Credit: Money Knack / Unsplash.com
The two men had checks that were altered, according to police reports, spurring felony charges.
Even with today’s modern technology, there are still plenty out there attempting to beat the system with fraud. According to the Abington Township Police Department, a recent attempt at this process was caught by a human employee, without the aid of tech.
According to police reports on the matter, it was the quick work of a TD Bank teller that helped them quickly solve a case involving at least two Philadelphia men. On Nov. 7, around 2:33 p.m., police from the Abington department were dispatched to the bank located at 710 Old York Road in the Jenkintown section of the Township, for the report of a “bad check.”
Police said that, upon arriving, an employee explained that a man, later identified as Mark Fredrick, 53, of the 800 block of West Gerard Avenue in Philadelphia, was “attempting to pass a fraudulent check,” along with two accomplices. According to the department’s criminal complaint, a TD Bank employee “noticed several flaws in the check,” reporting the matter instead of depositing the fraudulent check.
Police reported that the check was signed, but “appeared to be altered.” After reaching out to the business owner listed on the check as the payer, the employee was able to confirm that it was indeed a fraudulent check. The check, police noted, was made out for $1,859.03.
The complaint said that Fredrick was intentionally attempting to pass a fraudulent and altered check without the owner’s (payer’s) permission. Fredrick is facing felony charges including Criminally attempting theft by deception or false impression, Forgery utilizing forged writing, and Knowledge of property that proceeds an illegal act, as well as one misdemeanor for bad checks.
Fredrick was released on a bond signature after a preliminary arraignment on Nov. 7. He is to face Magisterial District Judge Juanita A. Price on Jan. 29 at 11 a.m. for a preliminary hearing.
On the same date and time, police found that Darryl Hines, 58, of the 2000 block of 74th Avenue in Philadelphia, also attempted to commit a similar crime, said police reports.
Hines was also accused of attempting to pass a fraudulent check, according to police. While police note in both cases that each man worked "with two other accomplices," not direct connection is described in the criminal complaints. A third actor is not yet named in public records.
Police said that Hines also had a check from an alleged employer, but upon checking with that business, was flagged as fraud. Hines' check was for $1,930.12, said reports.
Hines faces felony charges of criminal attempt at theft by deception, criminal attempt at forgery, and a criminal attempt with knowledge that property proceeds to an illegal act, as well as a misdemeanor charge of criminal attempt for bad checks.
Hines was also released on a signature bail. Hines is due for a preliminary hearing on Jan. 29 at 11 a.m. with Magisterial District Judge Juanita A. Price.
All suspects and defendants are innocent until proven guilty. This story was compiled using public court records.
