Tag:

Check Fraud

Postal Worker Stole, Altered Dozens Of Checks From Maywood Post Office, Police Say Postal Worker Stole, Altered Dozens Of Checks From Maywood Post Office, Police Say
Postal Worker Stole, Altered Dozens Of Checks From Maywood Post Office, Police Say A postal worker from Jersey City is among three people charged in a check fraud investigation stemming from reports of stolen and altered checks mailed at the Maywood Post Office, authorities said. The Maywood Police Department began investigating in September 2024 after multiple residents reported that checks they mailed at the West Pleasant Avenue post office had been stolen, altered, and cashed or deposited. Detective Benjamin Singer identified 18 cases of check fraud, uncovering a scheme where the checks were altered to increase the amounts and change the payees. The investigation led t…
$188K+ Check Forgery Scheme Ends In Arrest After Months-Long Investigation: Nassau PD $188K+ Check Forgery Scheme Ends In Arrest After Months-Long Investigation: Nassau PD
$188K+ Check Forgery Scheme Ends In Arrest After Months-Long Investigation: Nassau PD A months-long investigation has culminated in the arrest of a 41-year-old Long Island man accused of orchestrating a sophisticated check forgery scheme that netted $188,320.55, police said. Adamantios Mathioudis, 41, of East Elmhurst, NY, became the center of the investigation on March 5, when the Fraud and Forgery Unit of the Major Case Squad received reports of two business checks intercepted after being mailed via the U.S. Postal Service, Nassau County police said. The payee sections on the checks were altered to reflect Mathioudis’ name, detectives said. The funds were then de…
$5K+ Check Stolen From Palisades School District: PA State Police $5K+ Check Stolen From Palisades School District: PA State Police
$5K+ Check Stolen From Palisades School District: PA State Police A $5,475 check belonging to the Palisades School District was stolen, altered, and cashed, Pennsylvania State Police announced on Monday, Dec. 9. The theft occurred on Thursday, Aug. 9, 2024, at the district's location on Thomas Free Drive in Nockamixon Township, Bucks County, according to Trooper John Waida of PSP Dublin. Troopers said the check was stolen from the mail, altered, and later cashed. The stolen amount totaled $5,475, the victim reported. The investigation into the theft remains ongoing under Trooper Waida's oversight, state police said.
18-Year-Old Stole Thousands From Cadillac Dealership: Mt Olive PD 18-Year-Old Stole Thousands From Cadillac Dealership: Mt Olive PD
18-Year-Old Stole Thousands From Cadillac Dealership: Mt Olive PD An 18-year-old Hackettstown woman stole thousands from the Cadillac dealership she worked at in Mt. Olive, authorities said. In May, officers responded to Johnson Dodge on Route 46 on a report of fraud, Mt. Olive police said in a release.. The owner of the dealership said Leigha Conklin-Arnott had endorsed and cashed a check to herself in the amount of $165.00, while she worked at Johnson Cadillac, police said. A further investigation determined a total of 16 checks were cashed between May and June, totaling $3,639.95. Conklin-Arnott was given an opportunity to make restitution but failed t…
Three Paterson Residents Committed Check Fraud: Denville PD Three Paterson Residents Committed Check Fraud: Denville PD
Three Paterson Residents Committed Check Fraud: Denville PD A trio from Paterson were arrested and charged on Wednesday, April 10 with passing bad checks in Morris County, police said. Officers investigated a report of check fraud at a local bank, Denvile police said in a release. The investigation led to the arrest of Oliver Hall, 51, Ramon Olivo-Olivia, 46 and Marilyn Morel-Diaz, police said. They were charged with bad checks, conspiracy and unlawful taking of moveable property, police said. Morel-Diaz was also charged with possession of cocaine and possession of drug paraphernalia, police said.  Morel-Diaz and Olivio-Olivia were released pe…
Man, 23, Charged In Wilton Mail Theft, Check Fraud Scam Man, 23, Charged In Wilton Mail Theft, Check Fraud Scam
Man, 23, Charged In Wilton Mail Theft, Check Fraud Scam A 23-year-old Connecticut man has been charged in connection with an alleged mail theft/check fraud investigation. Kenyel Ventura-Villa, of New Haven, was arrested on Feb. 29 by warrant where he was alleged to have deposited stolen and forged checks in 2022 into an account belonging to a woman who was also arrested last year, said Lt. Anna Tornello of the Wilton Police.  Ventura-Villa was charged with: Larceny Conspiracy to commit larceny Conspiracy to commit ID theft  He was held on a $100,000 bond.
