How did a routine purchase of a garbage can turn into getting scammed out of $35,000?

For the second time in a year, Howell Township police tracked down and captured an alleged scammer by setting up a sting before any more money was lost.

The latest scam began with a purchase on Amazon. When the outdoor garbage can she ordered never arrived, the flustered victim simply searched online for customer support. What she got nearly cost her her life savings.

“She then did a web search for ‘Amazon customer service phone number’ and one of those numbers ended up being a scam phone number, impersonating an Amazon customer support employee,” said Howell Detective Richard Robertiello. “They told her her accounts were compromised, and she would possibly lose her money unless she fixed this issue with supplying them with money to fix the accounts.”

Police say the victim told them when she went to a local PNC Bank to withdraw the $35,000. The tellers did everything in their power to discourage her not to do it, but it was exactly what the scam artist said they would do, and she was fooled again, according to police.

After a courier picked up the initial $35,000 at the woman’s Howell Township home, it wasn’t enough, and they wanted more. That’s when the 77-year-old woman called the police who then set the trap using a fake box of money.

When a different courier showed up to her home, police moved in, arresting Divyam Brahmbhatt, a 21-year-old Indian national living in Scranton on a student visa. The suspect was jailed and released the next day.

“It’s very disheartening that we do all this work and that they’re released quickly and can potentially scam more victims. We need to enforce the laws and sentence them for the crimes they commit,” added Robertiello.

Howell police say there are four things you need to do to help protect yourselves from potential scams.

1 - If anyone you don't know is asking for your money, stop all interaction with them immediately.

2 - Call somebody you trust and tell them what's going on.

3- Do not send money. Do not give out your personal information.

4- Call the police.

Howell Police Chief John Storrow says if you are a victim, even if you're feeling embarrassed or shamed for falling for it, call your local police department. It's the only way they can make arrests.

Police are still searching for the first suspect who drove to the woman’s house to collect the initial $35,000. He is described as a Southeast Asian male in his 20s with dark skin and a light beard. He was seen driving a Silver Toyota Corolla with Pennsylvania license plates in the Adelphia area on May 15.