Police Blotter: Scammed on eBay; Fake Grandson in Jail

Fraud 

A victim on the 100 block of East Madison Street was a victim of fraud between May 13 and 14 after she listed her MacBook laptop on Ebay for $400. He received an email offering her $700, and was told if she accepts the offer she should email the buyer her Paypal email identification information to receive the money. She did that, and mailed the suspect her laptop. After several emails back and forth, the victim received a message from service@Paypal.com stating her account was short and she had to send $200 via Western Union. She never received any payments to her Paypal account. 

A woman on the 100 block of Pine Street reported at 1:04 p.m. May 24 that she received a phone call from a man pretending to be her grandson. He said he was stuck in a Mexican jail and needed $2,800. She phoned her grandson and learned he was at home. No money was sent. 

Identity Theft 

Someone fraudulently used a debit card and PIN number to remove $1,010 from a victim’s bank account on May 12. The victim believes the card number and PIN were compromised through Michael’s Craft Store. 

Someone stole $1,008 from a woman’s bank account by withdrawing cash from an ATM and charging several items in Las Vegas on May 2. 

Someone had been using the social security number of a victim on the 700 block of Berkeley Avenue between 1988 and last January. The victim told police on May 20 that while getting a background check for employment, she learned someone used her social security number with a different name on three occasions since July 1988.

Patch reports on law enforcement activity using information provided by official agencies. Persons charged with a crime or issued a citation for violation of a local ordinance are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. If you or a family member are charged with a crime or cited for a violation and the charge or citation is subsequently adjudicated, we encourage you to contact karenc@patch.com and we will do follow-up reporting on the case.