Scammers are targeting New Yorkers with a phone theft scam, resulting in over $76,000 stolen last year. The NYPD warns against falling victim to this ruse where scammers request donations, then borrow your phone to transfer money from your account.
The NYPD warns New Yorkers about a prevalent scam involving phone theft that has resulted in over $76,000 being stolen from dozens of individuals in Manhattan and Brooklyn last year. Scammers typically initiate the interaction by requesting donations for causes like sports teams, school activities, or non-profit organizations. They ask victims to send the money through digital payment apps like Venmo , Cash App , or Zelle .
However, they then feign not receiving the donation and offer to 'help' by borrowing the victim's phone. This is the crucial moment when scammers transfer substantial sums of money from the victim's account to their own. The NYPD collected details on a series of these scams between January 11 and November 19, 2023, revealing 39 incidents where victims lost anywhere from $928 to $3,500. The affected individuals ranged in age from 19 to 39, with 35 being women. While most online payment platforms highlight common scams and prevention strategies on their websites, this particular scam focuses on in-person interactions.Zelle spokesperson Jane Khodos emphasized that scams originate well before a payment is initiated and stressed the importance of addressing the criminals behind these schemes. She highlighted that 99.5% of transactions on Zelle in 2023 were completed without a reported scam. The NYPD states that these scams are most prevalent during the summer months when people are more likely to be outdoors. Authorities believe the perpetrators are primarily from New Jersey and target individuals in parks and courtyards. They have made several arrests last year related to these incidents, including individuals aged 19 to 21 from Jersey City and a 15-year-old boy
SCAM Phone Theft NYPD Manhattan Brooklyn Donations Zelle Venmo Cash App
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
NYPD Driver's Phone Seized in Overtime ProbeFederal investigators are examining potential misuse of federal funds for overtime pay within the NYPD, focusing on the case of Ingrid Sanders, a former driver for a high-ranking officer. Her phone was seized, and sources suggest her communication is likely centered around overtime earnings and interactions with her former boss.
Read more »
NYPD Faces Historic Candidate Slump, NYPD Officer Says Job Worth 'Not a Damn Thing'The number of candidates taking the NYPD test has plummeted over 55% in the last eight years, according to the Police Benevolent Association. Current officers cite grueling work conditions, attacks, and excessive complaints as reasons behind the decline. One officer even dissuaded his son from joining the NYPD, encouraging him to join a county police department instead. The NYPD is struggling to fill its academy slots, resorting to contacting candidates from years past.
Read more »
Phone users can't live without this, according to a 'dumb phone' makerBusiness Insider tells the global tech, finance, stock market, media, economy, lifestyle, real estate, AI and innovative stories you want to know.
Read more »
South Philly Man Warns of Car Theft SpreeA South Philly resident is warning his neighbors after his car was stolen from his driveway, highlighting a recent surge in auto thefts in the area. Stephen Pagano's Chrysler 300 was stolen on January 14th, joining at least three other incidents within a week. Home surveillance footage captured some of the thefts, revealing the brazen nature of the crimes. Pagano urges neighbors to take precautions like safeguarding their key fobs and locking their vehicles.
Read more »
‘Scary as hell’: FBI warns pro-athletes targeted by ‘organized theft groups’This is additional taxonomy that helps us with analytics
Read more »
CBP warns against phone scam by fake Border Patrol agentsU.S. Customs and Border Protection used social media the first weekend of the new year to remind residents of a phone scam targeting financial information.
Read more »