$47K Tax Refund Check Stolen, Jury Duty Scam: Lower Makefield Crimes

LOWER MAKEFIELD TOWNSHIP, PA —A $47,000 check that a resident was supposed to get as a tax refund from the IRS showed up stolen and deposited in another account.

That was one criminal incident

The Lower Makefield Township Police Department has released its blotter of criminal incidents for the past week.

These are the criminal incidents:

Feb. 26

FRAUD —1200 Block of Knox Drive at 2:08 p.m. The complainant reports that an unknown person has been making withdrawals from their bank account. The bank is conducting an investigation. The monetary loss was $3,918.

Feb. 24

IDENTITY THEFT —100 Block of Arborlea Avenue at 4:43 p.m. The complainant reports that an unknown person opened an account with AT&T for $146.53. The complainant reported to AT&T. There was no monetary loss.

THEFT —700 Block of Stony Hill Road at 11:56 a.m. The complainant reports that they witnessed an older unknown white man remove a license plate from a vehicle. The incident is under investigation.

FRAUD —2000 Block of Polo Run Drive at 9:36 a.m. The complainant reports that they noticed a $4,000 charge on their bank account. The complainant believes their account was hacked after making an online purchase. The bank was notified and will reimburse the complainant.

Feb. 22

THEFT —900 Block of Quincy Drive at 5:15 p.m. The complainant reports that they were supposed to receive a check for $47,200 from the IRS. When the complainant reached out to IRS they were advised that the check had been deposited into an account that the complainant says they did not open. The incident is under investigation.

IDENTITY THEFT —1700 Block of South Crescent Boulevard at 3:08 p.m. The complainant reports that an unknown person used their identity to open a checking account and a credit account totaling $8,000. The complainant contacted the bank and the accounts were closed.

Feb. 21

FRAUD —500 Block of Aspen Woods Drive at 5:27 p.m. The complainant reports they were notified by the airline that an unknown person hacked into their account and used miles worth $1,800.

FRAUD —200 Block of Cinnabar Lane at 1:09 p.m. The complainant reports that they opened an email that compromised their personal information. After doing so, they received a text message telling them to go to a KIOSK and pay a fine for not having gone to jury duty. The complainant realized it was a scam and reported it to the major credit bureaus. No financial loss at the
time of the report.