Identity Thieves, Con Artists Target Avon Lake Residents

AVON LAKE, OH — Two Avon Lake residents were targeted by con artists and fraudsters in recent weeks, according to police records. In one case, a resident mistakenly replied to an email. In the other case, someone tried haphazardly to steal a resident's identity.

On Dec. 28, a 68-year-old Avon Lake woman arrived at the police department and reported she had been ensnared in a fraud. The woman received a scam email and responded. The woman's credit card was then used to make an $800 purchase.

Two days later, on Dec. 30, a 70-year-old Avon Lake woman came to police and reported a possible identity fraud. An identity protection company contacted the woman and said someone had attempted to open two Huntington Bank accounts in her name.

The identity thieves used the wrong address and driver's license number to open the accounts, according to Avon Lake police records.

Northeast Ohio law enforcement warn residents regularly about scams being utilized in the region. The Cuyahoga County Consumer Affairs department also maintains a list of scams and how to recognize them.