Resident's Info Used to Dupe Colo. Man, Police Say

A Wyckoff resident was the victim of identity theft in a scam that also left a Colorado man $19,000 poorer, police said.

Detective Sgt. Joseph Soto recently conducted a fraud investigation after a Colorado man who thought he was purchasing a used car from a township resident over the Web was instead duped into wiring $19,000 to Arizona.

Police said the Wyckoff resident had previously had their car for sale on eBay, complete with pictures of the vehicle and title. The car wasn't sold, and the sale had been removed, but apparently not before someone else took the resident's information for their own use. The investigation concluded that the culprit represented himself as the Wyckoff resident and "sold" the car to the Colorado man after posting the relevant information on several Web sites.

The Colorado victim is out $19,000 after wiring the money to an address provided in Arizona, and of course was left without a vehicle, too. Police determined that the Wyckoff resident was purely a victim of the fraud and played no role in its operation.

Police remind residents to use caution when making Web purchases, check facts completely on transactions and "do your homework" before wiring money or electronically sending payment anywhere.

• A Midland Park woman reported the theft of her purse from her car on March 3.

Patrolman Kevin Kasak investigated the woman's report, which stated that she took her child to a pre-school program at Grace United Methodist Church, 555 Russell Ave., and left her purse in her unlocked car for approximately 10 minutes. The purse was gone when she returned to her car, police said.

Police Chief Benjamin Fox reminds residents that thefts from unlocked vehicles happen regularly, and in many instances are crimes of opportunity when the wrong person happens to walk by, sees something of value, and discovers that the vehicle is unlocked. Therefore, even if leaving your car for moments, lock your vehicle. 

"Wyckoff and surrounding towns have had periodic thefts in multiple numbers from vehicles parked in driveways in the middle of the night. The thieves are simply looking for unlocked cars. If your car is locked, they move on. If it's unlocked, you'll be a victim. This recent theft during the daytime is a classic example of the fact that it only takes seconds for someone to remove a purse from the front seat of an unlocked car. Conversely, it only takes a second to lock your car. Why take the risk? Protect yourself and your personal belongings," Fox said.