WBRZ - Baton Rouge

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• Man accused of selling bogus newspaper ads

  March 28, 2013 8:57 AM

  SHREVEPORT- A 61-year-old Minden man faces charges in at least six parishes and one Texas county in connection with an alleged scam that involved selling bogus newspaper ads. Caddo Parish Sheriff Steve Prator says David Edward Dix is accused of going into several Caddo businesses and stating that he works... more »

• Man accused in phony roof repair scam

  March 21, 2013 12:56 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Police arrested a man after they said he scammed at least three elderly victims in Baton Rouge with phony roof repairs. Lt. Don Kelly said officers arrested Brandon Ferguson, 24, of Baker Wednesday night in suspicion of theft and stealing from the elderly. Kelly said... more »

• Deputies: man arrested for Pop-A-Lock scam

  February 28, 2013 2:43 PM

  BATON ROUGE- Deputies arrested a man accused of operating a scam where he conned victims out of money to pay for a made-up Pop-A-Lock service call. Gerald Rester is charged with theft, vagrancy, and since he ran from a deputy, also resisting an officer. According to a report... more »

• Thousands of dollars returned to asphalt scam victims

  February 22, 2013 10:19 AM

  BATON ROUGE - Louisiana's attorney general said his office is delivering checks totaling $184,800 to 18 victims of a driveway asphalting scam. Many of the victims are elderly, and all overpaid for driveway repairs which AG Buddy Caldwell said involved shoddy work and poor materials. At least one victim... more »

• Notre Dame AD encouraging Te'o to speak publicly

  January 18, 2013 12:51 PM

  SOUTH BEND, Ind. - Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick says he is encouraging linebacker Manti Te'o to speak publicly about being the victim of a hoax involving a dead girlfriend who never existed. Swarbrick says he believes Te'o has to explain exactly how he was duped into an online... more »

• Coupon site Bigtip.com shocking local businesses Play Video

  December 3, 2012 6:24 PM

  BATON ROUGE - A coupon site may be taking your money and creating problems for local business owners. Bigtip.com is a national coupon site based out of Seattle, Wash. They charge people a subscription fee to receive coupons for local restaurants and stores in Baton Rouge, including Mellow Mushroom,... more »

• Tracking system ensures donations go where needed Play Video

  November 30, 2012 5:25 PM

  BATON ROUGE - In addition to providing free meals and clothes, St. Vincent de Paul helps pay for utilities, rent and even prescription drugs, but only for those truly in need. "There's only so much dollars for helping to prevent homelessness or to avoid eviction," says Micheal Acaldo, St.... more »

• One pleads guilty in coupon website "scam"

  November 1, 2012 10:16 PM

  PHOENIX, Arizona- One person has pleaded guilty in connection with a coupon website that some in the Capital City area call a scam. Savvyshoppersite.com was busted by investigators after a WBRZ News2 Investigation in March. People said they paid for coupons on the site, but couldn't use them because... more »

• Residents stuck with debris after contractor scam Play Video

  September 27, 2012 4:41 PM

  CENTRAL - Dozens of people in Central are stuck with Hurricane Isaac debris in their yards. This, after contractors who collected it told them the city would haul it away. City leaders warn that DPW workers will not pick up debris cut down by paid contractors. David Barrow,... more »

• Medical equipment owner sentenced in Medicare scam

  August 22, 2012 7:16 AM

  BATON ROUGE - The owner of several durable medical equipment companies that operated in Louisiana has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for his role in multiple Medicare fraud schemes involving fraudulent claims and illegal kickback payments. U.S. District Judge James J. Brady sentenced 37-year-old Henry Lamont Jones,... more »

• iPad Scam hits Baton Rouge Play Video

  August 9, 2012 10:18 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Buyers beware. You may be be offered an inexpensive iPad by someone on the street. Don't take the bait because it's likely fake. One Baton Rouge woman says she was tricked into buying one. A man approached her at a gas station on Airline Highway. She... more »

