Fake Apple Security Scam Costs Resident More Than $20,000
On Sept. 12, Officer Christopher Hayes responded to Hopewell Township Police Department headquarters for a walk-in report of fraud. The victim reported that beginning around Aug. 11, he received text messages he believed were from Apple Security warning of attempts to steal his money through cryptocurrency. He called the number provided and spoke with a man who identified himself as “Jim Page.” The call was transferred to another man who asked the victim to share his computer screen, allowing the unknown actor or actors to gain access to the computer. The victim’s bank account was compromised, and several unauthorized transactions totaling approximately $20,818.93 were made from his savings account to an unknown Coinbase account. The incident remains under investigation.
Damaged Vehicle Catches Fire
On Sept. 13, Officer George Peterson and other Hopewell Township police officers responded to a vehicle fire at a business on Route 31 North. Peterson arrived to find the engine compartment fully involved in fire. Hopewell Valley Emergency Services and the Pennington Fire Company responded and extinguished the blaze. Police learned that the vehicle had sustained heavy front-end damage in an unrelated crash and had already been considered totaled before the fire. An investigation determined that the fire did not appear to be incendiary in nature.
Caller Poses as Sheriff’s Officer in Jury Duty Scam
On Sept. 14, Officer Jack Lane responded to a residence for a report of attempted fraud. The victim said she had received a call from someone claiming to be with the Mercer County Sheriff’s Department who told her a $3,000 contempt of court warrant had been issued for her arrest because she failed to appear for jury duty. She was told to meet the caller in Trenton and pay cash bail to have the warrant dismissed, but that the meeting location would not be disclosed until she was in her vehicle. The call was transferred to another person who continued to tell her she needed to meet in person. When the victim said she knew it was a fraud attempt, the caller became angry and threatened her and made comments about her family. The incident remains under investigation.
Obstructed License Plate Leads to Warrant Arrest
On Sept. 16, Officer Anthony Pizzola was on routine patrol on Scotch Road when he observed a white Nissan traveling southbound with an obstructed and improperly illuminated rear license plate. Pizzola stopped the vehicle and conducted a check of the driver’s license, which showed that his driving privileges were suspended and that he had an active warrant from the City of Trenton. The driver was arrested and transported to HTPD for processing. He was given a new court date in Trenton Municipal Court and released on his own recognizance. He was also issued a summons for Driving While Suspended. The matter will be heard in Hopewell Township Municipal Court.
Computer Scam Leads to $15,000 Cash Loss
On Sept. 18, Officer Frederick Reiniger responded to HTPD headquarters for a walk-in report of theft. The victim said that about three weeks earlier, he opened an email he believed was from a friend. His computer began beeping continuously, and a pop-up message directed him to call a number for computer assistance. The victim spoke with a man who claimed to work for the company that made his web browser and told him his bank account may have been compromised. The man instructed the victim to withdraw money and deposit it into a cryptocurrency account. When that transaction failed, he directed the victim to meet a courier at a business in Pennington. The victim met an unidentified man and gave him $15,000 in cash. The incident remains under investigation.
Broken-Down Vehicle Leads to Warrant Arrest
On Sept. 22, Officer Toney Rushing was on routine patrol on Pennington Road when he observed a silver Volvo displaying what appeared to be a handwritten registration in place of a license plate. While Rushing waited for the vehicle to proceed through an intersection so he could initiate a traffic stop, a male passenger exited and attempted to push the vehicle out of the roadway. The driver told Rushing the vehicle had broken down. A check of both occupants found that the passenger had active warrants from Wall and Jackson townships. He was arrested and transported to HTPD for processing, given new court dates in both municipalities and released on his own recognizance. The driver was issued a summons for Fictitious Plates. The matter will be heard in Hopewell Township Municipal Court.
Jury Duty Scam Costs Resident $15,000
On Sept. 24, Officers Karla Jenkins and Finnegan responded to a residence for a report of theft and fraud. The victim said she received a call from two men claiming to be New Jersey State Troopers who told her a warrant had been issued for her arrest for failing to appear for jury duty. They told her she owed $15,000 in bail on state charges and $150,000 on federal charges.
The callers instructed her to withdraw $15,000 in cash and send the money through a Bitcoin ATM. She did so and also sent a photograph of her driver’s license. The victim was then required to join what was presented as a court appearance on Zoom, where she was told she still owed $150,000 and would be under house arrest with hourly check-ins until bedtime. After approximately four hours of contact with the callers, the victim returned home and contacted Hopewell Township police, who informed her that it was a scam. The total loss was $15,000. The incident remains under investigation.
Speeding Stop Leads to DUI Arrest
On Sept. 24, Officer Tylor Blake was conducting traffic enforcement on Route 546 when he observed a vehicle traveling westbound above the posted 45 mph speed limit. Police said the vehicle also failed to maintain its lane and nearly struck a guardrail on the westbound shoulder. Blake initiated a traffic stop and observed signs of intoxication and the odor of alcohol while speaking with the driver. After field sobriety testing, police determined that the driver was impaired and arrested her on suspicion of DUI. She was transported to HTPD for processing and breath testing. Prior to her release, she was charged with Driving Under the Influence, Reckless Driving, Speeding, Refusal to Submit to Chemical Breath Testing, Failure to Maintain Lane and Possession of an Open Container of Alcohol in a Motor Vehicle. The matter will be heard in Hopewell Township Municipal Court.
