Tag:

Fraud

Hackensack Cop Faked Military Records To Get Paid Leave: Prosecutor Hackensack Cop Faked Military Records To Get Paid Leave: Prosecutor
Hackensack Cop Faked Military Records To Get Paid Leave: Prosecutor A Hackensack police officer is accused of faking a military background in order to obtain paid leave totaling more than $18,000, authorities said. Forrod Bonsu, 31, of Hackensack, was arrested on Wednesday, April 29, following a joint investigation by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office and the Hackensack Police Department, according to a release from Prosecutor Mark Musella. The investigation began on Friday, Feb. 6, when the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Confidential Investigations Unit received information about alleged forged military records submitted to the City of Hackensack, …
Plainfield Politician Admits To Filing Phony Voter Registration Applications Plainfield Politician Admits To Filing Phony Voter Registration Applications
Plainfield Politician Admits To Filing Phony Voter Registration Applications A 71-year-old Plainfield man who previously man for mayor pleaded guilty on Monday, April 27, admitting he attempted to file numerous fraudulent voter registration applications, authorities said. Henrilynn Ibezim pleaded guilty to forgery, Attorney General Jennifer Davenport said. Ibezim brought a garbage bag containing approximately 1,000 falsified voter registration applications to an Elizabeth post office, intending to mail the documents to the Union County Commissioner of Registration, Davenport said. He created attempted to submit false voter registration applications containing…
North Jersey Woman Tried To Defraud Victim Out Of $800: PD North Jersey Woman Tried To Defraud Victim Out Of $800: PD
North Jersey Woman Tried To Defraud Victim Out Of $800: PD A 63-year-old North Arlington woman was arrested and charged after she tried to steal $800 from a victim at TD Bank, authorities announced Friday, April 24. An investigation into Linda Acquino began after a Stafford Township resident said she was notified by TD Bank in New Brunswick of a fraudulent transaction in the amount of $800, Stafford police said. Acquino used a New Jersey driver's license containing the victim’s personal identifying information to gain access to her account, police said. She was charged with theft, identity theft and knowingly exhibiting false identification, …
Ghost-Tapping Scam Could Lead To Full Bank Account Being Drained: What To Know Ghost-Tapping Scam Could Lead To Full Bank Account Being Drained: What To Know
Ghost-Tapping Scam Could Lead To Full Bank Account Being Drained: What To Know A barely noticeable charge showing up on your bank statement could be the first sign of a much bigger problem, one that can quietly spiral into serious financial loss. Consumers across the US are being warned about a so-called “ghost tapping” scam that begins with a small charge, often around $4, and can end with an entire bank account drained. The scheme targets customers of major banks, including Bank of America, Chase, and Wells Fargo, according to reports by Fox News and The Sun. The scam typically starts with what appears to be a harmless, low-dollar transaction. Fraudsters use t…
Jersey City Woman Stole $86K Using Fake Debit Cards: AG Jersey City Woman Stole $86K Using Fake Debit Cards: AG
Jersey City Woman Stole $86K Using Fake Debit Cards: AG A 46-year-old Jersey City woman was indicted on theft charges after she used fake debit cards to steal $86,840, authorities announced Tuesday, March 17. Ibelis Gonzalez is charged with theft by deception, impersonation/theft of identity and using fake government documents, Attorney General Jennifer Davenport said. In 2024, Gonzalez entered several Citizen Bank branches throughout New Jersey and presented multiple fictious identification documents in the names of people to obtain debit cards for the accounts of each of six victims, Davenport said. She withdrew $60,500 from the bank and the d…
Jack Griffin Took $380K From NJ Autism School For Unbuilt Farm, Then Sent Cash To Wife: Feds Jack Griffin Took $380K From NJ Autism School For Unbuilt Farm, Then Sent Cash To Wife: Feds