• WBRZ mentioned in email scam

  July 23, 2012 12:21 PM

  BATON ROUGE - News 2 viewers contacted WBRZ Channel 2 today, saying they received a scam email which claimed the TV station was giving away gift cards worth thousands of dollars. The email is not true, and could lead to people's personal information being stolen. The email asks... more »

• Nationwide ID scam hits Baton Rouge area Play Video

  July 18, 2012 5:16 PM

  BATON ROUGE - A nationwide identity theft scam has hit the Baton Rouge area. The Better Business Bureau says hundreds in our area have reported calls from people posing as government officials. The person says that you're eligible for a government grant, usually worth $1,000, to pay a utility... more »

• Police: People in Walker hit by utility bill scam

  July 18, 2012 9:45 AM

  WALKER - A popular bank fraud scam is back, and it's hitting our area hard. The Walker Police Department says they've received complaints that several people in the area were hoodwinked into transferring thousands of dollars to someone claiming to offer government assistance with utility bills. The scam... more »

• Cell phone texting scam could cost you Play Video

  May 31, 2012 6:00 PM

  BATON ROUGE- A new texting scam could be costing you big bucks and you may not even know it. The texting scam works by auto-dialing random numbers and sending them things like trivia or ringtones, without asking permission and then charging your cell phone bill. Cell carriers are... more »

• Seven arrested in asphalt scheme across two states Play Video

  May 25, 2012 10:44 AM

  LIVINGSTON - Authorities arrested seven people in Livingston Parish in suspicion of running an asphalt paving scam that bilked tens of thousands of dollars from numerous victims. Perry Rushing with the Livingston Parish Sheriff's Office said the seven were arrested over the course of the past month, following an... more »

• 4 accused of running card game scam

  May 1, 2012 7:46 AM

  LAKE CHARLES - Authorities in Lake Charles say four men posing as business owners scammed several people out of more than $10,000 through a card game. The Calcasieu Parish sheriff said the men disguised themselves as business owners and contacted several small businesses about constructing a building in Lake Charles.... more »

• Ex-cop, sheriff's deputy charged in insurance scam

  April 6, 2012 2:16 PM

  NEW ORLEANS - Two law enforcement officers from the New Orleans area have been charged with plotting to make a fraudulent insurance claim. A court filing Friday charges former New Orleans Police Sgt. Kevin Guillot and former Jefferson Parish sheriff's deputy Daniel Spears with conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Federal... more »

• Authorities caution citizens about potential scammers

  March 8, 2012 4:57 PM

  LIVINGSTON - Chief Deputy Jason Ard of Livingston's Sheriff's Office sent out a press release Thursday reminding people to be wary of potential scammers identifying themselves as independent contractors. LPSO encourages citizens who are approached by individuals soliciting renovations, to ask for proper identification, a contractors license, references and... more »

• Man gets prison time for computer scam

  February 3, 2012 7:25 AM

  BATON ROUGE - A judge has sentenced a 41-year-old Denham Springs man to a year and a day in federal prison after pleading guilty to a charge that he participated in a scheme to steal $157,366 from Southern University. Scott D. Woodall served as information technologies director at Southern's College... more »

• Kenner PD warns about pre-recorded phone scam

  February 3, 2012 4:15 AM

  KENNER - Some Kenner residents received pre-recorded telephone calls this week indicating that a family member was arrested or involved in a serious accident. It was a scam, according to the Kenner Police Department. A spokesman for the department said Thursday the calls are apparently an attempt to "hijack" phones... more »

• Fortuneteller Family Scam?

