Page 4 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • October 7, 2009 Wyckoff The Wyckoff Police Department has apprehended a 20-year-old New York City woman and charged her with multiple instances of bank fraud involving impersonation and forgery. The department is also investigating two cases in which older residents were victims of fraudulent attempts to obtain money from fictitious windfalls. On Sept. 25, alert staff members at the TD Bank on Wyckoff Avenue notified the police that a young woman was attempting to cash what appeared to be a fraudulent check. The bank had determined that the woman was attempting to cash a check from a business located in Maryland in the amount of $991.60, and disclosed that the business is legitimate, but the check was fraudulently Police fight fraud against banks and seniors produced. Wyckoff Police Detective Joseph Soto, Patrolman Andrew Poremba, and Patrolman Peter Goodman investigated after police had apprehended the woman. With the help of the Midland Park Police Department, they discovered that earlier the same day the woman had successfully cashed fraudulent checks at another TD Bank location in Wyckoff and at a TD Bank office in Hawthorne. The woman no longer had the money on her person, and no vehicle could be found. Police believe she was dropped off to carry out the fraudulent acts and was abandoned when she was caught. The 20-year-old woman was charged with multiple counts of possession of a fictitious credit card, forgery, uttering false statements, impersonating another person, theft by deception, and falsifying government documents. She was committed to Bergen County Jail in lieu of $20,000, which she could not pay. The woman has since been freed on bail. In a separate case, a Wyckoff senior citizen lost $100 and almost lost $2,500 in a scam when she was told that she had won $2 million. The 76-year-old woman was also told that all she had to do was send a $100 money order to Jamaica. The woman sent the money order, but was then told that she had to send $2,500 more by FedEx to cover attorney’s fees. The woman had already sent the check when she became suspicious and asked FedEx to cancel the delivery, which FedEx did in time to save the $2,500 from Helpful Hints Helpful Hints from ome “ Fall fertilizing is important to keep your lawn in healthy condition over winter. It also speeds green-up in the Spring.” 27 Franklin Tpk, Waldwick Open Sundays 9-3 201-652-5666 Hank Says... falling into the wrong hands. The delivery was reportedly cancelled just before it would have reached its destination. In another case of telephone fraud, a 92-year-old husband and his 87-year-old wife reported that they were contacted several times by a telephone caller with a foreign accent who told them they had won money in a lottery. They were told to send money for a processing fee. When the couple refused, the caller asked for information about their credit card and checking account so the money could be deposited directly. When they told the caller they were not interested, the caller told them that somebody would come to their house and kill them if they did not provide the information about the credit card and checking account. At this point, the couple contacted the police. Wyckoff Police Chief Benjamin Fox said scams of this type are very common, and that the perpetrators usually target senior citizens. Any money the victims offer will be stolen and they may place their credit at risk. “Most of these phone scams operate outside the country, so investigation and possible prosecution are very difficult,” Chief Fox said. “If money has been sent, it is nearly impossible to recover. They often target senior citizens, and as was the case with the one couple, they will resort to threats if they think that it will get people to send them money. If you win a legitimate sweepstakes, you never have to pay to get your winnings. If it seems to be too good to be true, it probably is!” The Wyckoff Area Garden Club will sponsor a demonstration by Janet Schultz, “How to Construct a Hypertufa Trough,” on Saturday, Oct. 10. The program will be held at the James McFaul Environmental Center on Crescent Learn to make a hypertufa trough Avenue, Wyckoff from 10 a.m. to noon. A hypertufa trough is a container made of peat moss, perlite, and cement. This mixture makes a lightweight planting container that can be left outside, and looks like stone. ����������������������������������������������������������� ������������������������������������� Infants, Toddler, Preschool and Kindergarten, Grades 1-6, Ages 6 weeks to 12 years 10-5-05----HomeHardwareHints(Hank)2x 2col x 4” Ester... from Janine BricksFrameBrs9803k.eps/00ads/homehard (MET0598bursts) A Truly Unique Montessori School • Unique Phonics Reading Program • Computers • Music • Foreign Language • 3 or 5 Half Days • Full Days 7am - 6pm • Fastrackids • Character Education • Parenting Seminars • Dance Academy CORE of the APPLE Summer Camp ���������������������������� �������������������������� ������������������������ ��������������������� ������������� ������������������� ������������ ��������������� 2 Locations Glen Rock & Passaic PASSAIC LOCATION NOW OPEN SUNDAYS! We Offer Line Of Credits And Financing Plans • Daily Swimmming Lessons, Heated Pool designed for safety of young children • Sports/Organized Games • Arts & Crafts • Field Trips • Music/Dance • In House Events Call, visit and • Nature & Science compare the advantages gained for • Computers • Cooking your child... 201.345-5621 www.applemontessorischools.com 192 Ramapo Valley Rd. OAKLAND 201-337-0183 Please call for our other locations 973-696-9750 Nevins Rd. WAYNE 75 East Ramapo Valley Rd. MAHWAH 201-512-1141