The Bellefontaine Police Department is investigating a reported scam involving a local flooring business that resulted in a loss of more than $3,500.
According to police, officers were called on Wednesday afternoon to Factory Direct Flooring, regarding a fraud complaint.
The business owner reported that an unknown male, identifying himself only as “Joe,” placed an online order for flooring totaling $3,579.44 on January 19.
The flooring was scheduled for delivery to a Garfield Heights home and was shipped on January 23.
Police said the suspect had previously attempted to complete the purchase using three different payment cards between January 6 and January 8, all of which were declined.
A fourth card, submitted on January 19 under a different name, was approved.
A company delivery driver dropped off the flooring at the Garfield Heights address on January 23, placing the materials inside the residence through an unlocked side door.
The driver reported seeing individuals he believed to be workers leaving the area, but did not speak with them.
Photos taken at the time of delivery showed that the interior of the residence appeared empty.
The business later received a suspected fraud notification, and on February 2, a dispute was initiated.
The full purchase amount was withdrawn from the company’s account and placed in escrow.
Bellefontaine police contacted the Garfield Heights Police Department, which reported prior contact with an individual associated with the delivery address in 2019.
An officer was sent to the residence and confirmed the flooring boxes were still inside the home in the same location shown in the delivery photos.
Garfield Heights police told Bellefontaine they could provide a property stand-by if the business owner wished to retrieve the product.
Police noted discrepancies in the case, including mismatched names between the invoice, the alleged purchaser, and the property owner associated with the delivery address.
Additionally, the phone number listed on the invoice was no longer in service.
The incident remains under investigation.
