$5.6M Multi-State Fraud Scheme With 1K+ Stolen IDs Lands Pennsylvania Man Federal Charges: DOJ $5.6M Multi-State Fraud Scheme With 1K+ Stolen IDs Lands Pennsylvania Man Federal Charges: DOJ $5.6M Multi-State Fraud Scheme With 1K+ Stolen IDs Lands Pennsylvania Man Federal Charges: DOJ
$5.6M Multi-State Fraud Scheme With 1K+ Stolen IDs Lands Pennsylvania Man Federal Charges: DOJ A Pennsylvania man is accused of stealing over $5.6 million in pandemic aid using more than 1,000 stolen or fake identities, federal prosecutors announced on Monday, June 16. Adepoju Babatunde Salako, 32, has been indicted in Colorado on multiple federal charges after allegedly orchestrating a nationwide COVID-19 benefits scam, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado. Salako faces six counts of wire fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, and four counts of aggravated identity theft, according to t…
Phony Texts Threaten Drivers With Suspensions: Here's What To Know Phony Texts Threaten Drivers With Suspensions: Here's What To Know Phony Texts Threaten Drivers With Suspensions: Here's What To Know
Phony Texts Threaten Drivers With Suspensions: Here's What To Know There’s a scam targeting drivers through text messages pretending to be from the DMV. Cybercriminals who once claimed victims owed unpaid tolls are now pivoting to a new phishing attack, according to authorities. If you’ve received a text message warning that your driver’s license is about to be suspended due to unpaid tickets, stop and think before you click. It might be a scam. The FBI and other law enforcement agencies are alerting the public about a new wave of phishing scams — specifically “smishing,” or fraudulent text messages — that claim to be from the Department of Motor Vehicles…
Atlantic City Man Defrauded Victims Using Social Media: Prosecutor Atlantic City Man Defrauded Victims Using Social Media: Prosecutor Atlantic City Man Defrauded Victims Using Social Media: Prosecutor
Atlantic City Man Defrauded Victims Using Social Media: Prosecutor Two Atlantic County men were arrested and charged with multiple theft and computer crimes in offenses that spanned the entire country, authorities said. In 2023, the FBI Financial Crimes Task Force was notified of an ongoing fraud investigation after multiple victims across the United States reported being defrauded through a SIM swapping scheme, the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office said An investigation revealed Cory Kott, a 35-year-old Mays Landing resident, and Omar Lopez, a 45-year-old Atlantic City resident,  targeted victims through social media and began conversations with th…
$23.5K Immigration Scam Busted: Harrisburg Woman Accused Of Duping Local Family $23.5K Immigration Scam Busted: Harrisburg Woman Accused Of Duping Local Family $23.5K Immigration Scam Busted: Harrisburg Woman Accused Of Duping Local Family
$23.5K Immigration Scam Busted: Harrisburg Woman Accused Of Duping Local Family A Harrisburg woman pocketed $23,500 from a man trying to bring his family from Vietnam to the U.S.—then vanished, Swatara Township police detailed in court documents obtained by Daily Voice on Thursday, June 5. Gracie Deguia-Reed, 54, is accused of orchestrating an immigration sponsorship scheme that unraveled over five months. The victim told police he made several cash payments—$7,500, two installments of $3,000, and a final $10,000—in hopes of helping six relatives emigrate to the U.S. Text messages and hand-written receipts provided by the victim show Deguia-Reed claimed she could spons…
Dad Tried Blowing Up Uniondale Gov't Building Over Custody Dispute, Led $600K Fraud Scheme: DA Dad Tried Blowing Up Uniondale Gov't Building Over Custody Dispute, Led $600K Fraud Scheme: DA Dad Tried Blowing Up Uniondale Gov't Building Over Custody Dispute, Led $600K Fraud Scheme: DA
Dad Tried Blowing Up Uniondale Gov't Building Over Custody Dispute, Led $600K Fraud Scheme: DA A Long Island father who tried to blow up a government building in a custody-fueled revenge plot pleaded guilty to a laundry list of charges, including multiple bomb-related crimes, mortgage fraud, and identity theft. James Luca, age 47, admitted in Nassau County Court Monday, June 2, to trying to ignite explosive devices outside the county’s Department of Social Services building in Uniondale in September 2024. Upset and aggrieved, he blamed Nassau County Child Protective Services for revoking his visitation rights with his children, as Daily Voice previously reported. Luca placed two pro…
Massive Data Breach Exposes 184 Million Accounts: What To Know Massive Data Breach Exposes 184 Million Accounts: What To Know Massive Data Breach Exposes 184 Million Accounts: What To Know
Massive Data Breach Exposes 184 Million Accounts: What To Know A cybersecurity researcher has uncovered a massive trove of compromised login credentials, raising new alarms about the scope and scale of InfoStealer malware campaigns. The exposed Elasticsearch database contained more than 184 million unique usernames and passwords. It was not password-protected or encrypted, and it was publicly accessible when discovered earlier this month. The database included login details tied to popular platforms such as Microsoft, Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat.  It also contained services with potentially greater stakes, including banking portals, health …
