Police: Man using stolen ID in Stamford scammed 2 businesses out of $300K

Police say a New York man caught using a stolen identity in Stamford had scammed two out-of-state businesses out of more than $300,000.

News 12 Staff

Jan 14, 2019, 8:01 PM

Updated 1,934 days ago

Share:

Police say a New York man caught using a stolen identity in Stamford had scammed two out-of-state businesses out of more than $300,000.
Dennis Morehead, 47, was arraigned today after being taken into custody Friday while appearing in court on other charges.
Officials say an investigation into Morehead began back in October when he attempted to open a bank account at the People's Bank in Stamford using a stolen identity, a fake license and fake utility bills.
The bank immediately contacted police, who took Morehead into custody at that time.
Morehead had no criminal history up until that point, officials say.
Investigators say they learned he had fraudulently opened other bank accounts in Stamford.
Police tell News 12 Connecticut they were able to view those records and discovered two out-of-state businesses had wired large amounts of money to those accounts - one business sent $230,000 while the other sent $75,000.
"They were tricked in what's called a business email compromise in which, basically, someone gets into their emails, their communications and is able to convince them to redirect a legitimate wire into an account that they controlled," says Investigator Mike Stempien of the Stamford Police Department.
Police say the scam usually targets people related to a company's finance department, where the scam gets them to click a link which turns out to be malware or a website that steals credentials.
The scammer can then monitor money transfers, intercept them, and change where they end up.
Police say Morehead's scam was coordinated, and they believe he's not the only person behind it.
"We anticipate more arrests in the future," says Stempien.
Morehead was charged with racketeering, money laundering, identity theft, criminal impersonation, forgery and larceny.


More from News 12
2:00
FDNY: Dozens homeless after 5-alarm fire destroys Bushwick supermarket

FDNY: Dozens homeless after 5-alarm fire destroys Bushwick supermarket

1:35
Summerlike weather returns to NYC with temps in the 80s; cooler weather for the weekend

Summerlike weather returns to NYC with temps in the 80s; cooler weather for the weekend

2:03
New exhibit at Brooklyn Museum unveils new photos taken by Beatles' Paul McCartney

New exhibit at Brooklyn Museum unveils new photos taken by Beatles' Paul McCartney

0:32
NYPD: Suspect driver wanted for assaulting 59-year-old man in Williamsburg

NYPD: Suspect driver wanted for assaulting 59-year-old man in Williamsburg

0:23
Police: 2-car Prospect-Lefferts Gardens crash leaves person hospitalized

Police: 2-car Prospect-Lefferts Gardens crash leaves person hospitalized

0:36
Live Nation Concert Week offers $25 tickets to over 5,000 shows

Live Nation Concert Week offers $25 tickets to over 5,000 shows

2:22
Do you constantly reuse the same username and password? 6 steps to help safeguard your online accounts

Do you constantly reuse the same username and password? 6 steps to help safeguard your online accounts

1:27
Kingsboro Psychiatric Center workers demand their bosses get fired due to bullying, nepotism

Kingsboro Psychiatric Center workers demand their bosses get fired due to bullying, nepotism

2:28
Stony Brook University officials: 29 people arrested on campus as students hold pro-Palestinian protest

Stony Brook University officials: 29 people arrested on campus as students hold pro-Palestinian protest

1:51
RFK announces he has enough signatures to appear on NY ballot

RFK announces he has enough signatures to appear on NY ballot

1:46
Tenants weigh in on possible rent hikes for rent-stabilized homes

Tenants weigh in on possible rent hikes for rent-stabilized homes

1:38
Parks Department held community input meetings over new construction of skate parks

Parks Department held community input meetings over new construction of skate parks

1:27
Power restored in Manhattan Beach following 18-wheeler truck crash

Power restored in Manhattan Beach following 18-wheeler truck crash

0:34
FBI arrests Brooklyn man in Mount Vernon robbery, homicide

FBI arrests Brooklyn man in Mount Vernon robbery, homicide

1:53
Elected officials call on mayor to bring Staten Island ferry back to former Bay Ridge Pier

Elected officials call on mayor to bring Staten Island ferry back to former Bay Ridge Pier

0:31
Authorities arrest 31-year-old man in connection to fatal Williamsburg crash

Authorities arrest 31-year-old man in connection to fatal Williamsburg crash

2:19
Rent hikes may be coming for tenants in rent-stabilized apartments

Rent hikes may be coming for tenants in rent-stabilized apartments

1:54
Funeral held for DJ Mister Cee in Downtown Brooklyn

Funeral held for DJ Mister Cee in Downtown Brooklyn

1:48
Mayor's administration awards $12.3 million emergency contract to run migrant shelter in Brooklyn

Mayor's administration awards $12.3 million emergency contract to run migrant shelter in Brooklyn

1:51
Brooklyn animal shelter hopes to find pets forever homes on National Adopt a Shelter Pet Day

Brooklyn animal shelter hopes to find pets forever homes on National Adopt a Shelter Pet Day