Tag:

Fraud Prevention

White Plains, NY
Business
Scammers Are Creating Fake Customer Service Numbers In Google Searches: What To Know Scammers Are Creating Fake Customer Service Numbers In Google Searches: What To Know
Scammers Are Creating Fake Customer Service Numbers In Google Searches: What To Know New reports reveal that scammers are trying to trick Google into showing their fake numbers pretending to offer reputable services, and many are getting away with it. Google sometimes highlights impostors during searches for airlines, banks, as well as local businesses, according to a brand-new report in The Washington Post. A victim who called what Google listed as Coinbase customer support was scammed out of $100,000 in 20 minutes by an impostor, Fortune reports. Google told The Washington Post that it uses several methods to determine whether business listings are legitimate, inclu…

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by Joe Lombardi
Albany, NY
Police & Fire
Don't Fall For It: Driveway Paving Scams On Rise Don't Fall For It: Driveway Paving Scams On Rise
Don't Fall For It: Driveway Paving Scams On Rise Police are warning of an uptick in scammers hoping to take advantage of the warmer spring weather. Each year, agencies across the country see an increase in complaints about fraudsters who bait homeowners with driveway paving services, according to the North Greenbush Police Department in New York. “As the trees sprout leaf buds and the daffodils peek out of their underground hiding, so must the scam artists offering to pave or sealcoat your driveway for the low low price of only five times what it would cost for a legitimate business to do it,” the agency said on Facebook. “And they must b…

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by Michael Mashburn
Lynn, MA
Police & Fire
Card Skimmer Found In Chelsea Market Basket: Police Card Skimmer Found In Chelsea Market Basket: Police
Card Skimmer Found In Chelsea Market Basket: Police Another Market Basket has been targeted by card skimmers, this time in Chelsea, but police and store workers were able to find and remove the device within minutes. A fraudulent credit card reading device, or a “skimmer,” was placed on a register at the grocery store on Everett Avenue on Tuesday, Dec. 5, according to Chelsea police. Related: 5 Market Baskets Find Credit Card Skimmers In Haverhill, Somerville, Reading: Police “We have the device and are working with the Market Basket as well as our regional partners to see if the devices are related to other recent incidents,” police said o…

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by Khier Casino
Beekman-Poughquag, NY
News
Authorities In Region Issue New Warning Of Phone Scammers Posing As Cops Authorities In Region Issue New Warning Of Phone Scammers Posing As Cops
Authorities In Region Issue New Warning Of Phone Scammers Posing As Cops Law enforcement authorities in the region have issued a new warning about an increased number of phone scammers trying to trick people out of their hard-earned money. The latest scam involves criminals posing as law enforcement officers claiming that victims need to pay money in order to avoid criminal charges, the Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office said. In one recent case, the scammers identified themselves as “Dutchess County Sergeant Cook.” That warning comes just days after the Putnam County Sheriff's Office issued a similar advisory. Earlier report - Don't Fall For It: Scammers In …

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by Michael Mashburn
Poughkeepsie, NY
News
Phone Scams Under Investigation In Area Phone Scams Under Investigation In Area
Phone Scams Under Investigation In Area Residents in the area are being warned to look out for potential phone scammers. The Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office said it has seen an uptick in attempted scams in the area, including two instances where would-be fraudsters posed as members of law enforcement. “In some cases the perpetrators have tried, sometimes successfully, to use the victim’s emotions about a loved one in trouble to get money,” read the sheriff's office said. “It’s common for the perpetrators of these scams to try to get money by telling people that one of their relatives has been seriously hurt or is in jail, and …

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by Michael Mashburn
Paterson, NJ
News
FBI: Moving Company Brothers From Paterson Jacked Up Estimates, Held Belongings Hostage FBI: Moving Company Brothers From Paterson Jacked Up Estimates, Held Belongings Hostage
FBI: Moving Company Brothers From Paterson Jacked Up Estimates, Held Belongings Hostage The FBI charged a Paterson fugitive captured in New Mexico, his brother and another man with ripping off vulnerable customers of their moving company. There may be more victims of 11Even Movers & Storage out there who haven’t contacted authorities, bureau officials said Monday, urging them to come forward. Abdal Abuawad, 26, was brought before a federal judge in Newark on Monday following his arrest in New Mexico last week, U.S. Attorney for New Jersey Philip R. Sellinger said. He was released on a $300,000 unsecured bond, as were his brother, Abdalh Abuawad, 28, a Jordanian national, …

