MANALAPAN – Several residents of Manalapan were the targets of scammers earlier this month and in the wake of those reports the Manalapan Police Department warned people to be aware of ongoing telephone and Internet schemes.
On June 5 at 8:29 p.m., a 59-year-old Manalapan resident told police they had received a telephone call from an individual claiming to be from the Internal Revenue Service. The resident reported that the caller requested $5,000 in iTunes gift cards.
During the past several years, the IRS has repeatedly issued notices to members of the public in an attempt to make people aware that it does not seek to collect back taxes by making telephone calls to taxpayers.
On June 6 at 4:05 p.m., a 63-year-old Manalapan resident told police that on May 23, unknown individuals opened a department store credit card in the victim’s name and made a purchase totaling $1,460.98.
On June 9 at 1 p.m., a 61-year-old Manalapan resident reported an online incident in which she had attempted to purchase a puppy through DogFinder.com from an individual in Virginia.
The woman told police she sent $500 through Western Union to the seller and since doing so she had been instructed to send an additional $650, but when she questioned the additional funds, the seller failed to respond to any emails. As of the time of the report, the woman not received the puppy or a refund.
In other incidents reported by Manalapan police:
• On June 5 at 7:05 p.m., a Manalapan resident reported that their vehicle had been forcibly entered while it was parked at the Manalapan Recreation Center, Route 522. A purse and contents valued at $695 were removed from the vehicle. The burglary is believed to have occurred between 6:45-7:05 p.m.
• On June 6 at 4:58 p.m., a Monroe Township resident reported a burglary to her vehicle. The woman told police that unknown individuals had entered her vehicle while it was parked in the Manalapan Recreation Center, Route 522, on June 5 between 6-7:30 p.m. The woman said the individuals removed a purse containing makeup valued at approximately $350.
• On June 8 at 6:25 p.m., Patrolman Bart Mattaliano responded to a home on Conover Lane as he conducted an investigation on an unrelated matter. Police said a 30-year-old male resident of Manalapan refused to comply with the officer’s directions, assaulted Mattaliano and resisted arrest. The resident was arrested and initially placed in the Monmouth County jail, Freehold Township.