Fake Vendor Request Diverts Village Payment: Northbrook Blotter

NORTHBROOK, IL — A fraudulent request to change a vendor’s banking information led the Village of Northbrook to deposit an approximately $310,000 payment into the wrong account, according to the Northbrook Police Department.

The financial crime was included in the department's report for the week ending Nov. 6, along with Halloween thefts, a stolen vehicle and other fraud reports.

The following information was provided by the Northbrook Police Department. A charge is merely an accusation, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

FINANCIAL CRIME

An employee in the village's Finance Department received what appeared to be a legitimate vendor's request to update banking information for village payments, according to an Oct. 27 report associated with 1225 Cedar Lane.

The employee made the change, and the village subsequently paid an invoice of approximately $310,000 into the updated account. When the legitimate vendor did not receive payment for services, officials determined the banking information supplied to the village was fraudulent. An investigation is pending.

PACKAGE THEFT

A resident of the 1800 block of Kiest Avenue reported that someone in costume stole a package during trick-or-treating hours Oct. 31. The package contained toothbrushes ordered from Amazon worth $18.79. It was taken before the resident could retrieve it.

STOLEN VEHICLE

A white 2020 Honda was stolen from a driveway in the 1200 block of Woodview Lane Oct. 31. The owner had left the vehicle unlocked with its key fob in a cupholder.

Surveillance footage recorded two people approaching and stealing the car at 7:48 p.m. The vehicle was found abandoned Nov. 1, in the 3300 block of Cleveland Street, Skokie.

VEHICLE BURGLARIES

A resident of the 1100 block of Buttonwood Lane reported at 9:21 a.m. Nov. 1, that two vehicles parked in his driveway had been burglarized on Halloween.

Surveillance footage showed several people wearing costumes approaching his 2025 Land Rover and 2014 Infiniti. They entered the unlocked vehicles, took two bags of documents and discarded the bags farther down the street.

ONLINE FRAUD

A resident of the 1300 block of Briarwood Lane reported at 5:48 p.m. Nov. 1, that an online athletic shoe order led to an attempted $11,000 shipping charge.

The resident had ordered $156 worth of shoes when her bank alerted her that the website was attempting the additional charge. She placed a hold on the account and tried to access the website to dispute it.

INSULATION SCAM

A person who sells recreational vehicles reported at 12:04 p.m. Nov. 2 that a company in Denmark failed to deliver an insulation system purchased for $52,721.42.

The report, associated with the 1700 block of Shawnee Trail, indicated a company employee traveled to the United States and persuaded the complainant to purchase the system. After a year of explanations for the delay, the equipment had not arrived, and the complainant believed he had been scammed.

BANK FRAUD

A resident of the 2400 block of Burgandy Lane reported at 6:55 p.m. Nov. 2, that three unauthorized ATM withdrawals in Deerfield totaled $400.50. The resident notified his bank.

RETAIL THEFT

Muhammad Raheem Shyhed Muriel, of Baltimore, was charged with retail theft Oct. 30, following an incident at a grocery store in the 700 block of Skokie Boulevard.

Store management reported Muriel concealed a $28.99 bottle of La Crema wine in his pants and left without paying. Responding officers located him behind a nearby business and recovered the bottle. A court appearance is scheduled for Nov. 17.

SUSPENDED REGISTRATION

Fred R. Awa, of Palatine, was stopped at 9:44 p.m. Nov. 3, at Willow and Pfingsten roads, after an officer observed a Cadillac XT5 with suspended registration. Awa was charged with suspended registration. A court appearance is scheduled for Nov. 23.

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