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by Jerry DeMarco
Yonkers, NY
News
COVID-19: Don't Fall For These Vaccine-Related Scams, Police Say COVID-19: Don't Fall For These Vaccine-Related Scams, Police Say
Covid-19: Don't Fall For These Vaccine-Related Scams, Police Say The rise in Americans going out and getting the COVID-19 vaccine has also brought about a rise in the number of opportunistic scammers looking to take advantage of the pandemic, law enforcement officials are cautioning. An alert was issued by police in the area regarding COVID-19 vaccine scams that have been reported to law enforcement agencies across the country. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), scammers have been using telemarketing calls, text messages, social media platforms, and door-to-door visits to perpetrate COVID-…

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by Zak Failla
Middletown, NJ
Police & Fire
Bronx Foursome Foiled By Central Jersey Woman, 77, In 'Grandparent Scam' Bronx Foursome Foiled By Central Jersey Woman, 77, In 'Grandparent Scam'
Bronx Foursome Foiled By Central Jersey Woman, 77, In 'Grandparent Scam' Three men and a woman from the Bronx were arrested after calling a 77-year-old woman from Monmouth County to say her grandson needed bail money, authorities said. After the caller told the elderly woman that people would come pick up the money at her house -- and that she shouldn’t tell anyone -- the unidentified senior citizen called her grandson to confirm he had not been arrested, Marlboro Police Capt. Stephen J. Levy said in a statement Wednesday. The grandmother then went to police headquarters to report the attempted scam and Marlboro officers arrested the foursome when they came to g…

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by Jon Craig
Garfield-Lodi, NJ
Police & Fire
BEWARE: 'Warrant For Your Arrest' Phone Scams Increasing BEWARE: 'Warrant For Your Arrest' Phone Scams Increasing
Beware: 'Warrant For Your Arrest' Phone Scams Increasing If a caller tells you there’s a warrant for your arrest and that you can make it go away by sending money somewhere, be sure that you don't. A Garfield man recently got such a call. His caller ID showed the name and main number for the Garfield Police Department, authorities said. So he picked up. On the other end was a scammer who had “spoofed” the department’s main number, Capt. Richard Uram said. “Spoofing technology allows a scammer to have a local phone number appear on a caller ID even if they are calling from a different state or country,” Uram said. “[It] makes you think you are…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Jersey City, NJ
Police & Fire
Jersey City Police Union Starts Fundraiser For Family Of Detective Joe Seals Jersey City Police Union Starts Fundraiser For Family Of Detective Joe Seals
Jersey City Police Union Starts Fundraiser For Family Of Detective Joe Seals A union, the Jersey City Police Officers Benevolent Association, has set up a GoFuneMe page to benefit the family of Detective Joseph Seals, the Jersey City police officer killed Tuesday prior to an attack on a nearby kosher grocery store.  To contribute to the effort, click here.  "The JCPOBA has set up this GoFundMe page to accommodate all of the generous offers of support we have received in the hours since this incident. All of the dollars raised will go directly to the Seals family, helping them cover education, housing, and other expenses for the five children that Joe …

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by Paul Milo
Massapequa, NY
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
Shelton, CT
News
Warnings Issued For Text, TV 'Smishing' Scams Warnings Issued For Text, TV 'Smishing' Scams
Warnings Issued For Text, TV 'Smishing' Scams Officials are warning of new “smishing” scams that have been making the rounds. The Federal Trade Commission issued an alert cautioning consumers of new scams that have been using text messages, not the traditional emails. One such scam involves the fraudster offering to provide major savings on television services. The scams involve the victims sending back personal information, or infecting devices with malware. According to the Better Business Bureau, this new scheme is called “smishing” which stands for SMS fishing, as opposed to “phishing,” which involves email. “We’re kind of condit…

