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Thousands In NJ Hit With Fake Text Threatening License Suspension: Don't Fall For It Thousands In NJ Hit With Fake Text Threatening License Suspension: Don't Fall For It
Thousands In NJ Hit With Fake Text Threatening License Suspension: Don't Fall For It Thousands of Garden State residents were targeted this week by a fake text message claiming drivers owed traffic fines and faced immediate license suspension. The phishing scam used the names of the New Jersey Department of Motor Vehicles, EZ-Pass, and NJ Courts, warning of penalties, toll charges, and even prosecution. The message read: “Final Notice: Enforcement Penalties Begin on May 30. Our records show you still have an outstanding traffic ticket… Suspension of driving privileges for 30 days… Credit score will be affected.” The text includes a link posing as a payment portal and urge…

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by Cecilia Levine
News
Trio Of Cubans Living In NJ Caught In Credit Card Skimming Scheme In PA: DA Trio Of Cubans Living In NJ Caught In Credit Card Skimming Scheme In PA: DA
Trio Of Cubans Living In NJ Caught In Credit Card Skimming Scheme In PA: DA Three Cuban nationals living in New Jersey have been ordered to stand trial for an elaborate credit card skimming scheme that targeted gas station customers in Lancaster County, authorities announced on Thursday, June 5. Yosvel Gonzalez, 51, and Reinier Gracia-Martinez, 40, both of Elizabeth, NJ, along with Rudislandy Gracia-Toledo, 24, of North Bergen, NJ, are accused of installing hidden card skimmers at a gas station in the 1700 block of Hempstead Road in East Lampeter Township, then using stolen data to make thousands of dollars in purchases, according to the Lancaster County District At…

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by Jillian Pikora
News
EXCLUSIVE: $1M Theft At Iconic NY Music Store Is More Revenge From Ex-Boss, Owner Says EXCLUSIVE: $1M Theft At Iconic NY Music Store Is More Revenge From Ex-Boss, Owner Says
Exclusive: $1M Theft At Iconic NY Music Store Is More Revenge From Ex-Boss, Owner Says A Long Island music store owner whose father is accused of stealing more than $1 million in rare instruments says the criminal case against him is part of a long-running battle over control of the historic shop. Manuel Alvarez, 61, of East Rockaway, was arrested after Nassau County police say he removed over $1 million in musical instruments and items from Kolstein Music in Baldwin, and transported them to an undisclosed location in Florida, Nassau County Police said. But his son, Manny Alvarez, who has been the owner of the music shop for nearly seven years, tells a different story. “Barr…

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by Michael Mashburn & Cecilia Levine
News
FBI Issues Warning About 'Malicious' AI Scam: What To Know FBI Issues Warning About 'Malicious' AI Scam: What To Know
FBI Issues Warning About 'Malicious' AI Scam: What To Know Scammers are using fraudulent text messages and AI-generated voice messages, according to a new warning from the FBI. Since April 2025, malicious actors have been impersonating senior US officials to target individuals, particularly current and former federal and state government officials and their contacts.  Details The fraudsters are using text messages and AI-generated voice messages, known as smishing and vishing, to establish a false sense of rapport before attempting to access personal accounts. One common tactic involves sending a malicious link disguised as a request to tran…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
NJ Transit Employee Made $700K Selling Stolen Phones: OAG NJ Transit Employee Made $700K Selling Stolen Phones: OAG
NJ Transit Employee Made $700K Selling Stolen Phones: OAG A 37-year-old NJ Transit employee and Hackensack resident, was arrested and charged in a scheme to sell phones purchased with public funds for a personal profit of more than $700,000, authorities said. Peejay Manila, who had been employed with NJ Transit since December 2019, sold NJ Transit-owned iPhones to cellphone buy-back companies after purchasing them using NJ Transit funds authorized only for official purposes, New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin said. From November 2020 through September 2024, Manila sold 850 phones and other electronic devices to a cellphone trade-in c…

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by Sam Barron
News
Luigi Mangione Musical Is Real, And It's Sold Out Luigi Mangione Musical Is Real, And It's Sold Out
Luigi Mangione Musical Is Real, And It's Sold Out A new musical rooted in true crime and real-world headlines is making waves for its surreal premise — and stranger backstory. The creators of Luigi The Musical, which centers on controversial figure Luigi Mangione, say it will offer a unique blend of comedy and social critique, distancing itself from any glorification of violence. It will premiere on Friday, June 13, in San Francisco, at the Taylor Street Theater. Tickets for all five of its initial performances are sold out, with new dates expected to be announced, according to the show’s website. Mangione, a 27-year-old Maryland native, …

