Nutley Police Help Victim Recover $20,000 After Scam

NUTLEY, NJ — Nutley police helped a local woman recover $20,000 after she was scammed over the phone, authorities announced Wednesday.

According to the Nutley Police Department, the scam took place in early October, when a 58-year-old woman got a call from someone who told her that she was due for a “large refund.” But as a condition, she had to send cash to clear the funds for release, the caller said.

The victim sent $20,000 cash via mail, which was eventually intercepted by the local police department in La Verne, California, authorities said.

Police in Nutley and their counterparts in La Verne are working through subpoenas to identify the alleged scamster, who investigators believe is from California. He was using Uber and Lyft accounts and an Air Bed and Breakfast as his mailing address, authorities said.

It appears the same person has been defrauding other victims throughout the country, Nutley police said.

On Wednesday – nearly a month after the scam took place – persistent Nutley detectives were finally able to get a check for the full amount back to the victim with the cooperation of La Verne police.

Nutley Police Chief Thomas Strumolo said the case was “unusual” because authorities were able to stop the funds in transit.

But other victims that sent the scamster money weren’t so lucky, he added.

According to Nutley Police Director Alphonse Petracco, phone and internet scams are running rampant, largely because so many of the callers are “very convincing.”

Petracco commended local detectives and La Verne police for getting the victim’s money back.

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