White Plains, NY
Police & Fire
Scam Alert: Suspect Demanding Payment For Missed Jury Duty, White Plains Police Warn Scam Alert: Suspect Demanding Payment For Missed Jury Duty, White Plains Police Warn
Scam Alert: Suspect Demanding Payment For Missed Jury Duty, White Plains Police Warn Authorities in Westchester are advising residents of a scam involving a suspect posing as law enforcement and demanding payment for missed jury duty.  The scheme was announced on Friday, Jan. 12 by White Plains Public Safety, which said that the scams have been reported in other jurisdictions.  According to police, victims of the scam will receive a phone call from someone claiming to be a law enforcement official. The caller will then tell the victim that they missed jury duty and will demand a payment.  Additionally, the suspect will tell the victim that if they do not sen…

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by Ben Crnic
Massapequa, NY
Police & Fire
$20K Theft: Couple Cons Long Island Woman, Flees Scene, Police Say $20K Theft: Couple Cons Long Island Woman, Flees Scene, Police Say
$20K Theft: Couple Cons Long Island Woman, Flees Scene, Police Say Police are searching for two people who stole tens of thousands of dollars worth of jewelry from a Long Island woman’s home. The incident occurred on Wednesday, Jan. 17 in Westbury. According to Nassau County Police, an unknown man and woman knocked on the door of a Westbury home at approximately 3:30 p.m., telling the 74-year-old victim inside that they were giving out estimates on concrete work. The woman allegedly invited the two alleged con artists into her home. While inside, the man asked to use the victim’s restroom; when he came back, the two claimed they would head out to the…

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by Sophie Grieser
Port Chester, NY
Police & Fire
Scammers Posing As Court Officials, Claiming Victims Owe Parking Ticket Fines In Port Chester Scammers Posing As Court Officials, Claiming Victims Owe Parking Ticket Fines In Port Chester
Scammers Posing As Court Officials, Claiming Victims Owe Parking Ticket Fines In Port Chester A police department in Westchester is advising residents of a scheme involving scammers posing as court officials and asking victims to pay hundreds of dollars after claiming they owe parking ticket fines.  The scam was detailed in an announcement by the Port Chester Police Department on Thursday, Jan. 11.  According to the department, victims of the scheme have reported being called by someone claiming that they owe several thousand dollars in parking ticket fines to the Port Chester Courts.  The victims are then offered a "plea deal" in which they can pay several hund…

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by Ben Crnic
Brentwood, NY
News
Victim Left Wheelchair-Bound After Facebook Scam By Long Island 23-Year-Old, DA Says Victim Left Wheelchair-Bound After Facebook Scam By Long Island 23-Year-Old, DA Says
Victim Left Wheelchair-Bound After Facebook Scam By Long Island 23-Year-Old, DA Says A Long Island man is facing a host of charges in connection with an alleged Facebook Marketplace scam that left the victim confined to a wheelchair. Jordan Behling, age 23, of Wheatley Heights, was arraigned on assault and related charges in Suffolk County Court on Tuesday, Jan. 9. According to prosecutors, the victim agreed to meet Behling on Friday, June 16, 2023 to purchase a PlayStation 5 gaming console that Behling had listed on Facebook Marketplace. At around 7:15 p.m., Behling pulled up to the victim’s home in an SUV and the victim handed him $280 in cash through the window. Once h…

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by Michael Mashburn
Cambridge, MA
News
'Special Potion': Townsend Woman Accused Of Poisoning Husband After Fake Soap Star Texts Her 'Special Potion': Townsend Woman Accused Of Poisoning Husband After Fake Soap Star Texts Her
'Special Potion': Townsend Woman Accused Of Poisoning Husband After Fake Soap Star Texts Her A Townsend woman is accused of poisoning a bowl of soup her husband was eating after a scammer impersonating “The Bold and the Beautiful” star Thorsten Kaye and texting her to “get rid of your husband honey.” Roxanne Doucette, 64, charged with attempted murder, intimidation of a witness, juror, police or court official; resisting arrest, and assault and battery on a police officer, Boston 25 News reported. She insists that the soup her 73-year-old husband Paul had in December was just expired. “I’ve never ever tried to poison him in any way whatsoever,” Doucette told CBS News. “I love him…

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by Khier Casino
Garfield-Lodi, NJ
Police & Fire
Maintenance Man Poses As Complex Owner, Scams Apartment Seekers Out Of $14,000: Garfield PD Maintenance Man Poses As Complex Owner, Scams Apartment Seekers Out Of $14,000: Garfield PD
Maintenance Man Poses As Complex Owner, Scams Apartment Seekers Out Of $14,000: Garfield PD A maintenance man at a Garfield garden apartment complex scammed hopeful renters out of $14,000 by posting bogus listings on Facebook, showing them empty units he claimed he owned and then collecting deposits from them, authorities charged. John K. DelValle, a 48-year-old bodybuilder from Hackensack, made it all appear genuine by having the victims sign worthless rental agreements, police said. Then he handed them the master keys that he'd been given for work. DelValle also conned another unwitting victim out of $7,000 -- and a car -- by "selling" him a Tesla that he was renting, Garfield …

