Crime & Safety

Police Ask: Did This Man Sell You Phone, TV, Internet Service?

He is being charged with scamming customers in Rochester Hills out of thousands of dollars.

A 36-year-old Macomb Township man who police say posed as a phone, TV and internet salesman in Rochester Hills was charged Thursday with scamming people out of thousands of dollars.

According to Detective Ray White, Nameer Elias was arrested on Tuesday in the city.

White said Elias approached several people in the city and offered them the services for one year for $1,000. He was not employed by any company that provided the services, White said.

Find out what's happening in Rochester-Rochester Hillswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

After collecting the money, Elias sometimes arranged for the service — and even paid the customer's bill for one or two months to avoid or delay suspician, White said.

Then, Elias would offer those customers rebates and special deals if they would prepay for other customers, White said. Two victims gave Elias an additional $2,000 and $5,000 "in anticipation of collecting a future windfall," White said.

Find out what's happening in Rochester-Rochester Hillswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Elias has a prior conviction for embezzlement; he was on probation. He was arrested Tuesday when he reported to his probation officer for the embezzlement conviction.

He was charged with three counts of false pretenses over $1,000; each is a felony punishable by up to five years in prison. He is being held at the Oakalnd County Jail on a $10,000 cash bond.

White said Elias is being investigated for similar crimes in Troy, West Bloomfield, Warren, Macomb Township, Chesterfield Townshiop, Shelby Township, Clinton Township and Sterling Heights. He mostly targets people in Chaldean communities, White said.

If you believe you have been victimized by Elias, please contact the Oakland County Sheriff's Office at  1-888-TURN-1-IN.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.

More from Rochester-Rochester Hills