$169,000 Online Fraud Under Investigation By Manalapan Police

MANALAPAN, NJ — A 70-year-old Manalapan resident reported being defrauded in the amount of $169,000 after opening an online account, Manalapan Township police said in a crime report.

Patrolman Reginald Grant took the report, which was made by the resident on Nov. 30. The matter is being investigated, police said, and no specifics on the fraud were made public.

But this isn't the only large amount residents have reported being defrauded of in recent weeks:

• On Nov. 30, two Manalapan residents reported being defrauded in the amount of $30,000 during the course of a business transaction. That matter is being investigated.
• On Nov. 22 a Manalapan resident reported that someone claiming to be the owner of an insurance company defrauded the victim of $25,000.
• On Nov. 21 a Manalapan reported an that someone withdrew $8,500 from a bank account. Several credit card accounts were also opened in the victim’s name.
• On Nov. 17 a Manalapan resident reported that someone used the victim’s Social Security number to open three utility accounts in Houston, Texas. The matter is being disputed with the utility company.

Manalapan Police Capt. Leonard Maltese offered some advice on how residents can protect themselves from online fraud.

He said the most important advice would be not to provide any personal information via telephone or the internet.

He said that many times, especially when the fraud occurs online, it originated out of the country, "which would make it increasingly difficult, if not impossible, to identify the responsible party."

The Federal Trade Commission has information on their website regarding scams, robo-calls, charity fraud, travel scams, fraudulent business opportunities, he said.

Go to FTC.gov and see the tab for “Advice and Guidance."

Identitytheft.gov is also a good resource, especially if someone has already been the victim of identity theft.

There are also additional links at https://www.manalapanpolice.org/identity-theft/, Maltese said.