Check Fraud On Rise In Mamaroneck: Often Stolen From Mail, Altered, Police Say Check Fraud On Rise In Mamaroneck: Often Stolen From Mail, Altered, Police Say
Check Fraud On Rise In Mamaroneck: Often Stolen From Mail, Altered, Police Say Authorities in Westchester are warning residents of an increase in "check washing," a scheme where checks are stolen from the mail and altered by criminals.  The warning was issued on Wednesday, Feb. 28 by the Village of Mamaroneck Police Department, which is currently investigating a rise in check fraud.  According to the department, the "check washing" schemes consist of criminals stealing mail in bulk looking for checks made payable to recipients. Once they find such a check, they will use chemicals to remove the payee and original dollar amount and rewrite a higher dollar amou…
‘Stop Using These Mail Slots’: Needham Residents Warned Of Increased Phishing Scams ‘Stop Using These Mail Slots’: Needham Residents Warned Of Increased Phishing Scams
‘Stop Using These Mail Slots’: Needham Residents Warned Of Increased Phishing Scams Needham residents have been warned not to use outdoor blue post office collection boxes to send their mail after police received complaints about increased phishing scams in the area. Needham has over 25 collection boxes, but police warned on Monday, Jan. 8, that locals should “stop using them immediately.” “We have once again been targeted by mailbox phishing at area mail drop off locations,” a police Facebook post said. “The suspects are using keys to enter the mailboxes and steal dropped off mail that is inside them.” 🚨 Please share this post to ANY resident in the Town of Needham 🚨…
$760K Check Scheme: Mount Vernon Man Nabbed For 'Malicious Fraud,' Feds Say $760K Check Scheme: Mount Vernon Man Nabbed For 'Malicious Fraud,' Feds Say
$760K Check Scheme: Mount Vernon Man Nabbed For 'Malicious Fraud,' Feds Say A 26-year-old Westchester man who was arrested while hiding under his co-conspirator’s couch now faces charges in connection to a $760,000 check fraud scheme that victimized several people and their businesses, officials announced.  Mount Vernon resident Ishmael Benreuben, age 26, pleaded guilty on Tuesday, Oct. 10 to participating in a scheme involving the deposit of around $760,000 in fraudulent checks into bank accounts in several states, the US Attorney's Office for Southern District of New York announced. According to federal officials, between September 2021 and March 2…
$30K In Stolen Checks Cashed In Westport, Thief Caught, Police Say $30K In Stolen Checks Cashed In Westport, Thief Caught, Police Say
$30K In Stolen Checks Cashed In Westport, Thief Caught, Police Say A Fairfield County man has been arrested after allegedly stealing checks from an acquaintance and then cashing them for $30,000. Rodolfo Segura, age 35, of Norwalk, was charged with issuing a bad check on Thursday, Aug. 31 in Westport. On Friday, May 5, the Westport Police Detective Bureau initiated an investigation after a resident reported several checks totaling more than $30,000 had been returned due to insufficient funds/account closed, said Lt. Eric Woods of the Westport Police. The investigation alleges that Segura stole checks from an acquaintance in Stamford and att…
NJ Woman Swiped Check From Chester County Mailbox, Altered It To $13K, Cops Say NJ Woman Swiped Check From Chester County Mailbox, Altered It To $13K, Cops Say
NJ Woman Swiped Check From Chester County Mailbox, Altered It To $13K, Cops Say A Garden State woman is wanted in Chester County for forging a check, authorities say.  Jada M. Collins, a 21-year-old Linden, New Jersey resident, is accused of stealing a check from the mailbox of a business in East Goshen, police said in a statement. Investigators believe Collins swiped a check from the business' mailbox and altered it to read $13,000, and then deposited that amount in her own account.  Westtown-East Goshen police ask anyone with knowledge of her whereabouts — "or, if she herself sees this" — to contact Det. David Hale at dhale@wegopd.o…
Conman Busted With Bad Checks, Skimming Device, Drugs In Westborough: Police Conman Busted With Bad Checks, Skimming Device, Drugs In Westborough: Police
