CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – The Albemarle County Police Department is investigating two incidents of fraud that occurred this month that investigators believe are related.
On Sunday, Dec. 7, two victims reported being approached in separate shopping centers between 10:00 and 10:30 a.m. In both cases, it was a Black male who claimed he was collecting donations for his son through Square, an online donation platform. During these interactions, additional suspects approached the victims or were observed nearby.
During the first incident, which occurred in the Target parking lot, the suspects took the victim’s phone and credit card and attempted three fraudulent transactions totaling $4,250. The second incident occurred in the Trader Joe’s parking lot, where the suspects initiated transactions to steal $5,000 from the victim.
The suspects are described as four or five Black males who may have fled in a dark colored SUV. Anyone who has information on either incident or who was approached in a similar manner is asked to contact Detective Carroll with ACPD’s Criminal Investigations Division at 434-296-5807.
