Author: CNN Newsource

By Margaret Kavanagh

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    VIRGINIA BEACH (WTKR) — A U.S. Navy sailor was extorted for thousands of dollars after connecting with someone on the dating app Tinder in a case that highlights the growing threat of online scams, authorities tell WTKR News 3.

A search warrant filed in the case reveals the sailor believed he was messaging with a 20-year-old woman named “Daisy”.

The warrant states she sent him two nude pictures, and the two continued to text.

The sailor then received a call from a man pretending to be a Norfolk police officer, and then another man claiming to be Daisy’s dad.

The “dad” told the sailor that “Daisy” was only 15 years old.

The men claimed the girl was in the hospital after trying to harm herself when the “father” caught her taking the photos.

They told the sailor that if he paid for half of her medical expenses, they would not involve the courts and he would not get in trouble.

Fearful of getting arrested, it states the sailor paid the suspects more than $4,700.

Jeff Lurie, a retired police lieutenant who reviewed the case details. warned that scammers are using technology to disguise their voices and create local phone numbers to appear more credible.

“Nowadays, you could go online, and in five minutes, create a phone number,” Lurie said.

Virginia Beach Police confirmed the investigation is ongoing and said no arrests have been made, but the case has been classified as extortion.

According to court records, this is not an isolated incident: So far in 2025, there have been 63 reported extortion cases involving both adults and children in Virginia Beach.

Lurie said a threat with a time element is a good warning sign that the people may not be who they say they are.

“If someone is creating a sense of urgency and forcing your hand on, ‘Hurry up and get this money, I need it by such and such time, or this is going to happen’… that’s more than likely a red flag,” he said.

Experts advise caution when meeting people online and warn against sending money to anyone you don’t know personally.

“Don’t pay them, shut it down, block them right away, take screenshots of everything, and send it to law enforcement,” said Meredith Williams of Samaritan House.

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By Ja Nai Wright

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    BALTIMORE (WMAR) — A Baltimore business owner says her store has been targeted by the same thief three times in eight months, with the suspect using the same method to break in each time.

Tia Hamilton, owner of DiGi Business Center on Greenmount, said the first robbery happened on February 6, when someone broke into her business through a back alley window and stole her cash register and all the money inside.

“So I was able to see how the door was open and how he came through the window,” Hamilton said.

Several months later, on September 30, the same thing happened again, with the person taking a second cash register from Hamilton.

“I noticed my register is gone; it’s the same M.O. , he’s not destroying anything over here. He comes in when you see the footage; he comes in through the back rooms, and he comes straight here,” Hamilton said.

Two days later, on October 2, a third robbery occurred. This time, the person tore open packages that were ready for shipment since they couldn’t access the safe.

Hamilton said, based on the way the building keeps getting broken into, she believes it is the same person all three times.

“There are bars on the window, so you have to be super skinny to fit through those bars on the window,” Hamilton said.

She said the reason they were able to get away with the registers is because although there are cameras, there are no alarms in the building.

“The only thing that it doesn’t have is an alarm system, because it’s office suites in here, and people can come at any time throughout the night to get in,” Hamilton said.

She said now she keeps all of the money in the safe since she no longer has any cash registers.

Hamilton said it hurts that her business keeps getting attacked.

“As much as I do for this community, as much as I be outside helping people, it’s a violation to me when you steal and when you lie,” Hamilton said.

Baltimore City Police are investigating, but so far they do not have any suspects since the person breaking in wore gloves and a face covering.

“They are trying, but I need to do my work as well to help bring justice to my business,” Hamilton said.

Hamilton is encouraging the public to help police catch the person or people who are stealing from her business, a business whose services she says many people in Greenmount need.

“This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. WMAR verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.”

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By Rosemary Kelley

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    STANTON, Kentucky (WLEX) — A man in Powell County is facing charges after his “Halloween decorations” depicted the bodies of local officials, police report.

According to an arrest citation, Stephan Marcum was arrested on Saturday and is charged with intimidating a witness in the legal process and third degree terroristic threatening.

Police report that they received a call regarding “potential witness/terroristic threatening” just after 2 p.m. at a home on Court Street in Stanton.

When authorities arrived, they saw “five “bodies” … were in trash bags,” in Marcum’s yard and all were labeled.

“The one hanging was labeled “district judge.” There was a rope around the neck of the body,” the citation wrote. “From left to right the four other bodies were labeled “mayor,” “SIS,” “C.A.” and “zoning mgr.”

Marcum informed police that he did not want to speak about the decorations. He was then arrested, and the evidence was transported to KSP Post 8 in Morehead.

He is lodged in the Powell County Detention Center.

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By Kaitlyn Hart, EastIdahoNews.com

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    BLACKFOOT, Idaho (eastidahonews.com) — Officials are looking for information about a white-tailed deer with its head cut off that was shot and left to waste.

