Contact 6 helps to unravel man's "Medicare Mystery"

Contact 6 helps to unravel man's "Medicare Mystery"

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- A man's mission to understand why he was billed one amount but told to pay another had FOX6's Contact 6 trying to unravel a "Medicare Mystery" -- and it took months!Jeff Klimek did his homework, but couldn't get any answers."I can't see any sense of paying a $68 bill for a $25 service," Klimek said.Klimek's elderly father had a basic blood test at All Saints in Racine.

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- A man's mission to understand why he was billed one amount but told to pay another had FOX6's Contact 6 trying to unravel a "Medicare Mystery" -- and it took months!Jeff Klimek did his homework, but couldn't get any answers."I can't see any sense of paying a $68 bill for a $25 service," Klimek said.Klimek's elderly father had a basic blood test at All Saints in Racine.

Thieves use actual names, rip off almost two dozen discount stores

Thieves use actual names, rip off almost two dozen discount stores

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- Two thieves, using their actual names, managed to rip off almost two dozen popular discount stores.At Sam's Club, the pair filled out credit application forms using the names of legitimate businesses, and included themselves as users on the account.They had photos taken of themselves and used their actual names and personal information."The most unique thing is essentially how stupid the bad guys were," U.S. Postal Inspector Carla Menendez said.The suspects purchased high-ticket items like TVs, laptops, and iPads -- and then sold them.Postal inspectors say it wasn't hard to catch up with the duo once Sam's Club fraud investigators tipped them off."Going in and allowing their own picture taken in a Sam's Club allowing their own personal information to open these accounts thinking they are just going to get away with it," Menendez said.They did get away with it for a little while, and that time gap is exactly what the suspects counted on.They would usually use an account for two weeks, and then move on."Most of these business were very large businesses, therefore they make a lot of money and a lot of purchases," Menendez said.In all, there were 21 companies impacted and tens of thousands of dollars in losses.Inspectors say most of the companies were unaware of the charges."Purchasing a computer, laptop is related to their business and wouldn`t make them question it unless someone brought it to their attention," Menendez said.Inspectors say their advice to businesses applies to everyone -- always check bank statements and your credit report every year.

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- Two thieves, using their actual names, managed to rip off almost two dozen popular discount stores.At Sam's Club, the pair filled out credit application forms using the names of legitimate businesses, and included themselves as users on the account.They had photos taken of themselves and used their actual names and personal information."The most unique thing is essentially how stupid the bad guys were," U.S. Postal Inspector Carla Menendez said.The suspects purchased high-ticket items like TVs, laptops, and iPads -- and then sold them.Postal inspectors say it wasn't hard to catch up with the duo once Sam's Club fraud investigators tipped them off."Going in and allowing their own picture taken in a Sam's Club allowing their own personal information to open these accounts thinking they are just going to get away with it," Menendez said.They did get away with it for a little while, and that time gap is exactly what the suspects counted on.They would usually use an account for two weeks, and then move on."Most of these business were very large businesses, therefore they make a lot of money and a lot of purchases," Menendez said.In all, there were 21 companies impacted and tens of thousands of dollars in losses.Inspectors say most of the companies were unaware of the charges."Purchasing a computer, laptop is related to their business and wouldn`t make them question it unless someone brought it to their attention," Menendez said.Inspectors say their advice to businesses applies to everyone -- always check bank statements and your credit report every year.

Mastermind in check scheme to serve 18 months in jail

Mastermind in check scheme to serve 18 months in jail

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- It started with a stolen check, and ended with a massive undercover sting operation."We were contacted by the attorneys of a real estate management firm in the suburbs of a tax refund check that they were missing," U.S. Postal Inspector Michael Van de Putte said.The check was valued at more than $900,000."Checks like the one in this case of approximately $955,000 are not often negotiated at your local bank branch," Van de Putte said.However, the IRS-issued check was stolen within a day."After an investigation, we found someone attempted to create a bank account in the name of that business and cash that check," Van de Putte said.The mastermind, named Dion Franklin, paid a young woman to open the account and then asked her to deposit the check the next day.

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- It started with a stolen check, and ended with a massive undercover sting operation."We were contacted by the attorneys of a real estate management firm in the suburbs of a tax refund check that they were missing," U.S. Postal Inspector Michael Van de Putte said.The check was valued at more than $900,000."Checks like the one in this case of approximately $955,000 are not often negotiated at your local bank branch," Van de Putte said.However, the IRS-issued check was stolen within a day."After an investigation, we found someone attempted to create a bank account in the name of that business and cash that check," Van de Putte said.The mastermind, named Dion Franklin, paid a young woman to open the account and then asked her to deposit the check the next day.