Conman Busted With Bad Checks, Skimming Device, Drugs In Westborough: Police A Charlestown man who tried to buy car parts from a Westborough car dealership this week with fake checks would have been better off just paying cash, authorities said.  Aquiles Bernabe faces charges of forging a check, uttering a false check, identity fraud, possession of a skimming device, forged RRMV document, and possession of Class A and a Class B drug, Westborough police said.  Police said Bernabe tried to buy the parts from Herb Chambers Honda using a bad check from a Rhode Island business. During their investigation, officers learned Bernabe was driving an unregistere…
Blue USPS Mailboxes Hijacked By Thieves In Wellesley, Needham For Check Fraud Blue USPS Mailboxes Hijacked By Thieves In Wellesley, Needham For Check Fraud
Blue USPS Mailboxes Hijacked By Thieves In Wellesley, Needham For Check Fraud Just at the time of year when grandmothers are sending checks in the mail, thieves are breaking into the blue USPS mailboxes for residents in Wellesley and Needham, officials say.  Multiple blue USPS mailboxes in Needham were broken into between Saturday, Dec. 17 and Monday, Dec. 19, Needham police announced on Monday, Dec. 19.  A day later, the Wellesley Police Department made a similar statement, saying that thieves have obtained blue USPS mailbox keys and are using this newfound access to commit check fraud.  Checks stolen from mailboxes can be altered and placed into an …
Check Fraud In White Plains Under Investigation By Police Check Fraud In White Plains Under Investigation By Police
Check Fraud In White Plains Under Investigation By Police A police department in Westchester County is giving residents tips to avoid having their mail stolen in light of numerous incidents of check fraud.  The White Plains Police Department is warning residents that checks can be stolen from both personal and US Postal mailboxes and altered, similar to many recent incidents that authorities are currently investigating, police said.  The mail thieves accomplish this by obtaining keys to US Postal mailboxes, or in some cases, placing sticky substances inside mailboxes that will catch mail before it falls. Criminals can then easily grab th…
Trio Wanted For Depositing Bogus School Board Check For Nearly $29K: Flemington Police Trio Wanted For Depositing Bogus School Board Check For Nearly $29K: Flemington Police
Trio Wanted For Depositing Bogus School Board Check For Nearly $29K: Flemington Police Three suspects are wanted by Flemington Police after allegedly altering and depositing a fraudulent school board check for nearly $29,000. The investigation began Friday, Sept. 9, when officers received a report involving a fraudulent check from the Flemington Raritan School Board, police said in a release on Thursday, Oct. 20. The following month resulted in the issuing of warrants for the arrests of Jabria Jones, 23, Tynell Mantez, 27, and Kadaiyah Stevens-Whitehurst, 23. ALSO SEE: 1 Busted, 3 At Large After Depositing $30K Worth Of Bogus Checks, Flemington Police Say Investigators fou…
1 Busted, 3 At Large After Depositing $30K Worth Of Bogus Checks, Flemington Police Say 1 Busted, 3 At Large After Depositing $30K Worth Of Bogus Checks, Flemington Police Say
1 Busted, 3 At Large After Depositing $30K Worth Of Bogus Checks, Flemington Police Say One suspect was arrested and three remain at large after altering checks that were stolen from PO boxes and making more than $30,000 worth of fraudulent deposits, Flemington police said. The investigation began on Saturday, June 11, when officers responded to a Flemington business to take a report of fraudulent checks, the department said in a release on Wednesday, Oct. 19. The following four months resulted in the issuing of warrants for the arrests of Tre Greene, 19, Richard Rowe, 22, Quamae Osborne, 23, and a 17-year-old juvenile, police said. Investigators found that three separate che…
Police Issue Alert On Checks Being Stolen From Mailboxes In Hudson Valley Police Issue Alert On Checks Being Stolen From Mailboxes In Hudson Valley
Police Issue Alert On Checks Being Stolen From Mailboxes In Hudson Valley Police are alerting residents in the region about a string of mail and check thefts from mailboxes. The Town of Montgomery Police Department reported on Tuesday, May 10, that the issue has been reported in a number of jurisdictions in Orange and Dutchess counties. "Checks are being stolen and mobile deposited in various banks," the department said.  The department encouraged residents and businesses to avoid having checks delivered by mail or left in the mailbox. Police said anyone whose mail and/or checks are stolen should contact their local police department.
