ORION TOWNSHIP, Mich. – A 78-year-old Orion Township woman was scammed out of more than $29,000, according to the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies said a scammer called the woman claiming to be an Amazon employee to verify that she purchased $8,000 worth of Apple products. Deputies said after the purchase was disputed, the caller transferred the woman to someone claiming to be a member of the Michigan State Police to make a report. The fake MSP trooper told the woman that she needed to provide all of her banking information to file the report. “Scammers continue to evolve their tactics and try to find ways to outsmart citizens,” said Oakland County Sheriff Michael J. Bouchard.

PONTIAC, Mich. The Oakland County Sheriffs Office announced that its two Directed Patrol Units based in Pontiac took 28 handguns and four rifles off the citys streets in May and June. Officials said 114 felony arrests were also made between the two teams. The DPU teams target high-crime areas, according to officials. While these teams are small in numbers, the work and effort they put in to target the most violent criminals in the City of Pontiac is to be commended, said Sheriff Michael J. Bouchard. I applaud the Mayor and the Pontiac City Council for making the investment into a second team and clearly, the results speak for themselves.