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by Joe Lombardi
News
Fyre Festival 2, Organized By NJ's Billy McFarland, Postponed Due To Lack Of Venue Fyre Festival 2, Organized By NJ's Billy McFarland, Postponed Due To Lack Of Venue
Fyre Festival 2, Organized By NJ's Billy McFarland, Postponed Due To Lack Of Venue Anyone with a craving for a bland cheese sandwich is not going to like this news. Fyre Festival 2, the sequel to the infamous failed music festival that promised luxury but instead delivered tents and stale cheese sandwiches and sent Billy McFarland, a Short Hills native, to prison, has been postponed, organizers said on Wednesday, April 16. The event was scheduled to take place in Mexico at the end of May, only they were unable to find a venue. No musical guests had been announced, though tickets went on sale anyway, starting at $1,400. Top tickets were sold for $1 million with a promise o…

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by Sam Barron
Politics
'Unrepentant' George Santos Crying Out For 'Significant' Prison Time With Social Posts: DOJ 'Unrepentant' George Santos Crying Out For 'Significant' Prison Time With Social Posts: DOJ
'Unrepentant' George Santos Crying Out For 'Significant' Prison Time With Social Posts: DOJ Disgraced former New York congressman and convicted fraudster George Santos is proving, once again, that he’s more concerned with clout than consequences. With just days before his sentencing, federal prosecutors filed a scathing letter in Central Islip federal court Thursday, April 17, highlighting a wave of Santos’ recent social media posts they say “cry out” for a stiff prison sentence. The letter–sent from US Attorney John Durham to Judge Joanna Seybert–claims the X posts are “antithetical to the ‘genuine remorse’” claimed by Santos’ attorneys in their sentencing memorandum. Santos, 36…

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by Michael Mashburn
Business
Data Breach Exposed Driver's Licenses, Credit Cards Of Hertz Customers Data Breach Exposed Driver's Licenses, Credit Cards Of Hertz Customers
Data Breach Exposed Driver's Licenses, Credit Cards Of Hertz Customers Customers of car rental company Hertz may have had their personal information stolen after a data breach exposed driver's license numbers, credit card details, and other sensitive records. Hertz confirmed the breach involved data stored by Cleo Communications, a vendor used by Hertz for file transfers. Hackers exploited security flaws in Cleo's system in October and December 2024, according to the company. Hertz verified on Monday, Feb. 10, that an "unauthorized third party" accessed customer data. The company completed its investigation on Wednesday, April 2, and began notifying affec…

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by Chris Spiker
News
Seen Her? Woman Behind Alleged $4B Ponzi-Style Scheme Among FBI's Top 10 Most Wanted Seen Her? Woman Behind Alleged $4B Ponzi-Style Scheme Among FBI's Top 10 Most Wanted
Seen Her? Woman Behind Alleged $4B Ponzi-Style Scheme Among FBI's Top 10 Most Wanted She promised the next Bitcoin. What investors got instead was a $4 billion black hole—and a fugitive who hasn’t been seen since 2017. Ruja Ignatova, the woman once known as the “Cryptoqueen,” remains one of the world’s most elusive fugitives and is currently on the FBI’s 10 Most Wanted list.  The founder of the fraudulent cryptocurrency OneCoin, Ignatova is accused of orchestrating a massive Ponzi-style scheme that duped investors around the globe out of billions. Authorities say the scam began in 2014, when Ignatova launched OneCoin Ltd., a Bulgaria-based company that marketed itself…

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by Joe Lombardi
Police & Fire
Brooklyn Man Tried To Use Fake ID To Open Bank Account: Mt Olive PD Brooklyn Man Tried To Use Fake ID To Open Bank Account: Mt Olive PD
Brooklyn Man Tried To Use Fake ID To Open Bank Account: Mt Olive PD A 59-year-old Brooklyn man was arrested and charged after he tried to open a bank account at TD Bank in Flanders using a phony driver's license on Thursday, March 27, authorities said. At 2 p.m., officers responded to TD Bank at 56 Flanders Bartley Rd. after a man, later identified as Marcus Goncalves, tried to open an account using a fraudulent New Jersey's driver's license, Mount Olive police said. An investigation determined Goncalves was using a fake driver's license to open an account in someone else's name, police said. Goncalves was charged with theft of identity, possession of fals…

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by Sam Barron
News
Don't Fall For This EZ-Pass Text Scam Don't Fall For This EZ-Pass Text Scam
Don't Fall For This Ez-pass Text Scam Fraudulent text messages pretending to be from E-ZPass are alarming users with false claims of unpaid tolls and directing them to a deceptive payment website.  Authorities are urging the public to remain vigilant and avoid clicking any links contained in these messages. These fake texts are often sent from an international number and request the consumer to reply with "Y" to receive a link to a counterfeit payment portal in an attempt to steal personal information and funds from unsuspecting individuals. This smishing tactic is designed to steal personal information and funds fro…

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by Joe Lombardi