Jack Griffin Took $380K From NJ Autism School For Unbuilt Farm, Then Sent Cash To Wife: Feds Jack Griffin told the world he was building the future of farming. He gave a TEDx Talk. He stood before Congress. He promised to wipe out food deserts with high-tech vertical farms that could grow strawberries on a second floor and turn kale into jet fuel. But federal investigators say Griffin was really just pocketing. And now he’s headed to prison, the FBI announced on Monday, Feb. 2. The Sentence Jack Frances “Jack” Griffin, 62, of Philadelphia, faced up to 20 years in prison for each wire fraud charge and five years for tax evasion. His sentencing was originally scheduled for Oct. 22,…
Lawyer Who Forged Federal Judge’s Signature Twice To Trick Client Gets Prison Time Lawyer Who Forged Federal Judge’s Signature Twice To Trick Client Gets Prison Time
Lawyer Who Forged Federal Judge’s Signature Twice To Trick Client Gets Prison Time A disgraced attorney is heading to prison after forging a judge’s name on a fake custody order — one of several legal schemes he's been convicted of in recent months, Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday announced on Monday, Dec. 15. Michael Brandon Cohen, 42, of Hollidaysburg, was sentenced to one to three years in state prison after pleading guilty to forgery for creating a false custody order to benefit a client, according to AG Sunday. Cohen’s fabricated order prompted the client to violate a court-approved custody agreement by moving her child out of the county — all based on his …
NJ Man Posed As ‘Mohammed Ali’ In $59K NY Contractor Scam: Police NJ Man Posed As ‘Mohammed Ali’ In $59K NY Contractor Scam: Police
NJ Man Posed As ‘Mohammed Ali’ In $59K NY Contractor Scam: Police A man accused of posing as a contractor and stealing more than $59,000 from a Uniondale homeowner was arrested months after the alleged scam, detectives announced on Sunday, Nov. 23. Zohaib Farrukh, 37, of Piscataway, New Jersey, was taken into custody by First Squad detectives with assistance from First Precinct officers on Friday, Nov. 22, at 3:15 p.m., according to the release. The investigation began after a homeowner hired a construction company identified as North Falcon Construction Company of Avenue C in New York City and issued a check for $59,202.50 to a man who identified himsel…
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…
Scammers Using Texts To Steal Bank Account Info: What To Know Scammers Using Texts To Steal Bank Account Info: What To Know
Scammers Using Texts To Steal Bank Account Info: What To Know It might look like a message from your bank. It might even sound urgent. But experts warn those texts could be nothing more than a scam designed to steal your money or personal information. Known as “smishing,” these fraudulent texts impersonate banks to trick people into handing over account details.  The scam often follows a pattern: a fake alert about a locked account or suspicious charge, followed by a link to a convincing but fraudulent website.  Entering information there can hand scammers access to your accounts, or worse, install malware on your phone. Your bank will nev…
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…
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…
Don’t Cash In: Unsolicited Checks Could Cost You Big Don’t Cash In: Unsolicited Checks Could Cost You Big
Don’t Cash In: Unsolicited Checks Could Cost You Big Receiving a check in the mail might seem like a stroke of luck, but experts warn it could be the start of a costly scam.  Authorities are alerting consumers about a surge in unsolicited check fraud schemes targeting people across the US. How The Scam Works Unsolicited check fraud typically begins when you receive a check from someone you don’t know.  The scammer may contact you about a job, a prize, or even as an overpayment for something you’re selling online.  The check looks genuine, and when you deposit it, the funds may appear in your account almost immediately. But …
'Our Pesticides Kill COVID:' NJ Biotech Founder, Philly Firm Hit With Federal Charges 'Our Pesticides Kill COVID:' NJ Biotech Founder, Philly Firm Hit With Federal Charges
'Our Pesticides Kill COVID:' NJ Biotech Founder, Philly Firm Hit With Federal Charges A New Jersey man and the Philadelphia-based biotech company he founded are accused of selling pesticides with false claims that they could kill the virus that causes COVID-19, federal prosecutors said. James Young, 46, of Cherry Hill — founder of ViaClean Technologies, LLC — was charged by indictment with conspiring to commit mail fraud and wire fraud, mail fraud, and violations of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), according to U.S. Attorney David Metcalf. Sean Storrie, 59, of Philadelphia, was also charged with FIFRA violations, prosecutors said. The indictm…
