Two Hinsdale Residents Report Separate Fraud Schemes

Fraud—A victim from the 100 block of South Grant Street learned that an unknown suspect tried to pass a fraudulent $2,949.99 check to a recipient in Florida using the victim’s business and banking information after the check’s recipient, who was not expecting the check, contacted the victim at 12 p.m. March 7.

The victim did not know the recipient, Deputy Chief Mark Wodka said, and had not issued a check to the recipient. Wodka said there are no leads on the identity of the middle-person, who put the victim’s information on the check and sent it to the recipient.

There was no money loss to the victim. 

Attempted fraud—An 82-year-old resident from the 400 block of North Quincy Street reported to police that an unknown suspect tried to scam the resident by posing as a family member in immediate need of $2,800 at 8 a.m. March 12.

The resident was asked to wire the amount to a Mexico address and then make a follow-up call to the suspect. The resident recognized the scam before sending any money.

Wodka said public awareness that such scams exist is important.

“Any time that you’re asked to handle money or funds, you should be thinking twice about the source and whether it’s a potential scam,” Wodka said.

Burglary to garage—A known suspect took a $500 desk from an unlocked garage in the 5700 block of South Madison Street between 10:30 a.m. and 3:20 p.m. March 8.

Wodka said the suspect had been to the victim’s home before but was not authorized to be there at the time of the burglary. There is a dispute between the victim and suspect over the ownership of the desk, so there are no theft charges.

Theft—An unknown white male allegedly filled his Chevrolet pickup truck with $169.47 worth of diesel gas at Mobil, 8 W. Chicago Ave., and left without paying at 7:05 p.m. March 9.

The case is currently pending.

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