Prosecutor's Office warns of 'investigator' scam that targeted Lorain County man

Lorain County Prosecutor J.D. Tomlinson is warning residents about a recent scam attempt that targeted a local resident. According to the Prosecutor's Office, a scammer who gave the name "Kyle Brooks," and claimed he was a Prosecutor's Office investigator, called the resident and claimed they were calling about felony charges against the man related to an unpaid payday loan. The scammer provided a fake case number and a contact number, (833) 230-1209, and told the resident to call to resolve the issue. The resident called the number and was told he owed thousands of dollars in fines and faced felony charges, but was given the option to pay a reduced amount immediately over the phone to avoid legal action. The resident became suspicious, hung up the phone and reported the incident. Investigator Ed Manion of the Prosecutor's Office Fraud Protection unit confirmed that no such investigator or case number exists and that the phone number provided had been flagged for fraud on social media. The Prosecutor's Office urges residents to be cautious of unsolicited communications that promise winnings or threaten to legal consequences in exchange for payment. The public should always verify contact information through official channels and avoid using links or numbers provided by unknown sources. Questions about fraud protection can be directed to Manion at (440) 329-2306 or ed.manion@lcprosecutor.org.