Resident Loses $1,000 in Text Message Scam
On Oct. 10, Officer Michael Enriquez responded to a residence on Harbourton-Woodsville Road for a report of fraud.
The victim reported receiving text messages on Oct. 9 and 10 from an unfamiliar number that they believed belonged to their daughter’s work phone. The sender claimed their personal phone was not working and that they could not access their bank account because of two-step verification.
The sender requested money through Zelle, and the victim transferred a total of $1,000 before confirming that the messages had not come from their daughter.
The incident remains under investigation.
Lumber and Plywood Stolen From Construction Site
On Oct. 12, Officer Kristin Freas-Papa responded to George Blackwell Drive for a report of stolen construction materials.
A construction manager for Lennar reported that approximately 250 pieces of 2-by-4 lumber and 50 sheets of three-quarter-inch plywood had been stolen from the site sometime between 7 p.m. Oct. 10 and 7 a.m. Oct. 12.
The materials were valued at approximately $1,000. The incident remains under investigation.
Unauthorized PayPal Transaction Reported
On Oct. 14, Officer Michael Crincoli took a walk-in report of debit card fraud at Hopewell Township Police Department headquarters.
The victim reported an unauthorized $265 transaction on their PayPal debit card on Oct. 6. The victim had received a text message from PayPal earlier that day about a declined Facebook purchase, but the transaction was later processed.
The victim notified PayPal and Facebook of the fraudulent activity. The incident remains under investigation.
Resident Loses $1,500 in Alleged Employment Attorney Scam
On Oct. 15, Officer Michael Enriquez took a report of fraud involving an individual posing as an employment attorney.
The victim reported contacting someone they believed was an attorney on Aug. 15 regarding a wrongful termination case. After communicating with the purported law firm, the victim believed they had retained legal representation and provided personal identifying information.
The victim subsequently sent three wire transfers totaling $1,500 through Western Union and Zelle for what were described as client fees.
The victim also received emails about virtual hearings with Zoom links and was later informed that the case had been won, resulting in a purported $200,000 settlement. However, the victim was told they would first need to pay a $15,000 tax fee.
Suspecting fraud, the victim attempted to locate the attorney’s website but could no longer find it.
The reported loss was $1,500. The incident remains under investigation.
Driver Arrested on Outstanding Warrant During Scotch Road Traffic Stop
On Oct. 15, Officer Anthony Pizzola was conducting routine patrol on Scotch Road when he observed a blue Honda traveling northbound at a speed above the posted 45 mph limit.
Pizzola stopped the vehicle and determined that the driver’s license was suspended and that an active warrant had been issued by Plainsboro Township.
The driver was arrested and transported to Hopewell Township Police Department headquarters for processing. The driver was given a new court date in Plainsboro Municipal Court and released on their own recognizance.
The driver also received a summons for driving while suspended, which will be heard in Hopewell Township Municipal Court.
Unauthorized Money Transfer Results in Loss
On Oct. 15, Officer Karla Jenkins responded to a residence on Old Washington Crossing-Pennington Road for a report of theft.
The victim reported receiving a notification the previous day that a $1,250 payment had been sent through the Current app to an unknown phone number. The victim was able to stop and reverse that transaction.
A second unauthorized transfer of $949 was then made to another unknown party. The victim was unable to reverse the payment, and a request to return the funds went unanswered.
The victim reported the activity to the app’s customer service department. When attempting to follow up the next day, the victim discovered they could no longer access the account and that the associated phone number had been changed without authorization.
The total reported loss was $949. The incident remains under investigation.
Credit Cards Used for Thousands in Unauthorized Purchases
On Oct. 16, Officer Frederick Reiniger responded to Orchard Avenue for a report of credit card fraud.
The victims reported that their credit cards had been used Aug. 27 at Costco locations in Staten Island, New York, and Bayonne, New Jersey.
The victims said they had never visited either location and that the transactions were unauthorized.
The fraudulent purchases totaled approximately $2,300. The incident remains under investigation.
Driver Arrested on Trenton Warrant Following Traffic Stop
On Oct. 19, Officer Toney Rushing observed a red Chevrolet fail to signal a turn from Aaron Truehart Way onto Scotch Road.
During the traffic stop, Rushing determined that the driver’s license was suspended and that an active warrant had been issued by the city of Trenton.
The driver was arrested and transported to Hopewell Township Police Department headquarters for processing, then given a new court date in Trenton Municipal Court and released on their own recognizance.
The driver also received a summons for driving while suspended. That matter will be heard in Hopewell Township Municipal Court.
Thousands Lost to Callers Posing as Bank Fraud Employees
On Oct. 19, Officer Anthony Pizzola responded to Alta Vista Drive for a report of fraud.
The victim reported receiving telephone calls from two men who identified themselves as employees of PNC Bank’s fraud services department.
The callers instructed the victim to send money through Bitcoin for what they described as additional fraud services through the bank.
Believing the callers were legitimate, the victim followed their instructions and traveled to a Citgo station in another jurisdiction to transfer the money.
Shortly after sending the funds, the victim realized the calls were part of a scam.
The reported loss was $2,000. The incident remains under investigation.
ShopRite Shoplifting Suspect Charged
On Oct. 21, Officer Kristin Freas-Papa responded to ShopRite for a report of shoplifting.
Store loss prevention personnel reported that surveillance footage showed a man taking merchandise valued at approximately $104.19 without paying.
According to police, the man appeared to conceal his identity by wearing a backward hat and a hooded sweatshirt tied over his head. Exterior surveillance cameras showed him entering a silver Toyota with New Jersey license plates.
A follow-up investigation identified a suspect, who was charged with shoplifting on a criminal complaint summons.
The case will be heard in Hopewell Township Municipal Court.
Driver Charged With DUI on Route 31
On Oct. 22, Sgt. Adam Liotta was on routine patrol along North Route 31 when he observed a dark-colored SUV backing into the parking lot of a closed business.
Liotta approached the vehicle and spoke with several occupants, including the driver. During the interaction, he observed signs of intoxication.
Police administered field sobriety tests and determined that the driver was impaired. The driver was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence and transported to Hopewell Township Police Department headquarters for processing and breath testing.
The driver was charged with driving under the influence, reckless driving, refusal to submit to breath testing and a touring privileges violation.
The charges will be heard in Hopewell Township Municipal Court.
