Butler County man discovers he’s paid in counterfeit cash for cell phone

Credit: HANDOUT

Credit: HANDOUT

An 18-year-old Hamilton man is out $460 when he discovers the money he received for the iPhone 8 Plus he sold via the LetGo App was all counterfeit cash, Dayton police said.

>> Southwest Ohio woman gets fake money for Apple watch

Officers dispatched to the 300 block of Mia Avenue on Thursday instead met the complainant at the Trotwood Police Department, where he went when he realized what happened to him, according to a Dayton police incident report filed Friday.

The 18-year-old, who had to use Google to translate because he spoke little English, said he placed an ad via the LetGo App and received a text offering to buy the black iPhone. The buyer asked the 18-year-old to meet in Dayton on Mia Avenue.

The 18-year-old said two males in a gray sedan met him at the location. They were 18 to 25 years old, he said.

The passenger asked to see the phone, which the 18-year-old said he passed to the passenger. The passenger said the phone looked good and handed over $460 cash (four $100-dollar bills and three $20-dollar bills).

The 18-year-old told police he noticed minutes later (the two males had left) the money was fake. He drove to the Trotwood Police Department on Olive Road to report it.

No force was used in the sale, he told police, and he thought everything was fine until he realized the money wasn’t real.

Got a tip? Call our monitored 24-hour line, 937-259-2237, or send it to newsdesk@cmgohio.com

About the Author