Tag:

Financial institutions

Alexandria, VA
Breaking News
Fake Cars, Real Fraud: Used Car Salesman In Virginia Sentenced For Dealership Scheme Fake Cars, Real Fraud: Used Car Salesman In Virginia Sentenced For Dealership Scheme
Fake Cars, Real Fraud: Used Car Salesman In Virginia Sentenced For Dealership Scheme A used car salesman accused of selling cars that never existed is trading his Virginia lot for a prison cell after federal investigators exposed a years-long fraud scheme fueled by fake vehicles and falsified records. Adrian Knight, 41, of Virginia Beach, has been sentenced to six years in prison after spearheading an elaborate scheme through his dealership, federal authorities announced.  According to court documents, Knight owned Ace Auto Sales, LLC in Chesapeake. From March 2019 through January 2023, Knight listed vehicles his dealership did not have in inventory on buyer…

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by Zak Failla
New Rochelle, NY
Breaking News
COVID-19 $14.7M Scheme: New Rochelle Man Tried Stealing From Relief Program, Feds Say COVID-19 $14.7M Scheme: New Rochelle Man Tried Stealing From Relief Program, Feds Say
Covid-19 $14.7M Scheme: New Rochelle Man Tried Stealing From Relief Program, Feds Say Two men from Westchester and a Long Island woman face charges after participating in a more than $14 million scheme to steal from a program created to help small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic, federal officials said.  New Rochelle resident Glenroy Walker, age 65, Mount Vernon resident Gary Wheeler, age 46, Freeport resident Sherril Baez, age 50, and three others are charged with scheming to steal more than $14 million from the federal Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), the US Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York announced on Tuesday, June 6.  The …

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by Ben Crnic
Brentwood, NY
Breaking News
Man Who Used Fake Identities In Suffolk County As Part Of $1M Fraud Scheme Sentenced, DA Says Man Who Used Fake Identities In Suffolk County As Part Of $1M Fraud Scheme Sentenced, DA Says
Man Who Used Fake Identities In Suffolk County As Part Of $1M Fraud Scheme Sentenced, DA Says A 46-year-old man was sentenced for his role in a $1 million nationwide fraud scheme after he admitted to using fake identities to obtain loans on Long Island. Adam Arena was sentenced to four to 12 years in prison, Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney announced on Friday, Jan. 20. The DA's Office said Arena is currently serving a federal prison sentence in connection to the scheme and other unrelated crimes.  According to the report, Arena pleaded guilty on March 1, 2021, to the following charges: Two counts of second-degree grand larceny One count of third-degree grand…

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by Nicole Valinote
Albany, NY
Breaking News
Don't Fall For It: Police In Capital Region Warn Of Scammers Posing As Utility Companies Don't Fall For It: Police In Capital Region Warn Of Scammers Posing As Utility Companies
Don't Fall For It: Police In Capital Region Warn Of Scammers Posing As Utility Companies Be wary of phone calls from utility companies in the region claiming that you owe money. That’s the warning from the North Greenbush Police Department in Rensselaer County, which has seen an uptick in phone calls claiming to be from cable, phone, and other utility companies claiming that a bill has not been paid or is late, police said. The caller then threatens to disconnect service unless the customer pays over the phone using a credit card. Victims are asked to verify their account and bank information, along with other sensitive data. With that information in hand, scammers are free to…

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by Michael Mashburn
Massapequa, NY
Breaking News
Here's How You Can Avoid Being Reeled In By Mail Fishing Here's How You Can Avoid Being Reeled In By Mail Fishing
Here's How You Can Avoid Being Reeled In By Mail Fishing Though it’s not officially fishing season, police are cautioning area residents to be wary of scammers going “fishing” in United States Postal Service mailboxes. Law enforcement agencies in the tri-state area issued alerts warning of scammers who have been making the rounds “fishing” in USPS mailboxes in an attempt to steal checks and personal information. Police said that “mail fishing” is a crime that involves thieves using a weighted object that is attached to a string or wire and covered in a sticky substance to retrieve mail from out of postal boxes. According to police, “‘mail fisher…

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by Zak Failla
Kingston, NY
Breaking News
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…

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by Zak Failla
Massapequa, NY
Breaking News
Scam Alert: Don't Fall For This Amazon Hoax Scam Alert: Don't Fall For This Amazon Hoax
Scam Alert: Don't Fall For This Amazon Hoax With the holiday seasons fast approaching, officials are warning of a “new phone scam that has been making the rounds targeting Amazon users. According to police, area residents have reported receiving an automated phone call from a fraudster claiming to be from Amazon in need of discussing a recent order. Officials said that the largest are instructed to press “1” to cancel the order or “2” to speak with a representative. No matter what button is pressed, the message states that the order is canceled and in order to fix it, the target must call an 800 number to speak with someone directly.…

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by Zak Failla
Mount Pleasant, NY
Breaking News
Police Warn Residents Of Scam Involving Internet Transactions Police Warn Residents Of Scam Involving Internet Transactions
Police Warn Residents Of Scam Involving Internet Transactions A new scam is making the rounds in the area, police are cautioning. The scam has become prevalent involving Internet transactions on platforms such as Craigslist and other similar sites. Police said that the scam takes place when a suspect, posing as a buyer, pays the victim for an item with either a fraudulent or bad check.  Before the check can bounce or be discovered as a fake, and before the item is shipped, the suspect will then claim he no longer wants to complete the transaction, asking for the victim to refund the money. According to police, “unknowingly, the victim will then wire…

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by Zak Failla