Scam artist threatens local officer
BY CHARLES W. KIM
Correspondent

PLUMSTED - A telemarketer went too far recently when he allegedly threatened to kill a police officer over the phone, police said Monday.

"We are subpoenaing the phone records," Plumsted police Lt. George Titko said. "These [scams] happen all the time; we haven't had anything this severe."

The unknown man, claiming to be part of a bogus Federal Express sweepstakes, called township resident Helen Blackman on the morning of June 2 and told her she had won a prize of $350,000 in a sweepstakes sponsored by Federal Express in Jamaica, N.Y., Titko said.

Police said Blackman realized the phone call was a scam when the man asked her to get a $595 money order from Western Union or Wal-Mart in order to claim the money. The caller told her an agent from Federal Express would stop by the house to pick up the money order.

"When Ms. Blackman said she knew it was a scam, he [the caller] became verbally abusive," Titko said. "She hung up and he called back and threatened to kill her."

The man then allegedly continued calling the house and threatened Blackman's husband, Paul, as well, Titko said.

At that point the couple called police, and Patrolman Suzanne DesMarais responded to the residence to take a report at about 11 a.m., Titko said.

While at the Blackmans' home, DesMarais noted 13 calls coming from the 876 area code on the couple's caller identification unit. The officer called the number and advised the man that she was a police officer and that he should not call the house again, Titko said.

The man then allegedly told the officer that he did not care and that he would "come there and kill you, too."

[DesMarais] invited the man to come down to the police station," Titko said. "We are investigating."

Titko said police do not believe there is a real threat to the couple and said these operations are usually conducted from many states away, or on cell phones that make it difficult for law enforcement to track.

Police do want residents to be aware of the scam, however.

Carla Boyd, a spokeswoman for Federal Express, said there was no such sweepstakes prize and that there are no facilities in Jamaica for such an enterprise. She said the corporation is making its own security employees aware of the scam and will cooperate fully with law enforcement's investigation.