Appellate Court Throws Out Trump's $500M+ Fine For Inflating Wealth, Property Values Appellate Court Throws Out Trump's $500M+ Fine For Inflating Wealth, Property Values
Appellate Court Throws Out Trump's $500M+ Fine For Inflating Wealth, Property Values A New York appellate court struck down the half-billion-dollar penalty imposed on President Donald Trump and his company for lying about his wealth and inflating property values. The state supreme court's Appellate Division, First Judicial Department, overturned the roughly $527 million fine known as "disgorgement" on Thursday, Aug. 21. The appellate court justices were split on whether New York Attorney General Letitia James proved The Trump Organization committed fraud, but the majority said the fine was "excessive" and unconstitutional. James can appeal the decision to New…
Morristown Jeweler Sold Lab-Grown Diamonds As Genuine, Misrepresented Value: Cops Morristown Jeweler Sold Lab-Grown Diamonds As Genuine, Misrepresented Value: Cops
Morristown Jeweler Sold Lab-Grown Diamonds As Genuine, Misrepresented Value: Cops A 43-year-old Morristown jeweler was arrested and charged with selling fake diamonds, authorities in Mount Olive announced Tuesday, Aug. 12. On Tuesday, June 17, a victim told officers that Justin Wentzel, of Morristown, sold them three pieces of jewelry in which he misrepresented the authenticity of the precious gems and misrepresented the value of the jewelry, Mount Olive police said. Wentzel's social media pages show that he runs Ice Storm Jewelry. A 2022 NJ Advance Media story shows him making a ring at his Flanders home. Wentzel sold lab-grown diamonds as genuine diamonds and ove…
Impostor Scams Skyrocket Among Older Adults, FTC Warns: What To Do Impostor Scams Skyrocket Among Older Adults, FTC Warns: What To Do
Impostor Scams Skyrocket Among Older Adults, FTC Warns: What To Do Scams targeting older Americans are surging, causing victims to lose millions of dollars to scammers posing as government officials or trusted companies. The number of victims age 60 and older who lost more than $100,000 has increased by more than 700%, the Federal Trade Commission said on Thursday, Aug. 7. Those high-value thefts jumped from $55 million in 2020 to $445 million in 2024. Older adults who lost at least $10,000 also dramatically rose by more than 300%. "While younger consumers also have reported these scams, older adults were much more likely to report these ex…
$1M Cross-Country Title-Washing Ring Used Stolen Porsches, Audis, BMWs In PA: AG $1M Cross-Country Title-Washing Ring Used Stolen Porsches, Audis, BMWs In PA: AG
$1M Cross-Country Title-Washing Ring Used Stolen Porsches, Audis, BMWs In PA: AG A high-end title-washing ring based in central Pennsylvania profited more than $1 million by selling stolen luxury cars from Florida, Attorney General Dave Sunday announced on Wednesday, Aug. 6. The fraudulent operation was allegedly led by 44-year-old Anthony E. Troncoso, who, with a network of 12 others, used fake documents to “wash” vehicle titles, then sold over two dozen stolen cars to private buyers, dealers, and auction houses between 2022 and 2023, according to AG Sunday. The vehicles—many of them Porsches, Audis, BMWs, Land Rovers, and other high-end brands—were stolen in Florida. …
$140K Fraud Committed By Former PA Senator's Aide Scamming Church, Supporters $140K Fraud Committed By Former PA Senator's Aide Scamming Church, Supporters
$140K Fraud Committed By Former PA Senator's Aide Scamming Church, Supporters A former aide to Pennsylvania state Sen. Vincent Hughes admitted to stealing more than $140,000 from a North Philadelphia church where he was a deacon and from a city political ward he led, the FBI announced on Saturday, Aug. 2.  Willie Jordan, 68, of Upper Darby, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Harvey Bartle III to two counts of wire fraud, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania on Wednesday, July 30. From 2020 to 2024, Jordan exploited his roles at Mt. Calvary Baptist Church and Philadelphia’s 44th Ward for personal benefit, court d…
4 NJ Men Tried To Cash Phony Checks At TD Bank: Fairfield PD 4 NJ Men Tried To Cash Phony Checks At TD Bank: Fairfield PD