  September 1, 2011 7:29 PM

  A family in Fort Lauderdale,Florida amassed a $40 million dollar fortune by telling fortunes and authorities say it was a scam. Rose Marks and her family claimed to talk with gods, spirits and even Michael the Archangel to cure diseases and break curses. In return, they asked for jewelry, gold... more »

• State Treasurer warns of unclaimed property scam

  August 4, 2011 6:26 AM

  BATON ROUGE- State Treasurer John Kennedy has issued an alert to Louisiana citizens regarding a national unclaimed property email scam uncovered by the National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators (NAUPA). According to NAUPA, Americans are receiving deceptive messages stating that it is from the director of NAUPA and that... more »

• Council: Scam crews claim FEMA requires sandbags

  May 26, 2011 8:38 AM

  HOUMA- The Terrebonne Parish Consolidated Government says private work crews in the Gibson area have been telling elderly residents they have to sandbag their homes to get federal disaster relief. A statement on the government's website says that's false, and people should call the sheriff's office if they're approached by... more »

• Army Reaches Out to Chinese Community after Scam

  April 18, 2011 7:38 PM

  The Army has to do damage control after 100 immigrants in the Chinese community of El Monte, California thought they were joining the U.S. Army for a fee of $400 each. Authorities say Yupeng Deng posed as a recruiter and they arrested him last week on charges of selling bogus... more »

• AG: Members of international fraud ring charged in La.

  March 21, 2011 4:45 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Four Romanian-Moldovan nationals that investigators believe scammed millions from Americans over the Internet are on their way to face racketeering charges in Baton Rouge. Attorney General Buddy Caldwell announced today that Dimitar Dimitrov, 22, Radu Manolache, 40, Ion Antohi, 25, and Andrei Golovco, 27, had all... more »

• Inspector General releases report on Miracle Place Church

  March 16, 2011 12:04 PM

  BATON ROUGE - The state Inspector General's Office released a report today that claims a Baker church and drug treatment facility scammed the federal government out of more than $750,000. According to the report Ricky Sinclair and the Miracle Place Church of Baker, as well its All The Way... more »

• Asphalt scam in Walker

  February 10, 2011 6:18 PM

  WALKER - Police have received reports of scammers targeting the residents of Walker. According to the Walker Police Department, three men in a red, slightly new Ford truck or a white Chevy truck are offering to use left-over asphalt to pave driveways. The men ask for a small... more »

• Former broker accused of swindling almost $1M from clients

  January 28, 2011 3:53 PM

  NEW ORLEANS – Federal authorities in New Orleans accused a former stock broker today of stealing almost a million dollars from his clients. Michael Wooton, 45, of Metairie was charged in federal court with mail fraud, according to U. S. Attorney Jim Letten. Prosecutors claim that starting in 2006, Wooton... more »

• Potential scams top 7,000 in BP spill compensation

  January 27, 2011 5:03 PM

  NEW ORLEANS - The administrator of a $20 billion fund responsible for compensating victims of BP's Gulf of Mexico oil spill says he has received more than 7,000 potentially fraudulent claims. Attorney Kenneth Feinberg told a Senate panel in Washington on Thursday that 7,575 claims have been deemed to be... more »

• Three plead guilty to Medicare fraud

  January 25, 2011 6:05 PM

  BATON ROUGE – Three people pleaded guilty today to taking part in a health-care fraud plan to scam more than $5 million from Medicare. U. S. Attorney Don Cazayoux said today that Thompson W. Chinwoh, Stephanie Dangerfieldand Samuel B. Johnson could face up to ten years in prison for the... more »

• EBRSO looking for hot check scammer

  December 20, 2010 4:35 PM

  BATON ROUGE – Authorities are looking for a man that stole money from a Baton Rouge bank using a hot check scam this past October. The East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office was contacted Nov. 15 by MidSouth Bank and told about the scam. The bank said a man had... more »

• Florida man arrested in Facebook sorority scam

  December 9, 2010 5:13 PM

  BATON ROUGE – Authorities in Florida have arrested a Key West man after they believe he contacted several female LSU students through Facebook and convinced them to send him inappropriate pictures and videos as part of their application to campus sororities. 27-year-old Mitchell Hill was arrested by Florida police after... more »

