Thursday, January 17, 2013
Customers purchase pre-paid debit cards that are then drained by fraudsters, the company said.
- BUSINESS
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Thursday, January 17
A scam in which PECO customers are misled into purchasing pre-paid debit cards which are then drained of funds is targeting the Philadelphia region, the electric and gas utility said Thursday. In the scam, customers are contacted by persons who claim to work for PECO and informed that they must make an immediate payment in order to avoid their electricity being shut off. The phony employee then instructs the customer to purchase a pre-paid debit card from a convenience store or similar location, then to provide that card's number. The fraud operators then drain the funds on the card. “We want to make our customers aware of this scam so they can protect themselves from becoming victims of this and other fraudulent activities,” said Mark …
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Doylestown police say a man tried to withdraw $6,200 from a flagged account.
- POLICE & FIRE
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Wednesday, January 2
Doylestown Borough Police officers are investigating an attempted fraud that occurred at the PNC Bank. Bank representatives told police that a man tried to withdraw $6,200 from an account that had been flagged for two previous withdrawal attempts earlier in the day in Frazier and King of Prussia. The man presented a fake North Carolina driver’s license and American Express card as identification, according to police reports. The scheme didn't succeed; the man left the bank "before any funds were disbursed," police said. The incident occurred on Dec. 19 at about 4:58 p.m., police said.
Monday, September 10, 2012
The U.S. Department of Justice said a Doylestown man claimed $261,000 in federal disability payments to which he was not entitled.
A Doylestown man has been accused of collecting more than $250,000 in annuity payments for which he was not eligible. The U.S. Attorney's office on Monday filed a civil complaint against Richard Cundari, 67, of Doylestown. Prosecutors argue that Cundari was ineligible to receive the monthly annuity checks for which he had applied because his income was too high. The complaint was filed in federal court, in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, in Philadelphia, under the False Claims Act. Cundari received 108 annuity payments from 2001 to 2009 from the United States Railroad Retirement Board, the complaint says. The payments totaled more than $261,000, the complaint said. The U.S. Attorney's office said Cundari was not eligible for the …
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Montgomery County District Attorney Ferman says ringleaders lived lavish lifestyles.
[This article was updated at 5:05 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 7] Five people have been arrested and warrants issued for 17 others in an elaborate scheme to defraud Comcast of more than $2.4 million between April 2011 and April 2012, the Montgomery County District Attorney's office said Tuesday. The district attorney's office said Alston Buchanan, 28; Leighton Harrell, 26; Kendall Singleton, 26; and Richard Justin Spraggins, 29, all of Philadelphia; and Nicholas Caputo, 31, of Virginia Beach, Va., were "top members of an elaborate criminal organization" that led Comcast customers to make one-time payments to them in exchange for a one-time reduction in their Comcast service bills. "This is a corrupt organization involving a number of individuals …
Sunday, July 1, 2012
President Obama is not providing funding to help pay your electric or gas bill.
- POLICE & FIRE
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Sunday, July 1, 2012
A scam intended to deceive people into providing their social security numbers, banking details, and other personal information by misleading them to believe that the government will help pay their utility bills has appeared in the greater Philadelphia region, PECO said last week. The scam, which has been reportedly taking place through social media such as Facebook, text messages, telephone, and U.S. Mail, claims that United States President Barack Obama is providing funding to help customers pay their utility bills. “We want to make our customers aware of this scam and any potential issues so they can protect themselves from becoming victims of identity theft and other fraudulent activities,” said Mark Alden, PECO vice president of …
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
In the post-holiday season, it's easy to forget about some of the scams that take advantage where you least expect it.
- BUSINESS
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Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Following the holidays, many people are eager to spend their gift cards both in stores and online. However, criminals have devised ways to exploit those gifts in several ways that it is important to be aware of. The Northampton Township Police Department sent out tips via the Bucks County Crimes Against Older Adults Task Force that offer a few suggestions and reminders when it comes to spending those holiday gift cards and the safest way to make sure you don't get scammed. "I would add that regardless of our age, everyone should review and play attention to the timely information contained in the Fraud Alert," Chief Barry Pilla said. How to avoid gift card scams: The first scam is called the Card Not Present or "CNP" scam. Swindlers record…
Scott Johnson
12:53 pm on Friday, February 1, 2013
Another scam everyone should be aware of is the Amway Tool Scam. Google "Stop The Amway Tool Scam Wordpress" for more information, and forward this to every non-Distributor/IBO you know, so they don't get scammed. more ›