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Woman Scammed Out of $8K Through Instagram Job Hoax, Police Say

By Ewa Kern-Jedrychowska | November 24, 2014 5:10pm
 A woman said that a man she met via Instagram stole $8,000 from her.
A woman said that a man she met via Instagram stole $8,000 from her.
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QUEENS — A Jamaica woman was swindled out of $8,000 after a thief approached her on Instagram and promised her a job, police said.

The woman said that she was contacted by a swindler on Oct. 18 and promised work. It was not immediately clear what job the woman was offered.

The thief, she told police, then asked her for her bank account number, and later for her user name and password in order to deposit her "weekly payroll" directly into her account.

The thief then deposited several fake checks in her account while withdrawing about $8,000 at the same time.

No arrests have been made, police said.

Other recent incidents in the 103rd Precinct include:

► A man tried to steal $380 worth of shoes from Marshalls on Jamaica Avenue and hurt an officer who attempted to stop him, police said.

Officials said that on Nov. 15 around 6:50 p.m., Etienne Clevenson, 23, grabbed several pairs of men’s and kids’ shoes, as well as four women’s bags.

When he tried to leave the store without paying for the items, he “charged at” a police officer “knocking him to the ground,” police said.

The officer, who suffered cuts to his knee and face as well as an injury to his shoulder, had to be treated at Jamaica Hospital, police said.

Clevenson was charged with an assault, possession of burglary tools and resisting arrest.

► A man was busted with a stolen and spray-painted Citi Bike while he was riding on the sidewalk on 107th Avenue and 164th Street.

The incident unfolded on Oct. 28, around 9:30 p.m. when officers asked Kwashan Butler, 25, several times to stop but he refused.

He then resisted arrest, police said. According to the criminal complaint, Butler told investigators that he bought the bicycle "from some guy for $50."

Butler, police said, had 9 prior arrests, dating back to 2013, including for possession of a forged instrument, unlawful possession of marijuana and obstructing government administration.

Butler was charged with possession of stolen property and resisting arrest. He is due back in court on Dec. 22.

► On Nov. 12, a thief stole an ATM and a cash register from Kelly’s Family Restaurant on Merrick Boulevard, police said.

The owner told police that when he came to the restaurant around 5:15 a.m., he realized that someone cut the lock on the shop's rolling gate, broke the glass and entered the restaurant.

The thief managed to take the cash register and the ATM, which contained $8,000, even though it was bolted to the floor, police said. The register was empty, police said. No arrests have been made.