According to a news release from Idaho Fish and Game, a member of the public found the deer on the banks of the Snake River between Blackfoot and Firth, about a half-mile south of East River Road. Authorities believe it was left sometime between Sept. 20 and 23.

“The only hunts available for deer in Unit 68A are controlled archery-only hunts from Aug. 30 to Dec. 19,” according to the release. “The buck was illegally shot with a rifle, and only the head was removed, leaving the rest of the carcass to waste.”

“It is possible the deer was shot by someone from a boat on the Snake River or was dumped into the river after it was killed,” the release states.

Anyone with information that may be helpful in this case is encouraged to call Senior Conservation Officer Sawyer Livesey at (208) 617-0244, the Citizens Against Poaching hotline at (800) 632-5999, or report online at idfg.idaho.gov/poacher.

People providing information can remain anonymous, and information leading to charges may be eligible for a reward.

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By Stephanie Sierra and Renee Koury

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    OAKLAND, California (KGO) — Authorities in Washington arrested a man for allegedly impersonating a federal agent to steal thousands of dollars from elderly victims.

But the scam is still spreading. The latest victim: an elderly Bay Area woman who was tricked into mailing $63,000 to the thieves. But 7 On Your Side got her money back.

What began as a beautiful fall morning turned into one of the worst days ever for Judith Rosenberg of Oakland.

“I was devastated, I couldn’t believe it, ” Rosenberg said. “I was so shaken by this I couldn’t even talk.”

It began with a text, claiming someone stole her Apple ID.

“‘You have to call this number and someone will help you…’ So that was when this officer David Freeman… he picked up the phone,” Rosenberg said.

The man said he was a federal inspector general. He texted a photo, saying it was his badge and ID. And he said Judith was in big trouble.

“Criminals had taken out nine different accounts using my name and my Social Security number,” Rosenberg said.

“They had set up all sorts of drug cartels… throughout the country and perhaps abroad… ‘Have you noticed anybody trying to follow you?’ And so he’s already really got me really scared,” she said.

The man said Rosenberg had to quickly move her money into a protected account.

“I want you to go to the bank and keep your phone on in your purse so I could hear the conversation,” Rosenberg said she was told.

The man swore her to secrecy as she drove to bank of America in Oakland and requested a cashier’s check for $63,000.

“The teller asked me, ‘Is anybody forcing you to do this?’ and I didn’t quite know how to handle that, so I sort of nodded, no,” Rosenberg said.

Rosenberg was supposed to deposit the check at Citibank in Hayward. But tellers there got suspicious and turned her away.

The man on the phone got angry.

“‘You didn’t sound convincing enough and you said the wrong thing…'” Rosenberg said he said.

He told Judith to mail the check instead to an address in San Lorenzo.

“I sent it off overnight. They charged me $31,” she said.

Rosenberg told a friend what happened. Then the shock.

“She said, ‘Judy this is a scam,'” Rosenberg said.

Turns out that same badge and ID photo has been used in many imposter scams across the country. Law enforcement has tried to send alerts about it to the public.

“I said oh my goodness what have I done?” Rosenberg said.

Rosenberg called the B of A fraud department that very night. But they could not stop a cashier’s check.

She rushed to the bank the next morning.

“I said I’ve been a victim of fraud, of a scam. And you have to cancel that check,” she said.

The tellers said it wasn’t so easy. A manager had to approve it.

“And they couldn’t get a hold of her for three hours because she was at a meeting…” Rosenberg said.

The manager eventually refused to stop the check.

“And so I was devastated…” Rosenberg said.

But the bank said she could declare the check as stolen. That could stop the payment.

It was a race against time. Two days had passed. The check was still uncashed.

Quickly, Rosenberg filled out the necessary forms, and kept her fingers crossed.

But it was too late.

“Friday morning they called me to say, ‘Oh we’re so sorry but they just cashed the check,'” Rosenberg said. “And I’m… I’m just so furious.”

So 7 On Your Side contacted Bank of America, asking why the bank didn’t act faster to stop the thieves from cashing that check.

Bank of America looked into the case. And soon after, Rosenberg got a call.

“I am… stunned!” she said.

Bank of America restored all $63,000 into Rosenberg’s bank account, telling 7 On Your Side: “We reviewed the circumstances of this situation and will fully reimburse our client in this matter.”

“I am very grateful to you and your team on 7 On Your Side… so thank you from the bottom of my heart,” Rosenberg said.

The bank is urging customers to review the alerts on its website to recognize the most common signs you are being scammed.

For example, as in this case, no one from the government would ever ask you to move money from your account and put it somewhere else.

And remember, sending a cashier’s check is just like sending cash. You can’t stop payment like a regular check.

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