Police: Intimate Webcam Shots Lead to Extortion; More Identity Thefts Reported

A Bloomfield Township man told police he is the victim of an extortion scheme that started when he shared intimate Webcam photos of himself with a woman who claimed to be from Russia, reports said. 

The resident of the 300 block of South Glengarry Street told Bloomfield Township Police officers that he had ongoing on-line chats with the woman and they exchanged 'intimate views of each other via Webcam,' police reports stated. The woman then threatened to post the images on the Internet unless he immediately wired money to Russia.

The victim said he wired an undisclosed portion of the funds she demanded before calling authorities. The case remains under investigation.

Identity Thefts

Officials with the Bloomfield Township Police Department asked that residents check their credit reports to help safeguard against fraud after two more citizens reported identify thefts last week. Both cases appear to be unrelated and remain under investigation.

• A resident in the 6000 block of Castle told police on Feb. 7 that he discovered his home address had been changed to a residence in Alabama sometime in December. Investigators believed the change was made in an effort to obtain the man's W-2 form so that they could file a fraudulent tax return, reports said. Police are working with the Internal Revenue Service on the investigation.
• A homeowner in the 1000 block of Northover told police on Feb. 9 that someone used his personal information to open credit accounts at multiple department stores in Illinois, reports said. The victim also reported fraudulent purchases made in Canada and France with his credit card numbers.

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Of Interest: Police: Woman Fabricated Assualt by Masked Men in Bloomfield Hills

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Neighbor's threat over dogs investigated

Bloomfield Township police officers warned neighbors in the 2000 block of Westview about their conduct after a recent dispute over dogs, reports said. 

The victim called police to report a threat on Feb. 7 after he realized his dogs relieved themselves in his neighbor's yard. He said the dogs accidentally got outside, and when he cleaned up their waste he heard a voice from inside the home stating the dogs would be shot, according to reports.

Officers spoke to both homeowners and advised on steps to avoid further problems.

Home Invasion

A resident in the 4000 block of Malibu Drive discovered someone forced their way into the home while he was away between 9 a.m.-11a.m., police reports said. The homeowner told officers nothing was missing, and that he believed his two large dogs scared off the intruder or intruders before anything was taken.

Anyone with information on any of the incidents listed here should call the department at 248-433-7752.

For questions about this blotter, email Art.Aisner@Patch.com.