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by Zak Failla
Hackensack, NJ
Police & Fire
ALERT: Bergen Sheriff Warns Citizens Not To Fall For Arrest-Threat Phone Scam ALERT: Bergen Sheriff Warns Citizens Not To Fall For Arrest-Threat Phone Scam
ALERT: Bergen Sheriff Warns Citizens Not To Fall For Arrest-Threat Phone Scam Bergen County Sheriff Anthony Cureton warned citizens again Tuesday about a phone scam by thieves impersonating department officers. The scammers are “spoofing” his office's general number, then posing as sheriff's officers threatening unsuspecting victims with arrest for what they say are outstanding summonses for failing to appear in court, he said. One scammer previously claimed to be with a "Division of Warrants and Citations" -- not an official title under the sheriff's command. “The Bergen County Sheriff's Office, IRS, Social Security, or any other legitimate business or governm…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Cortlandt, NY
Police & Fire
Two Charged With Scamming Area Couple Out Of Thousands Two Charged With Scamming Area Couple Out Of Thousands
Two Charged With Scamming Area Couple Out Of Thousands Two men are facing charges after duping an elderly couple out of thousands of dollars by pretending their grandson was in jail. New York State Police investigators from Orange County responded to a residence in Wawayanda earlier this year, for a report of a “grandparent bail bond scam.” Police said that the couple received a call from someone alleging to be their grandson, stating that he had been arrested and needed bail money.  The couple was then put into contact with an alleged attorney who advised that he needed $8,700 in cash to bail their grandson out of jail. They were t…

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by Zak Failla
Hackensack, NJ
Police & Fire
ALERT: Bergen Sheriff Warns Citizens Not To Fall For Arrest-Threat Phone Scam ALERT: Bergen Sheriff Warns Citizens Not To Fall For Arrest-Threat Phone Scam
ALERT: Bergen Sheriff Warns Citizens Not To Fall For Arrest-Threat Phone Scam Bergen County Sheriff Anthony Cureton warned citizens about a recent phone scam by thieves impersonating department officers. Cureton's office has received several recent complaints about callers posing as sheriff's officers threatening targeted victims with arrest for what they say are outstanding summonses for failing to appear in court, the sheriff said Monday. The caller claim to be with a “Division of Warrants and Citations," he said. “While the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office is responsible for issuing warrants, the office does not have a ‘Division of Warrants and Citations,’ " Cureto…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Brentwood, NY
Police & Fire
Threat Of Violence Phone/Text Scam Alert Issued On Long Island Threat Of Violence Phone/Text Scam Alert Issued On Long Island
Threat Of Violence Phone/Text Scam Alert Issued On Long Island Southampton Town Police Department is warning the public of a  phone/text scam involving calls or texts to victims containing graphic photos.  According to police, Latino callers are texting or calling victims stating they know where the victim works or lives and implies a threat of harm if the victim does not comply with demands of money to the caller, said Southampton Police Lt. Susan Ralph. There have also been several calls and texts using the same graphic photo or similar graphic photos depicting an execution-style murder, she said. "Southa…

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by Kathy Reakes
Parsippany-Troy Hills, NJ
Police & Fire
Denville Post Office Burglarized, Police Say Denville Post Office Burglarized, Police Say
Denville Post Office Burglarized, Police Say Police are looking for the thief who took mail from the Denville Post Office, authorities said. Mail was taken from the container outside of the Clark Street building early this week, Denville Police Capt. Jeffrey Tucker said. Anyone who placed mail inside of the container between Saturday and Monday is urged to check their banks and credit card companies for fraud, Tucker said. Anyone who suspects fraud is urged to contact Denville Township Police.

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by Cecilia Levine
Middletown-Wallkill, NY
Police & Fire
Scammers Spoofing Phone Numbers Of State Agencies To Get Personal Info Scammers Spoofing Phone Numbers Of State Agencies To Get Personal Info
Scammers Spoofing Phone Numbers Of State Agencies To Get Personal Info State agencies in New York are cautioning residents to be wary of the latest scam to hit the area, this one involving opportunistic fraudsters posing as state officials. There has been a rash of reports of scammers spoofing official state phone numbers that will show up on caller IDs. The fraudsters then attempt to ascertain personal information. There have been reports of scammers posing as the New York State Inspector General’s Office, New York State Police, and the Social Security Administration in recent weeks. Several individuals have received phone calls from what appears to be a pri…

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by Zak Failla
Massapequa, NY
Police & Fire
Don't Fall For It: Police Issue Alert For Unclaimed Funds Email Scam Don't Fall For It: Police Issue Alert For Unclaimed Funds Email Scam
Don't Fall For It: Police Issue Alert For Unclaimed Funds Email Scam Police in the area are cautioning local residents of a recent email scam that has been making the rounds throughout the region. One police department, located in Rockland County, reports it just received a scam email from “Rupnarain Kamal” stating that the recipient of the email was due a payment of $22,583,112.00 as a beneficiary for an unclaimed fund at a South African bank. “Back in January, we posted about a scam email we received in the (police department’s) General Email Account Mailbox,” the Ramapo Police Department posted online. “Well, on (Monday), July 22, we received the same ema…

