in purchases using a stolen identity. On Dec. 11, 2022, Evesham Twp. Patrol Officers took a report in which the victim reported that an unknown person had used his personal and financial information to purchase several motor vehicles and various other items. An extensive follow-up investigation was conducted and a suspect, Dajuan White, was identified. White, who is currently incarcerated out of state, on unrelated charges has been charged with impersonation and identity theft, Evesham polic…
Widow Who Fell Victim To $39K Romance Scam 'Forgot How Good It Felt To Be Loved' Widow Who Fell Victim To $39K Romance Scam 'Forgot How Good It Felt To Be Loved'
Widow Who Fell Victim To $39K Romance Scam 'Forgot How Good It Felt To Be Loved' After losing her life savings to an internet romance scam, one Pennsylvania senior is speaking out to protect others from falling victim.  Kate Kleinert of Glenolden had been widowed for 12 years and had stopped looking for love when she received a Facebook friend request in August 2020, she wrote to a US Senate committee last year.  The man said he was a doctor named Tony Richard, and quickly struck up a friendship with Kate based on mutual interests, she said.  "We started talking on the phone through an app he had me download," Kate told Senators. "He told me he was …
Andrew Bucklandon Is NOT Missing: Here's How Social Scammers Get You Andrew Bucklandon Is NOT Missing: Here's How Social Scammers Get You
Andrew Bucklandon Is NOT Missing: Here's How Social Scammers Get You A boy named Andrew Bucklandon hasn't gone missing. He didn't leave for school and not return. He doesn't even exist. For those who've seen -- or, worse, shared -- the Facebook post about a purportedly missing boy the past couple of days, here are a few questions: Does the post include a town? A link? Contact details? It doesn't. Because it's bogus. Like any good phishing scam, the missing boy ploy tugs at the heartstrings and plays on the fears of those who want to help. They're actually helping the scammers find more victims. Phishers threw their latest line into social media waters on…
Ex-Con From Viral Jersey Shore Arrest Video Charged With 1,500 Heroin Bags, Pounds Of Pot, More Ex-Con From Viral Jersey Shore Arrest Video Charged With 1,500 Heroin Bags, Pounds Of Pot, More
Ex-Con From Viral Jersey Shore Arrest Video Charged With 1,500 Heroin Bags, Pounds Of Pot, More An ex-con whose Point Pleasant boardwalk arrest became part of a viral video was busted once again on drug charges, this time along with his roommate, authorities said. A SWAT team led a raid on the Grand Street apartment in Garfield that Zakee Murphy, 32, shares with fish tank technician Ryene Perry, 34, landing both in jail on various drug-related counts, Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella said. Murphy has been arrested dozens of times in multiple counties over the past decade, records show. This time he's accused of using the Garfield home to stash the drugs along with more than $8,…
South Jersey Pair Bilked Victim Out Of $600K, Laundered Money: Prosecutor South Jersey Pair Bilked Victim Out Of $600K, Laundered Money: Prosecutor
South Jersey Pair Bilked Victim Out Of $600K, Laundered Money: Prosecutor A pair of South Jersey residents has been indicted on money laundering and theft charges, authorities said. Wei Song, 59, and Botao Liu, 52, both of Egg Harbor Township were indicted on Thursday, Nov. 17 for charges stemming from a multi-year social engineering scheme that resulted in financial losses of over $600,000 from one victim, millions of dollars in bad checks, and identity theft damages, according to the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office. Song was indicted for money laundering – a first-degree offense; theft by deception – a second-degree offense; identity the…
Burlington County Man Admits Bank Fraud Totaling $523K, Feds Say Burlington County Man Admits Bank Fraud Totaling $523K, Feds Say
Burlington County Man Admits Bank Fraud Totaling $523K, Feds Say A Burlington County man admitted his role in a conspiracy to steal bank customer identities, authorities said. He used that information to steal more than $520,000, according to U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger. Jamere Hill-Birdsong, 33, of Mount Holly, pleaded guilty on Tuesday, Nov. 1 to an indictment charging him with conspiracy to commit bank fraud, Sellinger said. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: From August 2016 through August 2017, Hill-Birdsong conspired with Lamar Melhado, of the Bronx, and others to defraud a Mount Laurel bank.  Hill…
Accountant Busted Boarding Plane At Newark Airport Admits Stealing $3.5M From Clients: Feds Accountant Busted Boarding Plane At Newark Airport Admits Stealing $3.5M From Clients: Feds
Accountant Busted Boarding Plane At Newark Airport Admits Stealing $3.5M From Clients: Feds A Massachusetts money manager who police arrested last month at Newark International Airport trying to escape prosecution admitted to stealing $3.5 million from his clients, including the entire life savings of an elderly couple, federal authorities said.  Steven Xigoros, 55, pleaded guilty in a Boston court this week to two counts of wire fraud, one count of aggravated identity theft, and one count of filing a false tax return, the US Attorney for Massachusetts said.  Xigoros worked as an accountant, tax preparer, and investment advisor who federal investigators said used th…
UPDATE: Two Seized By Mahwah Police After Chase Through Ramapo College, Crash UPDATE: Two Seized By Mahwah Police After Chase Through Ramapo College, Crash
Update: Two Seized By Mahwah Police After Chase Through Ramapo College, Crash UPDATE: Two thieves who’d been stealing mail led Mahwah police on a stolen car chase onto the Ramapo College campus before the vehicle struck an officer's cruiser and they were captured, authorities said. Police responding to a suspicious vehicle report at the Rio Vista development off Campgaw Road and Route 202 shortly before 11:30 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 6, spotted the 2021 Honda Civic, which had been reported stolen out of New York City the day before. Detective Sgt. Eric Larsen and Officer Brian Joyce tried to stop the Civic as it pulled onto Campgaw Road, but the driver hit the gas and fle…
Feds: NJ, NY Postal Workers Stole Credit Cards To Buy $1.3M In Luxury Items For Online Resale Feds: NJ, NY Postal Workers Stole Credit Cards To Buy $1.3M In Luxury Items For Online Resale
Feds: NJ, NY Postal Workers Stole Credit Cards To Buy $1.3M In Luxury Items For Online Resale Three U.S. Postal Service workers from New Jersey and New York City masterminded a scheme to buy more than $1.3 million worth of designer clothes and accessories using credit cards that they stole from the mail, federal authorities charged. The items were then sold with the help of an entrepreneur who operated an online shopping site, they said. Nathanael Foucault, Johnathan “Junzie-J” Persaud, and Fabiola “Lady Fab” Mompoint passed the cards to a quintet of shoppers who bought the items at department stores in New Jersey and the city with the stolen credit cards, an indictment returned by …
Philadelphia Woman Was Swiping Stolen Credit Card In Minutes: Police Philadelphia Woman Was Swiping Stolen Credit Card In Minutes: Police
Philadelphia Woman Was Swiping Stolen Credit Card In Minutes: Police A 40-year-old Philadelphia woman is facing an identity theft charge after investigators say used a credit card that stolen from a vehicle in Connecticut. Colleen Kane is accused of breaking into a car on Old Kings Highway May 25 in Darien, CT, having smashed a window to steal a purse from the car, local police said. While police were at the scene, the victim received alerts that her credit card was being used, authorities said. Investigators identified Kane, who resides in Philadelphia, as the suspect who was using the stolen credit card, and she was charged with third-degree identity thef…