Tag:

Impersonation

Car Left At NJ Mechanic For Repairs Sold, Crushed Without Owner’s Knowledge, Police Say Car Left At NJ Mechanic For Repairs Sold, Crushed Without Owner’s Knowledge, Police Say
Car Left At NJ Mechanic For Repairs Sold, Crushed Without Owner’s Knowledge, Police Say A vehicle left at a North Jersey mechanic shop for repairs was allegedly sold and crushed without the owner’s permission, authorities said. During the month of January, the Bloomingdale Police Department Patrol Division responded to an auto repair mechanic shop for a report of a missing vehicle, according to Public Information Officer Sgt. Sami Zeidan. The complainant advised Sgt. Graziosa and Ptl. Borell that their vehicle had been dropped off for repairs several months earlier and that they had been unable to retrieve it despite repeated attempts, Zeidan said. Officers immediately initia…
Goya Foods Employee Stole $274K: Jersey City PD Goya Foods Employee Stole $274K: Jersey City PD
Goya Foods Employee Stole $274K: Jersey City PD A 54-year-old payroll employee at Goya Foods was arrested and charged with stealing more than $274,000 from the company, authorities in Jersey City announced Tuesday, Feb. 10. Last August, officers were contacted by Goya Foods regarding suspicious payroll activity linked to Jennifer Kutler, a former employee, Jersey City police said. Detectives reciewed payroll records, financial documentation, and bank transactions and found a sustained pattern of fraudulent activity spanning 2023 through 2025 resulting in a total loss of $274,231.90, police said. She is charged with theft by de…
Fake Air Duct Worker Pepper-Sprays Homeowner During Service Dispute In NJ, Police Say Fake Air Duct Worker Pepper-Sprays Homeowner During Service Dispute In NJ, Police Say
Fake Air Duct Worker Pepper-Sprays Homeowner During Service Dispute In NJ, Police Say A man posing as an air duct service technician pepper-sprayed a homeowner during a dispute in Bergen County before fleeing the scene, authorities said. Police said the incident happened on Aug. 4, after a resident hired a technician online to perform air duct services. The suspect, later identified as Or Peretz, 22, of Flushing, NY, arrived at the victim’s home and introduced himself as “Sean,” according to the Upper Saddle River Police Chief Patrick Rotella. After a disagreement over the quality of service and equipment, Peretz assaulted the victim with pepper spray before fleeing, police …
Suspect With Guns, Knives Arrested Near Charlie Kirk Funeral Site After Claiming He’s Police Suspect With Guns, Knives Arrested Near Charlie Kirk Funeral Site After Claiming He’s Police
Suspect With Guns, Knives Arrested Near Charlie Kirk Funeral Site After Claiming He’s Police An armed man who claimed to be a police officer was detained outside the NFL stadium where Charlie Kirk’s memorial will be held, authorities said.  The encounter happened Saturday, Sept. 20, at State Farm Stadium, in Glendale, Arizona.  Secret Service agents approached the man after observing suspicious behavior, ABC 15 in Phoenix reports. He told agents he was law enforcement and armed.  Officials later confirmed he was not part of the authorized agencies working the event. Multiple knives and firearms were found on him, according to azfamily.com. The Arizona Department of…
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 …
Fake ICE Agent Yells ‘Immigration,’ Zip-Ties Woman In Philly Robbery: Police Fake ICE Agent Yells ‘Immigration,’ Zip-Ties Woman In Philly Robbery: Police
Fake ICE Agent Yells ‘Immigration,’ Zip-Ties Woman In Philly Robbery: Police A man dressed as an ICE agent yelled “Immigration!” before zip-tying a woman for two hours and robbing her of $1,000 at a Philadelphia business, authorities announced on Tuesday, June 10. The 50-year-old victim was working alone inside a repair shop on the 6400 block of Harbison Avenue around 2:11 p.m. on Sunday, June 8, when the impersonator walked in wearing a black tactical vest marked “Security Enforcement Agent,” Philadelphia police said. He claimed to be with law enforcement, then forced the woman into a corner and tied her hands using zip ties, investigators detailed. According to po…