Fake Nurse Tries To Cash Bogus Check At Hunterdon County Bank: State Police Fake Nurse Tries To Cash Bogus Check At Hunterdon County Bank: State Police
Fake Nurse Tries To Cash Bogus Check At Hunterdon County Bank: State Police State Police are seeking the public’s help identifying a woman who posed as a nurse while attempting to cash a bogus check at a Hunterdon County bank. The woman — pictured above — posed as a nurse before trying to cash a fraudulent check at Northfield Bank in East Amwell Township on Nov. 12, 2021, New Jersey State Police said Monday. The woman then drove off in a tan-colored Chevrolet Tahoe with damage to its front passenger side, police said. The getaway vehicle appeared to have a New York license plate, according to police. The woman had shoulder-length dark, curly hair and was wearing…
$6 MILLION SCAM: Man Admits Role In Nigerian Bank Fraud Network Operating In NJ, PA, MD $6 MILLION SCAM: Man Admits Role In Nigerian Bank Fraud Network Operating In NJ, PA, MD
$6 Million Scam: Man Admits Role In Nigerian Bank Fraud Network Operating In NJ, PA, MD A member of a sophisticated Nigerian-based fraud ring admitted his role in a massive conspiracy that scammed banks in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Maryland out of $6 million. Ayanniyi Alayande, 47, of Darby, PA wasn't involved in the crudely constructed "Nigerian prince" emails schemes of the past. He ran with a ring that altered and cashed business checks stolen from the mail, authorities said. Alayande is the first of 12 defendants in the case to take a deal from the government and plead guilty rather than face trial. Members of the highly organized group altered the payee on the checks …
Know Her? CT State Police Ask Public's Help Identifying Bank Fraud Suspect Know Her? CT State Police Ask Public's Help Identifying Bank Fraud Suspect
Know Her? CT State Police Ask Public's Help Identifying Bank Fraud Suspect Police have asked the public for help identifying a woman accused of cashing checks that belonged to several victims of recent car break-ins in Connecticut.  The woman cashed checks in the Windham County Town of Killingly and the Mossup area, police reported.  Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact Trooper Blanchette #349 at (860)779-4900, Ext# 2011, or email Wilfred.Blanchetteiv@ct.gov.  Tipsters are asked to reference case number 2100475677.