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by Jerry DeMarco
Bristol, PA
News
Philly Car Salesman Ripped Off Wheelchair-Bound Buyers For $2.5M, Feds Say Philly Car Salesman Ripped Off Wheelchair-Bound Buyers For $2.5M, Feds Say
Philly Car Salesman Ripped Off Wheelchair-Bound Buyers For $2.5M, Feds Say A used car salesman in Philadelphia faces federal charges for allegedly scamming $2.5 million from his customers, authorities say.  Edward Scott Rock, 47, is accused of mail and wire fraud, according to the US Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.  Between 2019 and 2023, investigators claim Rock accepted payment for about 120 cars equipped for wheelchair users or people with disabilities, but never delivered the vehicles.  Authorities say he took $2.5 million from victims across 36 states, about two-thirds of whom were either physically disabl…

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by Mac Bullock
Towson, MD
News
Financial Advisor Stole Elderly Client's $1M Life Savings In 'Heartless' Maryland Scheme: Feds Financial Advisor Stole Elderly Client's $1M Life Savings In 'Heartless' Maryland Scheme: Feds
Financial Advisor Stole Elderly Client's $1M Life Savings In 'Heartless' Maryland Scheme: Feds The financial advisor in Maryland who stole the American Dream from a man who tirelessly worked his entire life to enjoy his retirement is facing decades in prison after admitting to stealing his life savings during a long-ranging scam. Eddy Blizzard, 45, of Perry Hall, pleaded guilty this week in connection to a bank fraud scheme in which he embezzled upwards of $1 million from an elderly client's retirement account. Blizzard, who worked for a bank securities and bank investment security companies in Maryland for years, targeted a lifelong resident, "R.M.," who attended school through the …

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by Zak Failla
Mahopac, NY
Police & Fire
Police Warn Of Scam Letters Asking For Donations In Hudson Valley: 'Be Vigilant' Police Warn Of Scam Letters Asking For Donations In Hudson Valley: 'Be Vigilant'
Police Warn Of Scam Letters Asking For Donations In Hudson Valley: 'Be Vigilant' Authorities in the Hudson Valley are warning residents to be on the lookout for letters soliciting funds that falsely appear to be sent on behalf of law enforcement.  In a warning issued on Monday, Dec. 4, the Putnam County Sheriff's Office advised residents that they may receive letters soliciting donations that appear to be sent on behalf of the Sheriff's Office.  However, the senders are not associated with the Sheriff's Office in any way, authorities said, adding that they are part of a "potential scam."  The Sheriff's Office released an image depicting these letters on …

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by Ben Crnic
Massapequa, NY
Police & Fire
Arrest Scam Steals $26K From Long Island Resident Arrest Scam Steals $26K From Long Island Resident
Arrest Scam Steals $26K From Long Island Resident Police are looking for the person who pulled off an arrest scheme to scam one Long Island resident out of over $25,000. On Thursday, Dec. 7 in Oceanside, a 74-year-old woman received a phone call. According to Nassau County Police, the caller was an unknown man who told the woman that her son had been arrested. In order to release him, the scammer said, the woman needed to provide money. She did as the scammer was told – taking out $26,000 for two men to come pick up from her home later that day. Only after did the woman realize that she had been scammed and contacted the authoritie…

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by Sophie Grieser
Brentwood, NY
Police & Fire
Would You Be Fooled? Movie Money Used By 22-Year-Old Long Island Man To 'Buy' Car, Police Say Would You Be Fooled? Movie Money Used By 22-Year-Old Long Island Man To 'Buy' Car, Police Say
Would You Be Fooled? Movie Money Used By 22-Year-Old Long Island Man To 'Buy' Car, Police Say It appeared to be the real deal, but a closer look revealed it was all for show. A 22-year-old Long Island man is accused of scamming a victim out of their car by using movie prop money, according to Southampton Town Police. The victim contacted the department in October 2023 to report that his vehicle had been stolen by a man who had contacted him on Facebook Marketplace. He told investigators that the man gave him $4,000 cash and left with the car. It wasn’t until after the man was gone that the victim realized he’d been duped by movie prop money. Following an investigation, police arr…

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by Michael Mashburn
Fredericksburg, VA
Police & Fire
Bogus Contractor Arrested After Stafford Standoff: Cops Bogus Contractor Arrested After Stafford Standoff: Cops
Bogus Contractor Arrested After Stafford Standoff: Cops A 37-year-old man posing as a construction worker in an attempt to scam customers was arrested after his failed attempt and brief police standoff in Stafford, authorities said. Gerson Estanley Rodriguez-Lizama was hired by a family on Onville Road for work on their home, but he had yet to do so when police were called to the home on Oct. 27, Stafford County Sheriff David Decatur said. "While at first it appeared to be a civil matter, as Deputy Bates dove further into the investigation, he discovered the suspect might be defrauding the pair," Decatur said. Bates tracked down Rodriguez-…

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by Cecilia Levine