Man With Phony License Plates Busted In Wallington: Police Man With Phony License Plates Busted In Wallington: Police
Man With Phony License Plates Busted In Wallington: Police A man was arrested in Wallington on Friday, April 11, while driving a car with a stolen license plate and giving police false information, authorities said. At 10:30 a.m., a license plate reader alerted officers to a blue Hyundai Santa Cruz traveling east on Wallington Avenue, displaying a stolen license plate registered out of New York, Wallington police said. During a traffic stop, the driver, Daniel Gatson, presented a driver’s license belong to an individual who had an active warrant in Virginia, police said. Gatson was charged with receiving stolen property, exhibiting a false governm…
NJ Travel Agent Stole $896K From 82 Clients, 3 Friends She Impersonated: Prosecutor NJ Travel Agent Stole $896K From 82 Clients, 3 Friends She Impersonated: Prosecutor
NJ Travel Agent Stole $896K From 82 Clients, 3 Friends She Impersonated: Prosecutor A Bergen County woman is facing a laundry list of charges after allegedly stealing nearly $900,000 through identity theft and bogus travel bookings, authorities said. Bhavna Anand, 39, of Garfield, was arrested on Wednesday, March 26, 2025, in Saddle Brook following a months-long investigation by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Financial Crimes Unit, under the direction of Chief Matthew Finck, according to Prosecutor Mark Musella. It began in May 2024, when the Lodi Police Department flagged an alleged theft scheme involving Anand. Investigators say that between January 2017 and Dece…
Son Of NJ Judge Accused Of Posing As Cop In PA Speaks Out: ‘I’m No Fraud’ Son Of NJ Judge Accused Of Posing As Cop In PA Speaks Out: ‘I’m No Fraud’
Son Of NJ Judge Accused Of Posing As Cop In PA Speaks Out: ‘I’m No Fraud’ A man accused of impersonating a police officer and harassing residents in Quarryville is now speaking out, claiming he was falsely accused and unfairly targeted by authorities. John Francis McCarthy, the estranged son of a sitting New Jersey judge, was charged with impersonating a public servant and harassment in February. Now, he’s firing back, calling the charges a “twisted lie” by law enforcement. “I HAVE NEVER claimed to be a government employee to anyone, anywhere, EVER,” McCarthy wrote in a series of emails to local news outlets. Instead, he says he is a concerned Uber driver who h…
Morris Plains Property Manager Accused Of 'Elaborate' $1M Fraud Scheme: Prosecutor's Office Morris Plains Property Manager Accused Of 'Elaborate' $1M Fraud Scheme: Prosecutor's Office
Morris Plains Property Manager Accused Of 'Elaborate' $1M Fraud Scheme: Prosecutor's Office A Morris Plains woman is facing charges for allegedly orchestrating what was described as an "elaborate" $1 million fraud scheme while managing a condominium complex, Union County Prosecutor William A. Daniel announced Monday. Martinia Heath, 43, has been arrested and facing multiple charges in connection to the scheme, which ran between 2019 and 2023, according to authorities. In total, she pocketed more than $1 million. Investigators say Heath falsified records and fabricated invoices while employed as the on-site property manager at the Mountain Club Condominium complex in Morris County…
Elizabeth Man Scams Elderly Family Friend Out Of $1.6M In Shocking Fraud Scheme Elizabeth Man Scams Elderly Family Friend Out Of $1.6M In Shocking Fraud Scheme
Elizabeth Man Scams Elderly Family Friend Out Of $1.6M In Shocking Fraud Scheme An Elizabeth man is facing charges after allegedly stealing more than $1.6 million from a senior citizen in a years-long financial scheme, authorities said. Between Jan. 2022 and Aug. 2024, 25-year-old Elijah Ray orchestrated a scheme targeting an elderly family friend, Union County Prosecutor William A. Daniel said. Using fabricated documents, impersonating driving school representatives, and issuing fraudulent statements, Ray is accused of defrauding the victim in over 1,600 transactions, officials said. In addition to creating false documentation, authorities allege Ray stole t…