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by Zak Failla
Pelham, NY
News
Here's How Kids Can Make Sure Grandparents Don't Fall For This All-Too Familiar Scam Here's How Kids Can Make Sure Grandparents Don't Fall For This All-Too Familiar Scam
Here's How Kids Can Make Sure Grandparents Don't Fall For This All-Too Familiar Scam Police are educating children and young adults on the ways they can prevent their grandparents from becoming victims of phone scams. These types of scams typically begin when the victim receives a call, usually in the middle of the night. The caller often visits the social media profiles of the victims ahead of time so that they can make the call seem legitimate by providing names, phone numbers and other relevant details. The caller’s story will change with each victim - they got arrested, they got into an accident, etc. - but the request for money is what’s consistent. Victims are typical…

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by Valerie Musson
Brookfield, CT
Police & Fire
Beware Of New 'Avoid Arrest' Scam, Police Say Beware Of New 'Avoid Arrest' Scam, Police Say
Beware Of New 'Avoid Arrest' Scam, Police Say Don’t be duped! Police investigators in Fairfield County are warning area residents to be wary of a new scam making the rounds, with fraudsters posing as members of the department. “A common phone scam across the country appears to be impacting the Fairfield area at this time,” police posted on Facebook. “The Fairfield Police Department has been made aware of numerous calls being made to residents which appear, on caller ID, to be coming from the Fairfield Police Department.” According to police, the scammers will pose as an officer, attempting to convince their victims to pay a fee over t…

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by Zak Failla
Fairfield, CT
News
Scam Alert: 'Spoofing' Schemers Pose As Police Scam Alert: 'Spoofing' Schemers Pose As Police
Scam Alert: 'Spoofing' Schemers Pose As Police Local police departments have been warning residents of the increased prevalence of phone scams - but a new type of scam has resulted in numerous complaints and concerns. Scammers have started using an Internet application called “spoofing” to enable them to display their caller ID to make it appear as though the call is coming from a local police department. As a result, those receiving the call feel as though it is legitimate and let their guard down, potentially providing personal information and increasing the chances of becoming a victim. Local law enforcement agencies and representat…

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by Valerie Musson
North Salem, NY
News
Measure To Ban Robocalls Gains Momentum Among State Lawmakers Measure To Ban Robocalls Gains Momentum Among State Lawmakers
Measure To Ban Robocalls Gains Momentum Among State Lawmakers State lawmakers in New York are taking a stand against robocalls, proposing a bill that would stop automated phone calls from being placed without prior consent. New York Sen. Brad Hoylman and Assemblywoman Yuh-Line Niou, and consumer advocates announced the Robocall Prevention Act in Albany on Tuesday, following a record number of unwanted calls that were made in 2018. According to Hoylman, more than 47.8 billion robocalls were placed nationwide in 2018. “Our bill will stop robocalls from being made to any telephone number owned by a person in New York, unless for emergency purposes or wi…

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by Zak Failla
Fair Lawn-Glen Rock, NJ
Police & Fire
Glen Rock Beauty Salon Owner Falls For PSE&G Phone Scam Glen Rock Beauty Salon Owner Falls For PSE&G Phone Scam
Glen Rock Beauty Salon Owner Falls For PSE&G Phone Scam Even merchants can be conned by scammers, authorities said, after the owner of a Glen Rock hair salon was taken for nearly $500. The Rock Road business owner said she got a call from someone claiming to be from PSE&G telling her that power would be cut off to her business if she didn’t pay an overdue bill, Police Chief Glen Ackermann said. Following instructions, the owner bought a Money Pak card for $478.45 and gave the caller the numbers on the card, the chief said. It was only afterward, he said, that the manager realized it was a scam and called police – too late, unfortunately. P…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Pelham, NY
News
Scam Alert Issued For Websites That Try To Get You To Change Your Address Scam Alert Issued For Websites That Try To Get You To Change Your Address
Scam Alert Issued For Websites That Try To Get You To Change Your Address The United States Postal Service is investigating a new scam involving a website that charges residents to change their address. According to the USPS, they processed upwards of 40 million address changes annually in recent years, though Postal Inspectors have found that some customers paid for an address change on websites with domain names that are not associated with the Postal Service. Investigators said that the sites charge customers up to $40 to change an address, and in some cases, the change never gets officially made. The Postal Service has no affiliation with the businesses that …