4 NJ Men Tried To Cash Phony Checks At TD Bank: Fairfield PD Four North Jersey men have been arrested and charged following two separate fraud cases at a TD Bank in Fairfield, authorities announced, Thursday, July 24. On Monday, July 21 at 5 p.m. officers responded to the bank at 436 Hollywood Ave. after an employee recognized Jaydin Colon, a 20-year-old Garfield resident, who had previously cashed a fraudulent check in the past at the branch, Fairfield police said. Colon was trying to cash a $1,616.04 fraudulent arrest and he was placed under arrest, police said. While officers were apprehending Colon, they saw a vehicle parked illegally in a nearb…
Rapidly Spreading Scam Targets Drivers With Texts Meant To Click Quickly Rapidly Spreading Scam Targets Drivers With Texts Meant To Click Quickly
Rapidly Spreading Scam Targets Drivers With Texts Meant To Click Quickly A new scam is hitting phones with alarming claims tied to enforcement deadlines, and officials say it's designed to scare drivers into clicking fast. The messages are fraudulent and part of a growing trend known as smishing, or SMS-based phishing attacks, authorities say. The texts note an alleged traffic infraction and cite a specific deadline by which payment must be made to avoid license suspension, fines, or even criminal charges.  Some messages reference obscure motor vehicle codes or list a set of escalating penalties. A link is provided to submit payment through what appears to…
$1 Million Fraud: Union City Man Scammed Elderly Victims With Phony Investment Scheme $1 Million Fraud: Union City Man Scammed Elderly Victims With Phony Investment Scheme
$1 Million Fraud: Union City Man Scammed Elderly Victims With Phony Investment Scheme A 60-year-old Union City man was arrested and charged with scamming elderly people out of more than $1 million by misappropriating funds meant to be invested, authorities announced Wednesday, July 16. Antonio Petrosino is charged with wire fraud and money laundering, U.S. Attorney Alina Habba said. From January 2016 through November 2024, Petrosino fraudulently induced the victims to transfer investment funds, mortgage payments, and other money to him, Habba said. As part of his scheme, Petrosino presented himself as a financial services professional to his victims and falsely led them t…
NYPD Officer Steals $87K From Elderly Bank Clients For BMW, Aruba Trip: DA NYPD Officer Steals $87K From Elderly Bank Clients For BMW, Aruba Trip: DA
Nypd Officer Steals $87K From Elderly Bank Clients 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.…
Fyre Festival Brand Sold On eBay, Price Disappoints NJ Founder: 'This Sucks, It's So Low' Fyre Festival Brand Sold On eBay, Price Disappoints NJ Founder: 'This Sucks, It's So Low'
Fyre Festival Brand Sold On eBay, Price Disappoints NJ Founder: 'This Sucks, It's So Low' The name synonymous with a failed music festival, fraud, and bland cheese sandwiches has been sold on eBay. A bidder purchased Fyre Festival's notorious brand, trademarks, and social media accounts for $245,300 on Tuesday, July 15. The eBay auction ended at 12:44 p.m., closing a chapter in one of the most infamous stories in music festival history. According to the eBay listing, 42 bidders placed 175 bids in the auction. The brand's winning bidder hasn't been announced as of press time. The listing claimed the winner would have access to "the most talked-about festival brand in t…
Republican NJ Commissioner Faked Military Status For Tax Break, Prosecutors Say Republican NJ Commissioner Faked Military Status For Tax Break, Prosecutors Say
Republican NJ Commissioner Faked Military Status For Tax Break, Prosecutors Say A sitting Sussex County Commissioner has been indicted for falsely claiming a veteran’s exemption on a New Jersey tax return, officials said. William "Bill" Hayden, 58, of Frankford Township, was charged with one count of filing a fraudulent tax return (3rd degree), according to an announcement made by New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin and the Division of Criminal Justice (DCJ) on Tuesday, July 15. Hayden, who was elected to the Sussex County Board of Commissioners on Nov. 8, 2022, is also employed as a Region North Permit Supervisor with the New Jersey Department of Trans…
Amazon Issues Alert For Prime Day Scam Amazon Issues Alert For Prime Day Scam
