A Newark man is facing felony charges after authorities say he used a fake online profile to carry out a scam involving thousands of dollars in precious metals.
The Ontario County Sheriff’s Office says 27-year-old Messiah Bethea was arrested Friday following an investigation into an incident in the Town of Phelps.
Investigators say Bethea allegedly created a fake account on Facebook Marketplace to arrange a trade with a victim. The two agreed to exchange gold for silver and met in a parking lot in Phelps.
Authorities say Bethea provided what was later determined to be fake gold in exchange for about $10,000 worth of silver.
Bethea was taken into custody at the Ontario County Jail and charged with third-degree grand larceny, a felony. He was arraigned in centralized arraignment court and held without bail.
Sheriff David Cirencione is urging residents to take precautions when using online marketplaces, including verifying sellers’ identities and the authenticity of items, and using caution when meeting with unknown individuals.
