Newtown Resident Loses $125K In Scam: Recent Police Activity

NEWTOWN TOWNSHIP, PA — Newtown Township Police reported the following recent activity:

Jan. 10

A Newtown Township resident reported that she may have been the victim of fraud. The woman explained that she went online to activate a new credit card, and a Google search suggested a website with similar spelling to the website she was typing in. She clicked on the website and was redirected to yet another site. The new website then asked the complainant to verify her social security number, date of birth, username, and password. At this point, the complainant realized that the website was fraudulent. Police are urging residents to be wary of scams like this. There are several similar scams online.

A Newtown Township reported that an unauthorized person accessed her credit card and changed the address on her account. The complainant has since frozen the account and notified all financial accounts that could be impacted. As of the time of this report, the complainant did not suffer a monetary loss.

Jan. 11

Police were dispatched to Acme Market on West Road for the report of suspicious circumstances. Employees said a woman left the store without paying for her groceries. The female admitted that she did not pay and returned the groceries to employees prior to police dispatch.

Jan. 12

At approximately 6 p.m., patrol responded to the area of Everett Drive for a noise complaint. An officer met with the resident, who said he could hear a loud guitar playing off in the distance. The officer could also hear the loud guitar, and was able determine it was coming from a Linton Hill Road residence. The officer spoke with the guitar player, who agreed to turn down the amp or close his garage door.

Jan. 13

Police were dispatched to the area of Alexander Way at 11 p.m. for the report of a suspicious vehicle and persons. Police made contact with the subjects and determined that the suspicion was unfounded.

Jan. 15

A Newtown Township resident reported a fraudulent check she received for a bed that she was selling on Craig’s List. She listed the bed on the site at $300, and the check she received was for $1,790. She recognized this as a scam and did not suffer a loss.

Jan. 16

Police responded to the area of Neshaminy Avenue in Wrightstown Township for a report of gun shots around 6 a.m. Officers checked the area, and everything appeared ordinary.

Police were dispatched to a Terry Drive business for the report of an attempted burglary not in progress. No entry was made.

At 11 a.m. police responded for the theft of a catalytic converter from a vehicle parked at Birches Assisted Living on Durham Road. The investigation is ongoing.

A Newtown Township resident responded to headquarters to report that she was a victim of a mortgage scam. The total value of loss is in excess of $125,000 and detectives are investigating.