Special to the News-Sun
SEBRING - The Highlands County Sheriff's Office has investigated more than 10 cases where residents received packages containing Verizon Wireless Droid RAZR Motorola phones that they did not purchase. According to Public Information Officer Nell Hayes, in each of these cases a male subject would come to the door of the residence asking for the package telling the victim that the package had been delivered to the address by mistake. Ultimately the victims receive a bill from Verizon for the phones.
During the investigation of these cases, detectives learned that a package containing Verizon Droid RAZR was scheduled for an address in Sebring. On Feb. 28 detectives went to the area of the scheduled delivery and observed a white vehicle matching the description of the vehicle involved in previous cases. When UPS arrived, detectives saw two subjects approach the UPS driver. It was later learned they told the driver they had the authority to sign for the package, signed for it and the package was turned over to them.
Hayes said the suspects then got into the white vehicle and began to leave the area. Based on these actions matching the activity in the previous cases, detectives conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle and recovered the package. It was found to contain five Verizon Droid RAZR phones, just as in the previous cases.
On this information, detectives arrested Raul Alberto Jr., 32, of Miami and, Alexis Jesus Gonzalez, 23, of Hialeah, on charges of grand theft, fraudulently obtaining property by false personation, scheming to defraud and fraudulent use of personal identification information.
Hayes said this investigation is ongoing because there may be additional victims yet to be identified. Anyone who suspects their credit information may have been used to purchase Verizon Droid RAZR phones without their knowledge is requested to contact the Highlands County Sheriff's Office and make a report.
Anyone with information about these cases and who wants to remain anonymous and be eligible for a cash reward is asked to call Heartland Crime Stoppers at 1-800-226-TIPS(8477) or contact via the Internet at www.heartlandcrimestop
pers.com. Anonymity is guaranteed.
Wednesday, March 06, 2013 - www.newssun.com/030613-phone-fraud