Sussex County Man, 35, Wrote And Cashed Bogus $3K Check, Police Say Sussex County Man, 35, Wrote And Cashed Bogus $3K Check, Police Say
Sussex County Man, 35, Wrote And Cashed Bogus $3K Check, Police Say A Sussex County man has been charged after police say he wrote and cashed a bogus check for more than $3,000. Michael Springer, 35, allegedly deposited a check for more than $3,000 to himself and started drawing against it without verifying the check's validity in July 2021, Franklin Borough police said in a Thursday release. Springer then failed to provide compensation to his bank after being advised that the check was not honored, police said. Springer, of Vernon Township, was charged with third-degree passing bad checks. He was released in accordance with the NJ Bail Reform Act and is …
Elizabeth Man Admits Bribing Postal Carriers To Steal Checkbooks, Credit Cards From Mail Elizabeth Man Admits Bribing Postal Carriers To Steal Checkbooks, Credit Cards From Mail
Elizabeth Man Admits Bribing Postal Carriers To Steal Checkbooks, Credit Cards From Mail A Union County man admitted Wednesday that he offered bribes to postal workers to steal check books and credit cards from the mail, federal authorities said. U.S. Postal Inspection Service agents watched as Jabre “Jab” Beauvoir, 22, of Elizabeth met with a carrier in a mail van in Secaucus and collected a package that they’d planted, a complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Newark says. Beauvoir – using the handle “Neck Tat” -- believed he was getting a stolen iPhone 6 Plus, it says. The carrier told them that Beauvoir had offered $20O for every stolen check book and a split of the proc…
Man Nabbed For Stealing, Cashing More Than $4K In Checks, Fairfield Police Say Man Nabbed For Stealing, Cashing More Than $4K In Checks, Fairfield Police Say
Man Nabbed For Stealing, Cashing More Than $4K In Checks, Fairfield Police Say An area man has been arrested for allegedly stealing and altering five business checks which he cashed. Jon-Michael Young, age 41, of Bridgeport, was arrested on Friday, Dec. 18, for the theft which took place in May 2019, said Fairfield Police Lt. Tony Granata. According to Granata, in May 2019, a Fairfield business owner reported to police that five of his business checks have been fraudulently altered and cashed. The business owner reported mailing five business checks payable to various companies. On Monday, May 20, 2019, Peoples Bank contacted him, making him aware that the checks wer…
Woman Nabbed After Cashing Stolen Altered Check For More Than $2K, Fairfield Police Say Woman Nabbed After Cashing Stolen Altered Check For More Than $2K, Fairfield Police Say
Woman Nabbed After Cashing Stolen Altered Check For More Than $2K, Fairfield Police Say An area woman was arrested for allegedly altering a business check for $2,000 more than it was written for. Felicia Michele Cooper, 31, of Hartford, was arrested by Fairfield Police on a warrant on Wednesday, Dec. 9, for the incident which took place in October at the Black Rock Turnpike Liquor Store, said Fairfield Police Lt. Antonio Granata. The check fraud was uncovered when the liquor store owner came to the Fairfield Police headquarters to report check fraud. He told police his People's United Bank business check had been fraudulently altered and made payable for $2,000 more than he is…
KNOW THEM? Trio Wanted In $9K NJ, PA Check Fraud Case KNOW THEM? Trio Wanted In $9K NJ, PA Check Fraud Case
Know Them? Trio Wanted In $9K NJ, PA Check Fraud Case Authorities are seeking the public's help identifying three individuals wanted in a $9,000 check fraud case spanning Pennsylvania and New Jersey. The case was reported by a local business on Oct. 22, saying the checks were altered, "washed" and cash by three people at TD Bank branches, Newtown Township police said. The trio cashed the checks in Pennington (NJ) and Philadelphia between Oct. 13 and 19, using the names Gregory Lawrence, Michael Cadlett and Mary Plummer, authorities said. The three all used addresses in Trenton, according to police. Anyone with information is urged to se…
Feds: Yonkers Porch Pirate, Pals Stole $600,000 In Checks From Mail In Four NJ Counties Feds: Yonkers Porch Pirate, Pals Stole $600,000 In Checks From Mail In Four NJ Counties
