3 Scams and 3 Alert People Mean 0 Victims: Police Blotter

Three people went to police in the last few days saying someone tried to scam them in three different ways.

° A man on Hunters Pointe got a call Aug. 9 from someone claiming to be his nephew — he even used the nickname his nephew calls him. The caller said he was in trouble in Mexico and needed $4,500 wired. The man sent the money through Western Union, then got suspicious and was able to stop the transaction.

Only family members know the nickname, a report said, but the nephew does have it listed in his contacts on his cell phone.

° A woman came out of Walmart Aug. 10 and found a note on her car saying she'd hit another vehicle in the lot. The woman recognized it as a scam and went to police instead of calling the number on the note.

A similar thing happened a few weeks ago. When victims call the number, the person tries to get them to pay for the "damage."

° An Overland Park resident got a call Aug. 11 from a man with a thick accent who said if he didn't pay his debt, he was going to kill the resident and his girlfriend. 

Police traced the call to a Jamaican exchange known for a scam that charges exorbitant international rates if the victim calls back.

Vandalism

Several cars on Idlewood Trail were damaged about 2:30 a.m. Aug. 10 when someone broke off their driver's side mirrors.

One resident reported hearing a car "go whooshing by" at that time.

Some Clown, Probably

Someone dressed as a clown was flagging down traffic on the Ohio Turnpike at I-71 about 5:30 a.m. Aug. 11.

The report includes no follow-up.

Burglary

Someone may have broken into a house on Balmoral Court.

A resident said when the family came home Aug. 10, they found the back patio door unlocked.

She didn't think much about it until she discovered a large amount of money missing the next day.

Damage from Above

A motorist complained Aug. 9 that while driving on northbound I71 about 8:30 a.m., a film of liquid fell onto his car from a bridge.

The man hadn't tried to remove the dirt residue, but said he doubts it will come off.

An officer offered him advice. Police weren't sure the bridge was in Strongsville.