NEWARK — A dialog with a girl considered a neighbor a couple of misdelivered bundle become a nightmare fraud state of affairs for one Newark resident when he gave out his cellphone quantity.
Police mentioned he realized his mistake quickly sufficient to assist cease the girl accused of fraud from additional victimizing him.
Alameda County District Lawyer prosecutors have charged that 24-year-old Hayward girl with felony identification theft and felony receiving of stolen property, in accordance with courtroom information. Police arrested her Could 30 however didn’t make an announcement till after authorities made the formal costs.
In an announcement, Newark police mentioned all of it stemmed from a March 27 interplay that began when the girl approached the person asking a couple of misdelivered bundle. Police mentioned the usage of “misdelivered” packages is an rising tactic in mail and determine thefts, and inspired folks to be cautious of people that strategy to debate that topic.
On this case, police mentioned the resident thought the girl was a neighbor, shared a cellphone quantity and agreed to return the bundle if it arrived. Police mentioned that led to fraudulent purchases on the resident’s bank card, together with one for a $5,000 dental autoclave, a machine that sterilizes dental tools.
The subsequent day, a bundle did arrive however with a unique title on the envelope. Shortly after that, the resident obtained a name from the girl to rearrange a pickup, police mentioned.
As soon as the decision for a pickup had been organized, the person known as police and informed them he suspected fraud. Police mentioned officers responded and took possession of the bundle, which they later confirmed to have been bought with the resident’s stolen bank card data.
Police mentioned the person already had found the unauthorized purchases, together with the one for the autoclave. Police mentioned that buy had been made by the girl by way of a dental provide firm, and that she contacted the corporate and had requested a change of transport handle to her house.
The decision to the corporate got here from a cellphone at a piercing studio in Hayward, police mentioned. They added that they issued a search warrant on the studio and located the fraudulently obtained autoclave. Investigators additionally intercepted different orders.
Police mentioned the girl informed them she bought the tools on-line at a reduced value.
Of their assertion, police additionally urged residents to observe their financial institution and bank card assertion commonly for unauthorized transactions and to safe mail and packages by amassing them as quickly as doable after they’re delivered.
Initially Printed: July 15, 2025 at 12:39 PM PDT
