MONROE, Conn. — A Monroe woman is trying to recoup nearly $50,000 that was stolen from her in an online scam, according to a complaint made on June 5.
She reportedly told police she was on Facebook when a pop-up tab appeared on her screen instructing her to contact Microsoft about a security problem with her bank account. The tab gave her a phone number for Microsoft.
Police said she checked her Newtown Savings Bank account and found a $500 charge she wasn’t aware of. Then she called the phone number on the tab and spoke to someone she thought was a representative of Microsoft.
The person convinced her to give him permission to access her MacBook to “help her fix the $500 charge,” according to police, who said she was transferred to the “PayPal Fraud Department” for reimbursement.
She told officers a small screen popped up on her MacBook and the person on the phone told her to type “$500” in the box. When she typed it, she said it was quickly changed to $50,000. After she pointed out the mistake, she was told to go to her bank and wire transfer $49,400 to a Bank of America account and was given the routing number.
Police said she went to Newtown Savings Bank and told staff members she was transferring the money for personal reasons.
After the transfer, she told officers she felt uncomfortable about it and went back to Newtown Savings Bank, but the money had already been transferred and a teller was unable to reverse the transaction, according to the report.
Police said the woman filed a complaint with Newtown Savings and Bank of America and both banks are looking into the matter on their end. She also reached out to the three major credit bureaus.
The matter is being forwarded to the Monroe Police Detective Division for further investigation.
“Police advise if you find suspicious activity on your bank account, go there in person and learn the details from the bank,” said Monroe Police Lt. Kevin McKellick.
DUI on Route 34
A 46-year-old Newtown man turned himself in on a warrant charging him with DUI on June 5. The arrest stems from a traffic accident on April 3.
At approximately 6 p.m. on April 3, officers responded to a two-vehicle-crash on Route 34, just east of Monroe Turnpike.
Police said the Newtown man was heading west on Route 34 in a 2019 Kia Soul, when he crossed over the double yellow line into the eastbound lane.
A 40-year-old West Haven man heading east in a 2003 Kia Sportage swerved off the road to the right to avoid a collision, before hitting a speed limit sign, damaging his front bumper and passenger-side front-fender, police said.
The Kia Soul swerved back into its own lane and continued west.
Police said officers found the vehicle about two-tenths-of-a-mile from the scene with the driver unconscious inside. The Newtown man was taken to Griffin Hospital.
While investigating the cause of the accident, officers applied for a search warrant for the driver’s medical records. Police said a combination of alcohol and drugs were found in his system.
Officers applied for an arrest warrant, which was signed by a judge on June 5, when the man turned himself in. He was charged with DUI, reckless driving and failure to drive in the proper lane. He was held on $20,000 bond and taken to court in Bridgeport.
Distracted driving
A 37-year-old Monroe man reportedly told officers he took his eyes off the road to look at his phone, before his 2019 Ford F150 went off the right side of Fan Hill Road, struck a mailbox and traveled about 150 more feet before coming to a stop on someone’s lawn on June 4.
Police said the accident occurred around 4:46 p.m. in the 600-block of Fan Hill Road, south of Hammertown Road, when the driver was heading north.
The driver was evaluated by Monroe Volunteer Emergency Medical Service personnel, but declined a trip to a hospital. He was issued an infraction for using a cellphone while driving and for failure to drive in the proper lane.
His pickup truck, which sustained front end damage, a broken passenger-side mirror and a broken windshield, was towed from the scene.
All respectful comments with the commenter’s first and last name are welcome.
