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."

"Jan. 10 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."

Multiple Saratoga residents experienced fraud through identity theft and theft by false pretenses. One case involved unauthorized access to a financial investment account and fraudulent transactions totaling approximately $12,600; the transactions were cancelled and no financial loss was incurred. On Jan. 10, a scammer hacked a former coworker's social media account, posted a vehicle for sale, collected approximately $12,000 via wire transfer, and did not provide the vehicle. Another resident paid approximately $10,885 via wire transfer to a fictitious company for a sauna that was never delivered. All incidents involved misuse of personal information and reliance on wire transfers.

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