Hoboken Man Impersonated Cops: Police Hoboken Man Impersonated Cops: Police
Hoboken Man Impersonated Cops: Police A 43-year-old Hoboken man was arrested and charged with impersonating a police officer on the evening of Saturday, Oct. 26, authorities said. At 11:05 p.m., officers were on patrol when they observed a private vehicle with police lights and a siren trying to pull other vehicles over near the intersection of First and Court Streets, Hoboken police said.  Officers recognized the driver as Matthew Seriale and observed him to have slurred and slow speech, police said. Seriale refused a field sobriety test and was arrested for impersonating a police officer, police said…
Two Central Jersey Women Tried Using Dead Relatives' Identities To Vote, Prosecutors Say Two Central Jersey Women Tried Using Dead Relatives' Identities To Vote, Prosecutors Say
Two Central Jersey Women Tried Using Dead Relatives' Identities To Vote, Prosecutors Say Two Middlesex County women were accused of separate cases of voter fraud, authorities said. Katherine Fokas of Monroe and Lori Mulligan of Parlin were given voting fraud-related charges, Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone said in a news release on Friday, Nov. 1. The investigation began after prosecutors received from the county's elections board. Investigators said Fokas, 57, tried to apply for a mailed ballot using a dead family member's identity. She was charged with third-degree submitting a forged application for a mail-in ballot, impersonation, and forgery…
Wanted NJ Child Abuser Busted With Police Uniform, Handcuffs In NY Traffic Stop, Cops Say Wanted NJ Child Abuser Busted With Police Uniform, Handcuffs In NY Traffic Stop, Cops Say
Wanted NJ Child Abuser Busted With Police Uniform, Handcuffs In NY Traffic Stop, Cops Say A man who had been wanted out of New Jersey on child abuse charges was arrested in a New York traffic stop last week, when authorities found him with police uniforms and handcuffs, they said. Joseph Zuziela, 43, of Branchburg, NJ, was stopped in Oceanside, NY on Thursday night, Aug. 8. Somerset County Prosecutor's Fugitive Task Force Unit Nassau County Police said officers stopped Zuziela’s vehicle at around 11:45 p.m. near Merrick and Oceanside roads. Inside, they reportedly found a trove of law enforcement paraphernalia, including police uniforms, handcuffs, a gold badge, brass knu…
Former Cop Flashed Police Badge Before Sexually Harassing Woman In NJ Flower Shop: Cops Former Cop Flashed Police Badge Before Sexually Harassing Woman In NJ Flower Shop: Cops
Former Cop Flashed Police Badge Before Sexually Harassing Woman In NJ Flower Shop: Cops A 52-year-old Cliffside Park man and former police officer was arrested and charged on Friday, July 26, after he flashed a police badge and sexually harassed a woman in Guttenberg, authorities said. On Tuesday, July 23, a woman told police she was working inside a flower shop when Ytalo Savinovich made criminal sexual contact with her while brandishing a Union City police badge, Guttenberg police said. Savinovich was a police officer in Union City from 1998 to 2008, NJ.com reports citing public records. Following an investigation, police arrested Savinovich and charged him with c…
Two Men Impersonated Cops In Gunpoint Robbery At Hudson County Hotel, Police Say Two Men Impersonated Cops In Gunpoint Robbery At Hudson County Hotel, Police Say
Two Men Impersonated Cops In Gunpoint Robbery At Hudson County Hotel, Police Say Two Newark residents were recently arrested and charged with robbing people at gunpoint at the Meadowlands Plaza Hotel in Secaucus in February, authorities said. At 4:22 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 8, Christopher Herrera, 30 and Rikelvin DeLeon Diaz, 33, forced their way into the victims hotel room while claiming to be police officers, Secaucus police said. But they weren't real cops, they were fake cops. One of the men pulled out a handgun and threatened to pistol whip one of the victims before both men fled from the scene. Herrera was arrested at his job in Clifton on Thursday, June 27. DeLeon…