Email Scam Bilks Hopatcong Residents, Cops Say
Internet scheme uses Western Union to wire money from victims, according to police.
Two recent email scams have victimized borough residents, Hopatcong Police said.
One resident was scammed after being hired by a company through Career Builder, according a report released on Monday by Lt. Kmetz.
Kmetz said the woman received two checks from a "customer" for more than $1,500 each. She was also told to take $319 out of her commission and send the rest of the money through Western Union to the United Kingdom, Kmetz said.
When the woman went to cash the checks, she found they were "bogus," and instead the money was taken out of her account, Kmetz said.
Kmetz posted a report of another Internet scam on the Hopatcong Police Facebook page on Tuesday, that included an example of a message some residents have been receiving.
The message is from an individual claiming to have been mugged in the Philipines, and is asking for money.
Kmetz said it is "another popular scam that has taken some victims in Hopatcong."
He said the common denominator in all of the email scams is the Western Union.
"The criminals want the money through Western Union because they can go to any Western Union location and pick it up," he said in the post.
Kmetz urges residents to not send money to anyone unless they are in contact with someone they know on the phone.
jay
9:02 am on Wednesday, November 21, 2012
By now people should know better !!
Jim Copeland
12:10 pm on Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Have you ever heard of the scam where you loan your friends and or relatives money and they never make any attempt to pay you back. I have been the victim of that one any number of times.
BeachBum
9:02 am on Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Another scam that is popular is the Nigerian scam where they claim to be from the Armed Forces and need money to fly home
Peter James
9:02 am on Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Stupid is as stupid does
John Wisneuski
9:47 am on Wednesday, November 21, 2012
No offense, but just how stupid are people these days? Do you seriously think you are getting free money?? Use your brains!
Jim Copeland
12:10 pm on Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Pretty stupid
Edubb
12:10 pm on Wednesday, November 21, 2012
They are fooling the elderly, they have no clue. They still call it the world wide web.
STATE PARK
5:48 pm on Wednesday, November 21, 2012
YOU STUCK ON STUPID?