Boise Police arrest 2 men who allegedly stole money from Idahoans via social media scam
Police in Boise have arrested two Chicago men suspected of scamming people out of money over social media.
Derek Claytor and Jontiez Brooks, both 27, are being held without bail in the Ada County Jail on counts of grand theft, forgery and acquiring a financial transaction card with intent to defraud, all felonies. They were booked Wednesday.
The Boise Police Department heard reports from a local credit union that people were being defrauded after they were contacted via social media by someone promising to give them money. Victims were persuaded to give their debit card and PIN number to someone who promised to put money in their account, according to a press release from BPD.
The suspects would deposit a fraudulent check into the victims’ accounts, and then use the cards and PIN numbers to withdraw money from the accounts, police said.
Police said they were able to identify the two suspects based on surveillance pictures. On Wednesday, they made contact with Claytor and Brooks as they prepared to fly out of the Boise Airport. They were booked into the Ada County Jail later that day.
Police said this is at least the second time they have investigated a scam involving people offering easy money over social media. Typically the scam starts when someone gains access to a person’s social media accounts, and then uses the account to contact their “friends” about the scam.
The Boise Police Department said it’s important residents realize that if a deal sounds too good to be true, it is. Never give out your bank account or other personal information over social media.
