Police Log: More Fraud, Fight Outside Gold's Gym

FRAUD
A Spring Street woman on April 28 told police that she has been getting multiple phone calls dating as far back as February from a person claiming she had federal charges against her.

Police said the called numbers left by the caller and reached a man who identified himself as an employee of the Internal Revenue Service but told police in a "thick accent" he wouldn't be on their employee list.

Police told the resident to consider contacting the phone company to get the numbers blocked and to hang up on similar calls in the future.

On April 28, a Kenyon Avenue couple told police they were the victims of ID fraud.

Police said the residents got a fraudulent income tax notification from the IRS earlier in the month. As part of their fraud investigation, they were told to contact East Greenwich Police to file a report.

The matter was documented.

SCAM
The owners of Raku Sakura restaurant on Main Street got a call from an alleged scammer posing to work for National Grid demanding immediate payment.

The caller claimed to be a Ron Stevenson from National Grid and what might seem troubling is the caller ID did return a National Grid number. It turns out that faking caller ID is surprisingly easy, which adds to the confusion when the scam calls come in.

In the case of Raku Sakura, the caller told the owner to get two $500 Green Dot cards and then call back to read the numbers over the phone to complete the transaction.

The scammer told the owners of the restaurant they were in arrears on their bill and a technician would be "arriving shortly" to turn off the power.

Instead, they called police.

DOMESTIC
Police charged Debra Ann Altieri, 51, of 38 Exchange St., East Greenwich, with domestic simple assault and domestic disorderly conduct an altercation. April 30 at about 10:40 p.m.

Police also charged James J. Trainer, 50, of 38 Exchange St., with domestic disorderly conduct and domestic simple assault on April 30 at about 10:40 p.m.

FRAUD
Police said a Bayberry Lane resident reported on May 1 that she received a letter from the IR informing her that someone used some of her personal information to file a tax return.

Police said the victim had already contact IRS's fraud department.

The matter was documented.

On May 2, police were contacted by a McPartland Way woman who said she and her husband attempted to file their taxes but learned someone had used one of their social security numbers to file a fraudulent return.

Police said they found out when their accountant called them after they attempted to file.

Police documented the incident.

VEHICLE DAMAGED
A Marlborough Street resident told police on May 1 that she drove over a manhole cover that was sticking out from the road, causing damage to her driver side tires.

The woman said the manhole cover was not clearly marked with an orange cone.

Police took pictures of the damage and documented the incident.

HOLES
Police responded to Scalloptown Park on May 2 to investigate a report of holes being dug in the park under picnic tables by dogs.

Police said a responding officer checked all the tables for holes but none were located.

He did see some paw prints and two small holes located just off the paved path to the east.