NEWARK — A conversation with a woman thought to be a neighbor about a misdelivered package turned into a nightmare fraud scenario for one Newark resident when he gave out his phone number.
Police said he realized his mistake soon enough to help stop the woman accused of fraud from further victimizing him.
Alameda County District Attorney prosecutors have charged that 24-year-old Hayward woman with felony identity theft and felony receiving of stolen property, according to court records. Police arrested her May 30 but did not make a statement until after authorities made the formal charges.
In a statement, Newark police said it all stemmed from a March 27 interaction that started when the woman approached the man asking about a misdelivered package. Police said the use of “misdelivered” packages is an emerging tactic in mail and identify thefts, and encouraged people to be cautious of people who approach to discuss that subject.
In this case, police said the resident thought the woman was a neighbor, shared a phone number and agreed to return the package if it arrived. Police said that led to fraudulent purchases on the resident’s credit card, including one for a $5,000 dental autoclave, a machine that sterilizes dental equipment.
The next day, a package did arrive but with a different name on the envelope. Shortly after that, the resident received a call from the woman to arrange a pickup, police said.
Once the call for a pickup had been arranged, the man called police and told them he suspected fraud. Police said officers responded and took possession of the package, which they later confirmed to have been purchased with the resident’s stolen credit card information.
Police said the man already had discovered the unauthorized purchases, including the one for the autoclave. Police said that purchase had been made by the woman through a dental supply company, and that she contacted the company and had requested a change of shipping address to her home.
The call to the company came from a phone at a piercing studio in Hayward, police said. They added that they issued a search warrant at the studio and found the fraudulently obtained autoclave. Investigators also intercepted other orders.
Police said the woman told them she purchased the equipment online at a discounted price.
In their statement, police also urged residents to monitor their bank and credit card statement regularly for unauthorized transactions and to secure mail and packages by collecting them as soon as possible after they’re delivered.
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