Metro Nashville Police are warning residents to be cautious after two fraud suspects were arrested again in connection to a cellphone payment scam that has reportedly been happening across Nashville.
According to police, 19-year-old Dewaine Gordon was arrested Saturday and charged with robbery, two counts of credit card fraud, and two counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Investigators say Gordon, along with two juvenile teens pretending to collect candy donations, approached a woman near 12th Avenue South and Beechwood Avenue.
Police said the group refused cash donations and instead asked to use the victim’s cellphone for an electronic payment. While holding the phone, Gordon allegedly transferred $840 from the victim’s bank account to himself before returning the device.
Authorities also connected Gordon to another incident that happened downtown earlier this week. In that case, a victim reportedly handed over a phone before discovering unauthorized Apple Pay charges totaling more than $800. Police said Lakeel Horton was also arrested in connection to that scam.
Investigators say Gordon had already been out on a $10,000 bond following earlier arrests this year involving credit card fraud, theft, and identity theft charges. Metro Police are reminding residents to never hand their phones to strangers and to closely monitor payment app transactions.