Couple serves jail time in bank identity theft case

Couple serves jail time in bank identity theft case

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- When you think of a bank robbery, images of armed, masked men might come to mind, but that's not the case anymore. "Crystal and Carter Smith recruited a person from the inside to assist her with getting banking information basically," U.S. Postal Inspector Essialani Hollier-Jackson said.The bank insider gave the Smiths' account information and identifiers."They had a third party who ends up being Elise Bell, who went in and attempted and actually successfully took all of the money out of the victims' account," Hollier-Jackson said.The group stole $150,000 from one victim alone."These funds - these were her life savings and she was so distraught she couldn`t understand how this happened," Hollier-Jackson said.As postal inspectors began digging, they found this case was just the beginning for the Smiths."They did use other different people identifiers but they did use their faces," Hollier-Jackson said.Inspectors quickly learned the Smiths were career criminals."They lived in a very nice home that they had stolen, of course.

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- When you think of a bank robbery, images of armed, masked men might come to mind, but that's not the case anymore. "Crystal and Carter Smith recruited a person from the inside to assist her with getting banking information basically," U.S. Postal Inspector Essialani Hollier-Jackson said.The bank insider gave the Smiths' account information and identifiers."They had a third party who ends up being Elise Bell, who went in and attempted and actually successfully took all of the money out of the victims' account," Hollier-Jackson said.The group stole $150,000 from one victim alone."These funds - these were her life savings and she was so distraught she couldn`t understand how this happened," Hollier-Jackson said.As postal inspectors began digging, they found this case was just the beginning for the Smiths."They did use other different people identifiers but they did use their faces," Hollier-Jackson said.Inspectors quickly learned the Smiths were career criminals."They lived in a very nice home that they had stolen, of course.

Small business owner deals with theft from bank accounts

Small business owner deals with theft from bank accounts

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- If you think your bank account is theft-proof, FOX6's Contact 6 says you need to think again!"I was very, very angry.

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- If you think your bank account is theft-proof, FOX6's Contact 6 says you need to think again!"I was very, very angry.

Scam calls promising free money are too good to be true

Scam calls promising free money are too good to be true

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- A promise of free money from the government may sound too good to be true, and FOX6's Contact 6 says it probably is!Chris Manion says she received a phone call that made her think twice about these so-called "free" offers."I haven't heard this one before and I wanted to make sure it got publicized," Manion said.Manion says the caller made her an offer that didn't quite make sense."I work for the government and the government is giving out grants for free!

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- A promise of free money from the government may sound too good to be true, and FOX6's Contact 6 says it probably is!Chris Manion says she received a phone call that made her think twice about these so-called "free" offers."I haven't heard this one before and I wanted to make sure it got publicized," Manion said.Manion says the caller made her an offer that didn't quite make sense."I work for the government and the government is giving out grants for free!

Man accused of swindling thousands from company he helped found

Man accused of swindling thousands from company he helped found

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- He was a friend and a colleague -- in fact, a founder of the company, and he ended up a thief!

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- He was a friend and a colleague -- in fact, a founder of the company, and he ended up a thief!

Some ID thieves targeting children, who have no credit

Some ID thieves targeting children, who have no credit

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- For years, identity theft has been on the rise, and there is no age limit!

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- For years, identity theft has been on the rise, and there is no age limit!

Safety School instructor offers motorcycle safety tips

Safety School instructor offers motorcycle safety tips

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- As we gear up for the Harley-Davidson 110th anniversary celebration, drivers need to beware of all the motorcycles on the road, and motorcyclists tell FOX6 News they are worried about vehicles with whom they are sharing the road.FOX6's Contact 6 recently took in a rider's class at Learning Curves Motorcycle Safety School."The experienced riders I know, they recommended this course because they took it themselves," John Wilson said."I'm most worried about other people because I can't control them.

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- As we gear up for the Harley-Davidson 110th anniversary celebration, drivers need to beware of all the motorcycles on the road, and motorcyclists tell FOX6 News they are worried about vehicles with whom they are sharing the road.FOX6's Contact 6 recently took in a rider's class at Learning Curves Motorcycle Safety School."The experienced riders I know, they recommended this course because they took it themselves," John Wilson said."I'm most worried about other people because I can't control them.

Investment scam artist takes nearly $900K from over 22 people

Investment scam artist takes nearly $900K from over 22 people

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- A scam artist tricked a widow into giving him close to $100,000 -- and she's not the only one who took big losses in a phony investment scheme."I felt guilty.

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- A scam artist tricked a widow into giving him close to $100,000 -- and she's not the only one who took big losses in a phony investment scheme."I felt guilty.

15-year-old boy targeted through eBay/PayPal scam

15-year-old boy targeted through eBay/PayPal scam

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- Spelling makes all the difference -- especially when it comes to scams!

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- Spelling makes all the difference -- especially when it comes to scams!

Woman sentenced for theft of over $400,000 from employer

Woman sentenced for theft of over $400,000 from employer

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- A long-time employee is sentenced on federal mail fraud charges, charged with stealing $400,000 from the company she worked for!As the controller for Frake's Engineering for 20 years, Brenda Helpling was in charge of finances and bills for the company.In fact, Helpling was the only person overseeing company finances, which made it easy for her to steal.

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- A long-time employee is sentenced on federal mail fraud charges, charged with stealing $400,000 from the company she worked for!As the controller for Frake's Engineering for 20 years, Brenda Helpling was in charge of finances and bills for the company.In fact, Helpling was the only person overseeing company finances, which made it easy for her to steal.