Fraud Alert – Please Read and Use Caution – Pass On, Involving Fake “United States Treasury Agent”

ATE: 03/26/14                CASE: 14-03161

TIME: During the day

WHERE IT HAPPENED: Hopatcong/ Walmart Rockaway

NAME OF ACCUSED: Fake “United States Treasury Agent”

AGE OF ACCUSED: Sounds to be middle aged male with an accent

ADDRESS OF ACCUSED: California

OFFICER (S) INVESTIGATING: Ptl. Bianculli

DATE OF ARREST: I would so like to arrest this guy.

TIME OF ARREST: None

WHERE ARRESTED: None

CHARGES: Would be Fraud, and Impersonating a Federal Officer

WAS BAIL SOUGHT: Oh I wish

VICTIM: 47 year old Hopatcong resident

ANY OTHER INFORMATION: A caller from phone number 707-508-4533 which if you google it you will see; “This caller is a scammer- uses the name Kevin Peterson and claims to be from the US Treasury and has a warrant for your arrest. Total scammer- …”. And yes I called it and spoke to him and he did just that. This person called a Hopatcong resident and used that story. The male asked for the victim’s cell phone number which the victim provided. The male called the victims cell phone and instructed him to go to a Walmart and buy two (2) Green Dot Money Pak cards. The male refused to end the phone call with the victim and instructed him to remain on the line the entire time. While the victim was driving to Walmart the male asked him which one he was going to purchase the money cards from. The victim told the male he would buy them from the Walmart in Roxbury. The male then told him not to go there, that there would not be money in the account and instructed the victim to buy the cards from the Walmart in Rockaway. The male further advised the victim not to speak to any employees of Walmart about his reasoning for purchasing the money cards and to buy them with a debit card and not a credit card.

Once at Walmart, while remaining on the line with the male, (here is where I cry out NOOOOO) the victim purchased one (1) Green Dot Money Card,  for $1000.00 and one (1) Green Dot Money Card,  for $250.00. Upon completing the transaction the male advised the victim to scratch off the security strip and read the MoneyPak Number to the male. With this number the male was able to remove the money from the Green Dot Money Cards and deposit the money into his own bank account.

Upon removing the money from the money cards, the male stated a new error was found with older taxes the victim had filed. They stated he should return to Walmart and once there the male would tell the victim how much money he had to send them. The victim found this curious and began asking several questions to the male. The victim informed the male he was going to call the police department to confirm what the male had said. While the victim contacted the Police Department the male disconnected the phone call.

Okay, so how many red flags do we see with that phone call?  But still this person fell victim to this crime.  DO NOT blame the victim. Use this post as a means to tell someone else so these type of crimes end.  People we MUST get the word out there to everyone. Yes of course YOU would never fall for that.  But if this victim heard you talking about this scam he would not have either. And that leads to everyone thinking about other scams and questioning them.  TIME IS ON YOUR SIDE. Hang up and call the police if you think it is fishy.  Hang up and phone a friend.

No, you didn’t win the Lottery. No, you do not have a rich Uncle in Nigeria. No, there is not some woman of your dreams that is attracted to you from China, No, your Grandson is not in a jail in Mexico and needs money for bail.  No, there is never going to be a Federal Agent asking you to go to Walmart. No, you must NEVER send money through Western Union unless you know the person who you are sending to. No, that check from H&R Block is not real because you didn’t even use H&R Block. No, you will not cash a check for someone you do not know when they tell you they will pay you for it. No, you will not get packages delivered to your home and then ship them across seas. No, paypal is not e-mailing you to sign in and give them your personal information. No, your credit card is not being updated even if the caller knows the last or any digits on your credit card. Just keep saying NO! and hang up. 

Press release by Lt. Kmetz #34 (973)398-5000

(These charges are merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty)

Print Friendly