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Police investigating local fraud scheme

The Rye Police Department is investigating a credit card fraud scheme, after a resident reported a suspicious online transaction that led to an encounter with an unidentified man.

According to Rye Public Safety Commissioner Michael Corcoran, an unnamed resident reported receiving an alert on Aug. 20 for a purchase that was made with her credit card.

After cancelling the transaction, a $1,700 purse was still delivered to the resident’s home on Aug. 22 at approximately 5 p.m.

The Rye Police Department is investigating a credit card fraud scheme, after a resident reported a suspicious online that transaction that led to an unidentified man making an appearance at a home in Rye. When the resident challenged the suspect’s story, he sped off in in a red Toyota 4-Runner. Photo courtesy Rye police

On that same day, at approximately 6 p.m., the resident noticed an unknown male peering in her window. The unidentified man, an African-American observed to be about 5’11” and wearing jeans and a white T-shirt, proceeded to ring the doorbell.

Police said the resident answered the door and the male suspect explained that he ordered a gift for his girlfriend and that the package was mistakenly delivered to that address.

When the resident challenged the authenticity of the story, the unidentified suspect fled to a red Toyota 4Runner that was parked at the corner of the block.

Shortly after, another resident reported observing a red Toyota 4Runner, occupied by two African-American males, making a U-turn on Old Post Road near North Street. The vehicle backed up into a stone wall, shattering the rear tinted window of the car, and then sped off southward toward Interstate 95.

Witnesses in the area claimed the vehicle had a partial Connecticut plate of “DBS.”

As of press time, the department is actively investigating the incident with help from law enforcement officials throughout Westchester County. There are no further details in the investigation.

Corcoran said residents should contact the police immediately if they feel their credit cards have been compromised in any way. “It’s a good idea to ensure that you have fraud protection on all of your credit cards and to monitor your accounts on a regular basis,” he said.