POLICE LOG: Computer Virus That Appeared Like Bank Web Site Scam Reported

The following is an excerpt from the Woburn Police Department log. Please note that this is a sampling of activity in the log, not a complete account. We report all arrests included in the daily police log.

Featured Incident

March 28-

At 3:10 p.m. a man came to the station to report identify fraud. He said on March 26 he was using his laptop computer and checked his bank account on what he thought was his bank’s web site. When he got to the site it directed him to a new security process which required him to fill out his personal information, which he did. After doing so he tried to log in again but could not. When he contacted his bank he was told there was no new security process and the bank told him to check his computer to see if someone had sent a virus. He did and found a virus that was designed to mimic the bank’s web site and that had tricked him into providing his information.

Other Incidents

March 28-

At 10:28 a.m. police responded to the Best Western Hotel for a report of two males who had rented a room and caused multiple dollars worth of damage before leaving.

While en route to the hotel police spotted two men who fit the description and questioned them. They both said they had been in the hotel the night before and were asked to leave. They also denied doing any damage though one of the men said the other might have done so.

The men said they were at the hotel for a place to drink and both did drink.

The hotel reported damage to the air conditioning unit, a microwave oven and the cord was cut on a iron. The room also smelled of smoke and was a non-smoking room.  Total damage was approximately $450.

The men were told they were not welcome at the hotel anymore.

At 7:55 p.m. a woman came to the station to report her wallet was stolen out of her parked and unlocked motor vehicle. Her license, bankcard and two Brazilian identification cards were stolen. The theft could have occurred at Market Basket or at her Montvale Avenue residence.

March 29-

At 9:52 a.m. Police responded to a Forest Park residence on a report of vehicle vandalism. The caller showed police her car which had a burn mark on the inside passenger door. The caller said she did not lock the door the night before. Because of the unique nature of the damage police asked if she was having trouble with anyone and she said she is currently in a custody battle with a woman over a baby, but did not know if it was her or not.

At 9:57 a.m. police responded to a Elm Avenue for a report of a laundry room spray painted by an ex tenant. Caller said she recently asked her roommate to move out. She then found the wall of the laundry room spray painted with silver paint in the form of a smiley face.

At 10:54 a.m. police responded to a Country Club Road location on a report of identify fraud. The caller said she received a letter from the Internal Revenue Service informing her that someone from California had filed a false tax return using her name and social security number.

March 30-

At 8:12 a.m. a man came to the station to report fraud he recently learned about through the media. He said he frequently paid his paper delivery person tips monthly using his checking account. He went and checked his account and found a fraudulent check for $1,200. The check was forged in his name. He said his 2011 tax returns were also fraudulently completed.

March 31-

At 12:34 p.m. police responded to a Totman Drive residence on a report of vandalism. The caller said that when he went out this morning he noticed that sometime overnight it appeared that someone struck his mailbox and his neighbor’s mailbox. Both mailboxes were damaged and knocked over.

April 1-

At 10:08 a.m. a Linden Circle caller reported damage to her property. The caller stated that when she returned home for a trip she noticed that the front light post along her driveway had been damaged by a vehicle. She asked the Woburn DPW and her private plow company if they had caused the damage and was told no by both.