Feds: Yonkers Porch Pirate, Pals Stole $600,000 In Checks From Mail In Four NJ Counties A man charged with pirating Christmas packages from porches in Yonkers was part of a crew that stole, altered and cashed $600,000 in checks mailed in Passaic, Morris, Essex and Somerset counties the past 10 months, federal authorities said Friday. Claude Anthony Burnett, 23, who was captured by U.S. Postal Inspection Service agents, now faces charges that can bring way more serious consequences than package snatching. Meanwhile, victims were left trying to sort out their finances. From at least February of this year until just last month, Burnett and others fished envelopes containing chec…
Woman Files Complaint After Finding Fraudulent Activity In Checking Account, Darien Police Say Woman Files Complaint After Finding Fraudulent Activity In Checking Account, Darien Police Say
Woman Files Complaint After Finding Fraudulent Activity In Checking Account, Darien Police Say A Fairfield County woman filed a complaint with police after finding fraudulent activity on her checking account. The woman told the Darien Police on Wednesday, Nov. 4, that while reviewing her business’s bank statements she observed a check that she didn’t recognize had been cashed against her account, said Sergeant James Palmieri. The check was made out to an individual with whom she was not familiar on a check number that she still had in her checkbook, Palmieri said.  The complainant reported the fraudulent activity to their bank, who instructed her to file a&n…
Woman At Large After Being Ordered To Pay $20K In Restitution In Hudson Valley Woman At Large After Being Ordered To Pay $20K In Restitution In Hudson Valley
Woman At Large After Being Ordered To Pay $20K In Restitution In Hudson Valley Seen her? New York State Police in the Hudson Valley issued an alert for a wanted 43-year-old woman who is wanted after passing a check with insufficient funds to pay and later going on the run after being ordered to pay $20,000 in restitution. According to police in Middletown, Caren Cavanagh was arrested after she refused to make good on checks to her landlord and employer. Following her arrest, she was ordered to pay restitution to her victims, but has gone radio silent. Police said that Cavanagh has refused to contact the court, nor has she paid restitution, leading to a warrant being…
Here's How You Can Avoid Being Victim Of Mail Fishing, Police Say Here's How You Can Avoid Being Victim Of Mail Fishing, Police Say
Here's How You Can Avoid Being Victim Of Mail Fishing, Police Say Police investigators are warning area residents to be wary of “mail fishing,” which fraudsters have been using to steal items from local mailboxes with the holiday season approaching. An alert was released regarding recent instances of “mail fishing,” where thieves use a weighted object that is attached to a string or wire and is covered in a sticky substance to steal mail from USPS mailboxes. 
According to police, “‘mail fishers’ steal cash, identities, and monetary instruments. Stolen checks or money orders can be fraudulently altered and cashed at certain financial institutions.” Inves…
Check Stolen From Darien Post Office Mailbox Altered, Cashed For $950, Police Say Check Stolen From Darien Post Office Mailbox Altered, Cashed For $950, Police Say
Check Stolen From Darien Post Office Mailbox Altered, Cashed For $950, Police Say Police in Darien are investigating the latest report of mail theft involving checks stolen from the Post Office. A Darien resident reported to police on Wednesday, Feb. 6 that on Jan. 13, he had placed three outgoing checks into a mailbox at the Post Office on Corbin Drive. The resident received a notification that week that an attempt to cash one of the checks had been made, but denied. A second check was altered and cashed for $950, police said, noting that the name on the cashed check was unknown to the victim. Police said that a second fraudulent charge to the victim’s account was disc…
Glen Rock Resident Nearly Loses $5,800 Postal Box Check Theft Glen Rock Resident Nearly Loses $5,800 Postal Box Check Theft
Glen Rock Resident Nearly Loses $5,800 Postal Box Check Theft Another check stolen from a postal drop box almost cost a Glen Rock woman $5,800, authorities said. The victim mailed a check for $57.01 to an insurance company using the US Postal Service mailbox on West Plaza near the Source Building, Police Chief Dean Ackermann said Monday. Several days later, the woman received a call telling her “there was a problem with her credit card account and providing her with her checking account number,” Ackermann said. Suspicious of the call, the woman wisely contacted her bank, the police chief said. “The bank confirmed her suspicions that the call was a s…