Amazon Issues Alert For Prime Day Scam Prime members are being urged to stay vigilant following a new scam warning by Amazon as its annual Prime Day event gets underway. Prime Day is often used by scammers as cover for phishing attempts and impersonation fraud. It runs from Tuesday, July 8, through Friday, July 11. The company says fraudsters are increasingly targeting shoppers with fake emails, texts, and phone calls that appear to come from Amazon.  The goal: to trick users into handing over personal or financial information. In many cases, the messages create a false sense of urgency, such as a problem with an ord…
Verizon Manager From Union City Accessed Customer's Private Data, Police Say Verizon Manager From Union City Accessed Customer's Private Data, Police Say
Verizon Manager From Union City Accessed Customer's Private Data, Police Say A Verizon store manager in Bergen County has been charged with computer crime after police say he accessed a customer's personal and financial information without permission. The incident happened on Tuesday, June 24, when a woman went to a Verizon store in Mahwah to purchase a new phone, the Mahwah Police Department said in a press release. She reported that employees transferred data from her old phone to her new one. After she left the store, she noticed a locked note containing sensitive personal and financial information was open on the screen of her old phone, which had been returned …
Funeral Home Owner Who Stashed 190 Decaying Bodies Gets Maximum Federal Sentence: 'Inhumane' Funeral Home Owner Who Stashed 190 Decaying Bodies Gets Maximum Federal Sentence: 'Inhumane'
Funeral Home Owner Who Stashed 190 Decaying Bodies Gets Maximum Federal Sentence: 'Inhumane' A Colorado man who gave grieving families urns filled with dry concrete instead of their loved ones’ ashes has been sentenced to 20 years in federal prison — the maximum possible sentence, authorities announced Friday, June 27. Jon M. Hallford, 45, of Colorado Springs, was the owner of Return to Nature Funeral Home, which operated in Colorado Springs and Penrose alongside his wife, Carie Hallford.  Over a four-year period, Hallford failed to cremate or bury at least 190 bodies — while collecting more than $130,000 from families for services he never provided, the U.S. Attorney’s Office…
PA Bookkeeper Stole $822K From Law Firm In NJ In 6-Year Remote Embezzlement PA Bookkeeper Stole $822K From Law Firm In NJ In 6-Year Remote Embezzlement
PA Bookkeeper Stole $822K From Law Firm In NJ In 6-Year Remote Embezzlement She worked remotely from Pennsylvania — and secretly funneled hundreds of thousands from her New Jersey law firm. Now, the 66-year-old bookkeeper is going to jail for a years-long financial betrayal. A former bookkeeper who siphoned more than $800,000 from a Bucks County-based law firm with operations in New Jersey has been sentenced to county jail, the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office announced on Friday, June 27. Reese Esther Paul, 66, of Holland in Northampton Township, was handed a sentence of one year less a day to two years less a day in the Bucks County Correctional Facility, …
Walmart To Pay $10M After Scammers Exploit Money Transfer Services, FTC Says Walmart To Pay $10M After Scammers Exploit Money Transfer Services, FTC Says
Walmart To Pay $10M After Scammers Exploit Money Transfer Services, FTC Says Walmart will pay $10 million and change its money transfer practices after federal regulators said the company let scammers steal hundreds of millions of dollars from Americans. Walmart agreed to the payout in a settlement, the Federal Trade Commission announced on Friday, June 20. The agency's three commissioners unanimously approved the final order. The FTC accused the retail giant of allowing fraudsters to misuse its wire transfer services between 2013 and 2018. "Electronic money transfers are one of the most common ways that scammers tell consumers to send them money, be…
US Marshals Capture Fugitive Who Rammed Cop With Car At NJ Hotel: Police US Marshals Capture Fugitive Who Rammed Cop With Car At NJ Hotel: Police
US Marshals Capture Fugitive Who Rammed Cop With Car At NJ Hotel: Police A months-long manhunt ended this week with the arrest of a fugitive accused of trying to kill a police officer during a wild escape from a New Jersey hotel, authorities said. Luis Duval-Jimenez, 31, of New Brunswick, was wanted for attempted murder of a police officer after an incident on May 15, in South Brunswick, officials said in a news release from the South Brunswick Police Department. Duval-Jimenez was arrested early Wednesday, June 18, by the U.S. Marshals Service in North Arlington, police said. The charges stem from a confrontation at Hotel Vincenza, located at 3793 Route 1, wher…