The Ridgewood Blog Brings a Free Market Laissez-faire Point of View to Local, New Jersey State and National Issues.
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Washington DC, Elon Musk, head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has turned his attention to a pressing issue: how members of Congress have amassed enormous wealth despite earning base salaries of under $200,000 per year.
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Washington DC, in a major policy shift, newly appointed EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin announced plans to rescind $20 billion in federal grants previously awarded under the Biden administration’s “climate” and “clean-energy initiatives”. The decision, revealed in a video posted on X, aims to halt funding for the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, also known as the green bank, a program designed to support thousands of climate-focused projects.
Continue reading EPA Chief Moves to Rescind $20 Billion in “Clean Energy” Grants
file photos by Boyd Loving
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Ridgewood NJ, in a historic corruption case, former New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez (D) was sentenced to 11 years in federal prison after being convicted of bribery, fraud, and extortion (New Jersey Values?) . The sentencing, handed down in Manhattan federal court, marks the dramatic fall of the once-powerful Senate Foreign Relations Committee chairman.
Continue reading Democrat ‘Gold Bar Bob’ Gets 11 Years for Bribery
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Glen Rock NJ, two Glen Rock residents recently fell victim to financial fraud, reporting a combined loss exceeding $38,000, according to local authorities. Both incidents are under investigation by the Glen Rock Police Department’s Detective Bureau.
Continue reading SCAM: Fraudulent Bank Transactions in Glen Rock Total Over $38,000, Police Report
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Ridgewood NJ, French authorities have detained Pavel Durov, the founder of the popular messaging app Telegram. Durov, who has been a prominent figure in the tech world, is now facing serious charges that could have far-reaching implications for the future of online privacy and digital communication. According to reports from French media outlet TF1, with confirmations from Reuters and CNN, the charges against Durov include abetting terrorism, fraud, money laundering, and crimes against children. These charges are reportedly linked to what authorities describe as a “near-total lack of moderation” on the Telegram platform.
Continue reading Telegram Founder Pavel Durov Detained in France Amid Serious Criminal Allegations
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Upper Saddle River NJ, Orange and Rockland Utilities (O&R) warned its customers that crooks have launched a new round of predatory phone calls aimed at stealing O&R customers’ money.
Infidelity and fraud are both serious breaches of trust that can have devastating consequences on a person’s personal and financial well-being. In many cases, individuals who suspect their spouse or partner of cheating may also suspect them of committing fraud. This can create a complex and emotionally charged situation where the individual may feel the need to hire a private investigator to uncover the truth.
Continue reading From Infidelity to Fraud: Why You Might Need a Private Investigator
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Ridgewood NJ, Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin warned New Jerseyans to beware of internet scams using the promise of love and romance to financially victimize individuals from young teens to senior citizens.
Continue reading NJ AG Urges New Jerseyans to Beware of Online Scams Using the Promise of Love
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Ridgewood NJ, as Valentine’s Day approaches, threat actors may attempt to prey on individuals seeking companionship or romance. The NJCCIC continues to receive reports of sextortion incidents in which victims are threatened with the release of compromising or sexually explicit photos or videos if they do not pay an extortion demand. Some sextortion threats are not credible, as threat actors are unable to provide proof of such photos or videos. However, there is an increase in reported sextortion incidents in which threat actors pretended to be trusting potential love interests. In several recent incidents, threat actors posed as attractive females to target their victims, build trust, and convince them to send compromising or sexually explicit photos or videos.
Continue reading Dodging Cupid’s Malicious Arrow: Sextortion and Romance Scams
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Deceptive practices by solar panel salespeople, who deliberately obscure the specific terms of financial agreements and obfuscate the true value of their products, are creating upheaval in the solar panel industry. Law firms across the United States report a surge in calls from individuals who have fallen victim to unscrupulous sales tactics, leading them to commit to agreements beyond their financial means. The repercussions are now affecting major public solar companies, raising concerns about the sustainability of the financial products they promoted to both customers and investors. The residential solar industry is facing significant challenges, with over 100 solar dealers and installers in the US declaring bankruptcy in the latter part of 2023 alone.
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Westwood NJ, attention Westwood and other Bergen residents: the Westwood Police Department has seen an uptick in online scams through Craigslist or other social media platforms, targeting towns in the Pascack Valley. Apartments, houses, and rooms for rent are being posted with the intention of stealing your identity along with all of your important information.
Continue reading Westwood Police Department: Uptick in Online Scams Through Craigslist
file photo by Boyd Loving
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Ridgewood NJ, according to the FTC , scammers will follow the record-setting winds, rainfall, and storm surge that have left thousands of East Coast residents, from Florida to Maine, under water or without power. As the waters recede, scammers will try to take advantage of people doing their best to recover, trying to steal money and personal information. So how do you protect yourself and those around you?
Continue reading FTC: Avoid Recovery Scams After East Coast Storm Damage
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Ridgewood NJ, QR codes have become ubiquitous, finding applications in various scenarios such as accessing restaurant menus, making payments for public parking, or gaining entry to events like concerts and sports matches. However, their widespread use has also attracted scammers who exploit QR codes to deceive individuals and compromise personal information. It is crucial to be aware of potential threats.
Continue reading FTC: Scammers hide harmful links in QR codes
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Upper Saddle River NJ, the Upper Saddle River Police Department has been made aware of a fraud scam utilizing our main phone number 201-327-2700. The caller will claim to be “Detective Cooper” and will tell you that you have an active warrant. Please do not respond to the fraudsters questions and disconnect the call. If you would like to confirm that call is not actually from the Upper Saddle River Police Department, disconnect the call and contact our main number.
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Franklin Lakes NJ, a New Jersey real estate investor and influencer was arrested today for committing a multimillion-dollar Ponzi-like investment fraud scheme, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.