Asian Mobster Stole $12K From NJ Resident's Bank Account: Fairfield PD Asian Mobster Stole $12K From NJ Resident's Bank Account: Fairfield PD Asian Mobster Stole $12K From NJ Resident's Bank Account: Fairfield PD
Asian Mobster Stole $12K From NJ Resident's Bank Account: Fairfield PD An organized crime member from Flushing was arrested and charged on Thursday, May 22, with stealing $12,000 from a Fairfield resident's bank account last November, authorities said. Xuan Jin, 50, obtained personal banking information from a Fairfield resident and used that information for cash withdrawals, Fairfield police said. In total, over two days, $12,000 was withdrawn from the victim’s account, police said. Fairfield police worked with law enforcement in New York City, Rockland County and Fort Lee to identify Jin as the suspect, officers said. Jin's organized crime ring is known to p…
$477K Scheme: Doorman From Yonkers Steals From Retired NYC Teacher, Husband, DA Says $477K Scheme: Doorman From Yonkers Steals From Retired NYC Teacher, Husband, DA Says $477K Scheme: Doorman From Yonkers Steals From Retired NYC Teacher, Husband, DA Says
$477K Scheme: Doorman From Yonkers Steals From Retired NYC Teacher, Husband, DA Says A Westchester County man has admitted to stealing nearly $478,000 from a retired New York City schoolteacher and her husband while working as their building’s doorman, prosecutors announced. Alfredo Mateo, 38, of Yonkers, pleaded guilty in Manhattan Supreme Court to grand larceny and identity theft charges, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg announced on Wednesday, May 21.  According to Bragg, Mateo launched a calculated financial scheme against the couple after the husband died on September 1, 2022, and the wife, a retired schoolteacher, was living in a nursing home under co…
Stafford Woman Uses Bathroom Excuse, Fake Call To Stall Arrest On Drug Charges: Sheriff Stafford Woman Uses Bathroom Excuse, Fake Call To Stall Arrest On Drug Charges: Sheriff Stafford Woman Uses Bathroom Excuse, Fake Call To Stall Arrest On Drug Charges: Sheriff
Stafford Woman Uses Bathroom Excuse, Fake Call To Stall Arrest On Drug Charges: Sheriff A wanted woman in Virginia tried to talk her way out of trouble — then allegedly called the cops pretending to be someone else — but still ended up in cuffs. Holly Wickline, 57, was arrested early Wednesday, May 21, after what deputies described as an awkward attempt to dodge felony drug warrants, including charges involving fentanyl, according to the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office. It all started shortly before 2 a.m., when Deputy P.J. Leon responded to a home on Barnum Drive. Wickline was wanted out of Orange County on several drug-related charges. The deputy knocked on the door — and …
Kutztown Man Faked Landlord Role To Steal $14K From Opioid Housing Program: Berks DA Kutztown Man Faked Landlord Role To Steal $14K From Opioid Housing Program: Berks DA Kutztown Man Faked Landlord Role To Steal $14K From Opioid Housing Program: Berks DA
Kutztown Man Faked Landlord Role To Steal $14K From Opioid Housing Program: Berks DA A Kutztown man posed as a landlord to steal thousands of dollars meant to help recovering addicts get housing, Berks County District Attorney John T. Adams announced on Thursday, May 22. Kody A. Kirkland, 32, forged documents, faked pay stubs, and filed phony applications to cash in on the State Opioid Response (SOR) Rental Assistance Program, according to county detectives. The taxpayer-funded program, managed by the Treatment Access and Services Center, Inc. (TASC), was created to help people struggling with addiction keep a roof over their heads. Instead, investigators say Kirkland turne…
Woman Steals $12K+ From Coworkers At Oxford Retirement Home: Police Woman Steals $12K+ From Coworkers At Oxford Retirement Home: Police Woman Steals $12K+ From Coworkers At Oxford Retirement Home: Police
Woman Steals $12K+ From Coworkers At Oxford Retirement Home: Police A Chester County woman is accused of stealing her coworkers’ credit card information while working at a retirement home, using it to make more than $12,000 in purchases, Oxford police announced in a release on Wednesday, May 21. Faith Curry, 23, of Peach Bottom, was removed from Ware Presbyterian Village on Friday, March 7, after management reported she had been stealing from fellow employees. The facility is located at 7 East Locust Street in Oxford, police said. Investigators say Curry entered breakrooms alone and accessed her coworkers’ personal belongings, stealing credit card details. …
Mansfield Man Ran $350K Bank Scam, Recruited Others; Police Say He Likely Stole More Mansfield Man Ran $350K Bank Scam, Recruited Others; Police Say He Likely Stole More Mansfield Man Ran $350K Bank Scam, Recruited Others; Police Say He Likely Stole More
Mansfield Man Ran $350K Bank Scam, Recruited Others; Police Say He Likely Stole More A Mansfield man is accused of leading a wide-reaching fraud ring that cost banks across Connecticut hundreds of thousands of dollars in bad checks, authorities said.  Eric J. Christian, 41, is alleged to have recruited others to help him carry out a scheme known as check kiting, according to the Connecticut State Police Statewide Organized Crime Investigative Task Force (SOCITF). Detectives say he convinced people to open bank accounts that he would use to move bad checks around, draining funds before banks could catch on. The investigation, launched in March 2023 by the SOCITF an…