Crime & Safety
Lawrenceville Man Falls Victim to Online Loan Scheme
The victim gave an unknown caller his checking account information and routing numbers.
A Lawrenceville man said he lost $150 in what appears to be an illegitimate online loan scheme.
According to police reports, the man applied for a $1,500 loan approximately two weeks ago through an online company. After applying for the loan, the victim was reportedly contacted by an individual who claimed to work for the loan company. The caller allegedly informed the man that his loan had been approved and that he needed to pay a $150 security deposit by Western Union to a man with a California address.
The caller advised that the $1,500 would be transferred into the Lawrenceville man's account as soon as the security deposit was received. The victim told police he provided the caller with his checking account information and routing numbers to facilitate the transaction, but the money never appeared in his account.
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The man reported the incident to Gwinnett Police on Oct. 5, 2012, after his attempts to reach the online loan company were unsuccessful.