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by Zak Failla
Mount Pleasant, NY
News
Tax Season Scheme: Beware Of Scammers Impersonating IRS, Police Warn Tax Season Scheme: Beware Of Scammers Impersonating IRS, Police Warn
Tax Season Scheme: Beware Of Scammers Impersonating IRS, Police Warn With tax season heating up, area residents are being warned to be cautious of opportunistic fraudsters looking to take advantage of the community’s most vulnerable parties. Area police departments warn that each year, they receive several reports from the community involving tax scams. “Our elderly community members are typically the most vulnerable to these types of scams," one department, Norwalk in Fairfield County, noted. “Please take the time to warn your older family members, neighbors, and friends.” In response, the department released an FTC video online and offered a ser…

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by Zak Failla
Poughkeepsie, NY
Police & Fire
Phone Scams On Rise, Dutchess Sheriff Warns Phone Scams On Rise, Dutchess Sheriff Warns
Phone Scams On Rise, Dutchess Sheriff Warns As the holiday season gets into high gear, the Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents of Dutchess County and surrounding areas about phone scams that seem to be on the increase.  Phone scams are ways in which criminals will attempt to get money from people by calling them and making up elaborate stories. In some cases the perpetrators have tried, sometimes successfully, to use the victim’s emotions about a loved one in trouble to get money.  It’s common for the scammers to try to get money by telling people that one of their relati…

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by Kathy Reakes
Stamford, CT
News
Black Friday, Cyber Monday Scam Alert Issued Black Friday, Cyber Monday Scam Alert Issued
Black Friday, Cyber Monday Scam Alert Issued As area residents prepare for the holiday shopping season, authorities have issued tips to help consumers protect themselves on Black Friday and Cyber Monday. The following are tips for consumers shopping on Black Friday and Cyber Monday: Beware of misleading bargains and added fees. The “sale” price may have been marked up before it was marked down – nullifying the impact of the sale. Often, the touted “sale” price may, in fact, be significantly higher than the price for that same item later in the season. Additionally, delivery charges and/or other added costs such as assembly fees are o…

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by Daily Voice
White Plains, NY
News
Black Friday, Cyber Monday Scam Alert Issued By NY Attorney General Black Friday, Cyber Monday Scam Alert Issued By NY Attorney General
Black Friday, Cyber Monday Scam Alert Issued By NY Attorney General As New Yorkers prepare for the holiday shopping season, Attorney General Barbara D. Underwood issued tips to help consumers protect themselves on Black Friday and Cyber Monday. “As holiday shopping season begins, New Yorkers should be on alert that sometimes bargains may not be as good as they seem,” said Underwood. “When purchasing gifts for family and friends, we encourage consumers to use our tips to protect themselves against fraudsters and scams.” Underwood issued the following tips for consumers shopping on Black Friday and Cyber Monday: Beware of misleading bargains and added fees.…

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by Daily Voice
Stamford, CT
News
Cybercriminals Targeting Online Payroll Accounts Of Employees, FBI Says Cybercriminals Targeting Online Payroll Accounts Of Employees, FBI Says
Cybercriminals Targeting Online Payroll Accounts Of Employees, FBI Says Cybercriminals are targeting online payroll accounts of employees in order to change bank account info and redirect direct deposits, according to the FBI. The federal government has received complaints reporting cybercriminals are targeting the online payroll accounts of employees in a variety of industries. Institutions most affected are education, healthcare and commercial airlines. Cybercriminals reportedly target employees through phishing emails designed to capture an employee’s login credentials, according to the FBI.  Once the cybercriminal has obtained an employee’s credentials, th…

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by Jon Craig
Fairfield, CT
Police & Fire
Mailboxes Pried Open, Contents Stolen In Fairfield County Mailboxes Pried Open, Contents Stolen In Fairfield County
Mailboxes Pried Open, Contents Stolen In Fairfield County A pair of United States Post Office mailboxes were pried open and their contents were stolen during a late-night heist, police said. The Westport Police Department issued an alert warning that on Aug. 31, the USPS mailboxes on 275 Post Road East and 31 Riverside Ave. were broken into and robbed. Police said that the Office of the Postal Inspector and the Westport Police Department are investigating the incidents. Residents that deposited mail in either of those mailboxes have been cautioned to “remain vigilant and check the status of sent packages and checks.” According to police, resident…

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by Zak Failla