A 19-year-old Kea’au man has been arrested and charged for allegedly running an Internet scam. A 19-year-old Kea‘au man has been arrested and charged for allegedly running an Internet scam. ADVERTISING Anthony D. Berson scammed at least $1,000 recently by
A 19-year-old Kea‘au man has been arrested and charged for allegedly running an Internet scam.
Anthony D. Berson scammed at least $1,000 recently by posting ads on Craig’s List, an online classified service, claiming to have extra tickets to the sold-out Coachella Music Festival that continues this weekend in California, police said.
Yet when the victims wired the money, the tickets never came.
Hawaii Police, working with state Office of Consumer Protection, arrested Berson in a sting operation Tuesday when he went to receive $900 that was supposed to be wired to him in Hilo.
He was charged Thursday with four counts of second-degree theft, one count of third-degree theft, and four counts of using a computer in the commission of a separate crime.
Four victims have been identified on the mainland, but more are anticipated.
Berson used aliases online including Nathan Parker, Christopher Wilson, Terry Morton, and Trevor Hart.
Police are requesting that anyone with information on the scam contact Crime Stoppers at 961-8300 or 329-8181.
