Saratoga residents bilked out of almost $33,000 in 2 separate incidents

"Identity theft: Saratoga residents reported that someone used their personal information to access their financial investment account and made fraudulent transactions totaling approximately $12,600. The transactions were cancelled, and no financial loss was incurred."

"Theft by false pretenses: A Saratoga resident reported that someone hacked a former coworker's social media account, posted a vehicle for sale and collected approximately $12,000 from them via wire transfer, but then never provided the vehicle."

"Theft by false pretenses: A Saratoga resident reported that someone sold them a sauna through a fictitious company and collected approximately $10,885 from the victim via wire transfer, but then never provided the sauna."

On Jan. 9, identity theft involved unauthorized access to a Saratoga resident's financial investment account, where fraudulent transactions totaling approximately $12,600 were made; the transactions were cancelled and no financial loss occurred. On Jan. 10, a hacked former coworker's social media account was used to post a vehicle for sale and collect approximately $12,000 via wire transfer, but the vehicle was never provided. Also on Jan. 10, a fictitious company sold a sauna and collected approximately $10,885 via wire transfer, but the sauna was never delivered. Combined attempted and actual amounts total approximately $35,485, with at least $22,885 collected via wire transfer.

Read at The Mercury News