An Evendale resident lost $98,500 to a computer scam in July, the largest single theft reported in the village's monthly police report and part of a wave of fraud, assaults, and impaired-driving arrests that kept officers busy throughout the month.
The victim reported the scam on July 24, according to the Evendale Police Department's monthly council report published July 30. An unknown person used a browser cookie to access the victim's computer, froze it with a fake virus alert, and directed the victim to call a phone number. The caller claimed Homeland Security was en route and that the victim needed to wire money to release a warrant. The victim transferred $98,500 before realizing the scheme was fraudulent when the caller demanded still more money.
Fifth Third Bank told the victim it would not investigate the incident but would attempt to refund the funds. The department, led by Chief Tim Holloway, transferred the case to its investigations unit, where it remains pending.
The scam dwarfs a $1,836 phone-and-text fraud Evendale police recorded in June 2026. Nationally, tech support scams accounted for $2.1 billion in losses in 2025, according to FBI data reported by the Detroit Free Press. Fifth Third's head of fraud prevention, Kris Edwards, told the Free Press that bank impersonation scams tripled at Fifth Third from 2024 to 2025.
Two OVI arrests, one wrong-way driver
Officers arrested two drivers for operating a vehicle while impaired during July.
On July 18, at about 2:12 a.m., officers spotted a silver Hyundai Veloster turning the wrong way onto the I-75 North exit ramp from Glendale Milford Road. The driver showed glassy eyes, slurred speech, and an odor of alcohol, refused a chemical breath test after failing field sobriety tests, and was transported to the Hamilton County Justice Center.
A week later, on July 25, at about 8:56 p.m., officers responded to a fight in the parking lot at 2552 Cunningham Drive. The driver of a white SUV showed signs of impairment after witnesses said he had been in a physical altercation with a friend. He refused field sobriety tests and was arrested. While officers finished paperwork, the man escaped his handcuffs. He was transported to the Hamilton County Justice Center.
Post-game assault at Queen City Sportsplex
On July 12, at 5:34 p.m., officers responded to Queen City Sportsplex for a reported assault. The victim had a bloodied, bruised right eye. He told officers that during the post-game handshake line following a basketball game, a player from the opposing team jabbed him in the face with a pointer finger hard enough to cut his eyebrow and momentarily impair his vision. The facility manager provided surveillance footage. The investigation is pending.
Road rage punch, fraudulent checks, and a foiled Menard's scheme
On July 23, a suspect approached a victim's vehicle at a traffic light, screaming threats. When the victim opened her door to record the encounter, the suspect grabbed her phone, threw it, then punched her in the face. The suspect's vehicle nearly struck the victim as it fled. Intersection cameras and a license plate reader confirmed the victim's account. The suspect was identified and cited to Hamilton County Municipal Court.
On July 8, Sow-Low Environmental Equipment reported that its company checks were being used fraudulently. Two individuals had fallen victim to a scam involving the checks. Sow-Low said its bank-account protections prevented any financial loss to the company. The case is pending.
On July 13, officers responded to Menard's at 2789 Cunningham Drive after a suspect tried to pick up household doors using a fraudulent online credit card purchase totaling $2,168.52. Menard's management had already stopped the transaction. The suspect was found in a 2013 Toyota Camry in the parking lot.
Residents can view the full report at evendaleohio.org. The next Evendale Village Council meeting date was not listed on the village website as of August 3.
