Winchester Man Loses Nearly $5,000 in Scam

[Editor's note: The following information comes from the Winchester Police Department. When arrests are mentioned, it does not indicate a conviction.]

May 9

2:47 p.m.: A Winchester man visited the police station to report fraud, according to a police report. The man reportedly paid nearly $5,000 to an individual claiming to be federal tax agent and that the man owed taxes. The alleged tax agent threatened the man with deportation if he did not pay the agent $3,800 in "greendot" Moneypak pre-paid cards loaded with the money, and after the agent received the money he told the man he was mistaken and that an additional $1,000 needed to be paid in the same fashion, according to the report. Moneypak told police they were not responsible for fraud or theft, according to the report. Detectives were expected to contact the I.R.S., according to the report. 

May 10

11 a.m.: Police called to Main Street for a report of a two-vehicle accident, according to a police report. No tows or transports reported.

May 11

8 a.m.: Police called to the area of Skillings Field on Skillings Road for a report of a larceny from a vehicle, according to a police report. The victim claims that someone illegally entered his vehicle while he was playing soccer and stole $90 in cash and three credit cards, according to the report. Before he could report the theft, the credit cards were used at a Target in Dorchester and a Trader Joe's in Boston, according to the report. Surveillance images captured at Target showed a white man in his 30s or 40s, with a slim build and wearing glasses using the card to possibly buy electronics, according to the report. The suspect got into a white SUV, but a license plate number was not visible in the footage, according to the report. The suspect reportedly made purchases totaling $634.99 at the Target, and another $200 was spent at the Trader Joe's, according to the report. There was no forced entry into the victim's vehicle, according to the report. The victim canceled his credit cards, according to the report.

10:30 a.m: Police responded to Church Street for a report of a two-vehicle accident, according to a police report. No tows or transports reported.

2:51 p.m.: Police called to Swanton Street for a report of possible vehicle vandalism, according to a police report. The taillights on the vehicle were broken, according to the report.

5:05 p.m.: Police responded Stowell Road for a report of motor vehicle vandalism, according to a police report. A Portsmouth woman visiting her mother stayed overnight, and in the morning discovered that the driver's side door had been keyed/scratched, according to the report. She claims she heard a commotion around 11 p.m. the night before but did not go outside to look, according to the report.

May 12

12:05 a.m.: Police broke up a loud party on Arthur Street, according to a police report. A 19-year-old Winchester man was told that he would be summonsed to appear in Woburn District Court on a charge of being a minor in possession of alcohol, according to the report. 

12:20 p.m.: Police responded to Cambridge Street for a report of a two-vehicle accident, according to a police report. No transports were reported, but one vehicle was towed. 

May 13

8:30 a.m.: While conducting a radar post at Ridge Street and Coolidge Road, police stopped a red Kawasaki motorcycle for speeding, according to a police report. A 24-year-old Woburn man was issued a citation for allowing an unregistered motor vehicle to operate on a public way, according to the report. The motorcycle was privately towed, according to the report.

11:29 a.m.: Police responded to Andrea Circle for a report of credit card fraud. A police report was taken.