Man falls for electronic payments scam of $6,000

Tuesday, March 3

One born every minute

6:30 p.m., 4800 block of Old Bradenton Road

Civil dispute: A man told a responding officer he was scammed out of $6,000 earlier that day. The complainant said he was moving and had listed numerous items for sale on an online marketplace. He received a message from a subject who wished to purchase two “antiques” listed at $30. The profile stated the alleged buyer had a business Zelle account that requires a minimum transaction of $1,000. The subject asked if the victim would be willing to accept the $1,000, then send back $940 for the purchase. 

He then received an email he believed to be from Zelle support, stating he had a pending payment of $30 and the funds would be transferred to his account once the minimum balance of $1,000 is completed. He then received another email stating he must an additional $1,000 because of an undisclosed issue with the payment. 

That’s $2,000.

That was followed by another text stating there was a verification error with the payment and it must be resubmitted. 

That’s $4,000.

A number of additional error texts were sent from the same number suggesting the $2,000 must be resubmitted a second time.

Total: $6,000.

The victim said he talked to friends and family about the entire episode at which point he realized, finally, he may have been scammed. He attempted to call the number back, but it had already been disconnected, or perhaps never existed in the first place.

The complainant was advised to contact his bank as soon as possible to attempt to reverse the payments.

Thursday, March 5

Roommate lights up his life

3:20 a.m., 1300 block of 24th Street

Dispute: Frequent arguments between roommates over flipping light switches boiled over into a physical altercation as a complainant said his rental housemate pushed him against a wall. The complainant, who turned out to be light switch offender, said he had grown tired of the constant arguments and wants them to cease.

The complainant asked officers to contact the landlord, whose residence is in one of the three rooms in the house, regarding the situation. He woke up the landlord, who proffered the solution that one of them must move out. 

Twenty minutes later, the complainant requested officers return, saying the subject was knocking on his window and saying he was going to come into his room. An officer contacted the man, who said he had recently been released from prison and that the complainant keeps leaving the lights on, which he could not deal with. 

An officer advised the dispute was civil in nature and suggested they remain in their respective rooms for the night, then speak with the landlord about the situation the next day.

Friday, March 6

Stealing signs

7:17 p.m., 1500 block of Main Street

Criminal mischief: Three subjects believed to be juveniles allegedly damaged a parking sign before leaving on foot toward North Orange Avenue. Responding officers met with the manager of the parking lot who said she noticed the group standing nearby and holding one of the parking signs. Confronted by the complainant, when asked where they got the sign they said they found it on the ground, then they vacated the premises. 

She followed up by reviewing the surveillance video, which showed them forcibly removing the sign from the ground. The sign post was slightly bent but was able to be returned to its upright position.

Initially saying she wished to press charges should the malcontents be located, the complainant changed her mind and said she did not want them to be arrested should they be located. Because the damage was minimal, no further action was taken.