Counterfeit Money, Scams Reported: Lacey Police Log

Lacey police reported two incidents of fraud and a theft with counterfeit money in their most recent police log. Police responded Jan. 26 to a report of counterfeit $100 bills being passed at Wawa, according to authorities.

The bills were used inside the store and at the gas pump in the Wawa on Taylor Lane and Route 9 South in Forked River, police said. Shortly after, Berkeley Township police located their vehicle at the Sand Castle Diner in Beachwood, police said.

Beachwood and Berkeley police charged John E. Dew, 46, of Toms River, and Irwin F. Green, 47, of Sayreville, for forgery. Drew was also charged for theft by deception for the Lacey incidents, police said.

The subjects had left Wawa before officers arrived, but police received a description of their vehicle, according to authorities. Further investigation showed both had active warrants, police said. Berkeley police placed them in the Ocean County Correctional Facility, authorities said.

Online-selling scam

Police responded to a report of fraud Wednesday after a 73-year-old woman was given a fake check that she received from selling a painting online, police said. The buyer sent her a cashier's check for $1,965 on a painting she sold for $210, according to police. She cashed the check and sent the buyer back the $1,755 difference on the Zelle app, police said.

TD Bank informed her the next day that her account had overdrawn because the buyer's check was fraudulent, according to police. The victim put a stop payment on the check before the buyer received the funds, and the woman did not lose any money, police said.

Craigslist says it is common for scammers to send fake cashier's check far exceeding the item's value to sellers. The website says banks will sometimes cash fake checks and hold sellers responsible when they clear. Click here for more information from Craigslist on common online-shopping scams.

Bank Receives Suspicious Calls

Lacey police also responded Jan. 26 to another report of fraud. The complainant said an employee from Ocean First Bank contacted her stating the bank was contacted about 15 times by a woman claiming to be the victim, police said.

The unknown woman provided personal information, including a social security number, wishing to withdraw funds from her bank account, police said. The bank froze her account after seeing suspicious charges from Florida, according to police.

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