• Authorities: Scam money lost at video poker

  October 9, 2010 2:44 PM

  A Houma woman has been accused of scamming nine businesses for more than $3,800 - then losing the proceeds while gambling. The Courier says 60-year-old Katherine Celestine has been booked with nine counts of theft. Sheriff's deputies say nine businesses including two churches - were approached by a woman who... more »

• Police: Woman used scammed money on video poker

  October 8, 2010 5:05 PM

  Police arrested a woman around 11 a.m. today for scamming several businesses and two churches out of more than $3,800 then using the money to play video poker. Authorities said 60-year-old Katherine Celestine, Houma, solicited donations by telling business owners she needed money to purchase a medical device for her... more »

• Scammers using old payday loans to cash in

  June 23, 2010 9:46 PM

  A new scam hitting Baton Rouge can make victims think it's legit. The scam has been reported across half the country. It uses personal information, including addresses and social security numbers, from old online payday loans to hook victims into thinking they still owe money. Scammers then threaten the... more »

• Scammers hit top Iraq general's Facebook page

  June 6, 2010 9:20 AM

  The top American general in Iraq says scammers have been making use of his Facebook page. Looking at General Ray Odierno's Facebook page, you find out he's an Aerosmith fan -- and that Animal House is one of his favorite movies. If you see a plea for money, though,... more »

• Scam promising training and jobs for spill

  May 31, 2010 2:37 PM

  BP is warning of a scam in which people are being offered training and jobs for a fee. BP spokesman Neil Chapman said on Monday that BP does not charge to hire and train applicants. He also said BP is working with local authorities to find those operating... more »

• Man arrested for running a hiring scam

  May 26, 2010 6:30 AM

  Alexandria police arrested a man they say was running a hiring scam when he was meeting with potential "employees" at a local motel. Police say about 20 men were there to meet with Dereius Davis, who said he could hire them for work at the Diamond B Construction company. When... more »

• Real estate investor accused

  May 13, 2010 7:45 AM

  A Metairie man has been charged with mail fraud in connection of an alleged real estate scheme that cost investors at least $3.5 million. Federal prosecutors say Michael Smuck sold a Houston apartment complex in 2007, then misappropriated the money to pay other debts rather than share the proceeds with... more »

• Two arrested in phone-card scam

  February 4, 2010 6:29 AM

  Alexandria Police have arrested two men who they say scammed a Texas man out of $19,000. Police say 26-year-old Abdel J. Yousef of Metairie and 31-year-old Saed Mousa Yousef of Bossier City have been charged with theft of more than $500. Police say the Katy, Texas, man arranged to meet... more »

• Lawyer: Phone scam meant to embarrass Senator

  January 28, 2010 2:31 PM

  A lawyer for one of four conservative activists accused of tampering with phones in U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu's New Orleans office, says they hoped to embarrass her over claims her staff ignored calls critical of her stance on health care reform. J. Garrison Jordan is an attorney for suspect... more »

• Men accused of Landrieu phone scam in court

  January 27, 2010 10:20 AM

  Three of the four men charged with infiltrating the New Orleans office of U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu, returned to court today. James O'Keefe, Joseph Basel and Stan Dai were there for private appointments in the pretrial services department. The fourth suspect is Robert Flanigan. Authorities say two... more »

• Crooks use dead teens picture in scam

  November 6, 2009 10:14 PM

  Four days after Alycia Owens died in a car crash near the town of Livingston, crooks started using her picture to steal money. Her parents heard about the scam but thought it would go away. Instead, it grew. Friday afternoon when Alycia's father stopped at a gas station in... more »

• Five jailed in home scam

  October 26, 2009 9:45 PM

  Five people are in jail in Los Angeles accused of torturing and robbing two men they allegedly paid to help save their home from foreclosure. Bail is about $1 million dollars each. Prosecutors say two of the accused hired loan modification agents to help them save their home, but thought... more »