A Decatur man was arrested for allegedly scamming a New Jersey couple out of $86,000 after contacting them through social media, according to local media reports.
George Landry III, 67, was extradited to Burlington County, N.J., this week after being arrested in Georgia for the alleged scam, Burlington County Times.
Landry told the couple he was with the Georgia Lottery Corporation, claiming they had won $2 million, Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office told the newspaper. He then told the couple they needed to pay taxes and fees before receiving their alleged winnings.
The couple, like Laundry, is hearing impaired, which is how he gained the couple’s trust, investigators said.
After the couple shared with Laundry they wanted to buy a recreational vehicle, he told them he could get them a better price in Georgia, the newspaper reported. The couple gave him $86,000 when Laundry allegedly produced fake receipts.
The couple contacted police, but by then they had lost all of their savings due to the alleged scam, according to the newspaper.
Authorities charged Laundry with theft of deception and elements of computer theft. He is in jail waiting on a detention hearing.
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