COLUMBUS, Ohio – Jail only slowed down the man local authorities are calling the “Craigslist Con Man.” It didn’t stop him.
For the second time in 18 months, Chad Edward Crosby, 30, has been named Columbus City Attorney Richard Pfeiffer Jr.’s “Fugitive of the Week” after a new warrant was issued for his arrest on a charge of theft, Pfeiffer said.
After being released from jail, where he spent time for bilking victims found via the popular website, Crosby has been accused of using a Craigslist ad offering low-cost engine repair services to find more potential victims, Pfeiffer said.
Pfeiffer says Crosby, whose last known address was on Agler Road, picked up his most recent victim’s Rototiller and reciprocator, which he promised to repair, and received an advanced payment of $120. Pfeiffer says, for the next three days, Crosby asked for, and got, payments totaling $220 under the guise of needing to purchase parts and got another another advanced payment of $60 the following week.
After that, Pfeiffer says the victim never heard from Crosby again.
The payments and estimated value of the equipment indicate the victim was scammed out of a total of $630, Pfeiffer said.
Crosby is described as 6’2”/160 lbs. with brown hair and green eyes.
Pfeifer says anyone who may have been scammed by Crosby, or who may have information on his whereabouts, is asked to contact First Assistant City Prosecutor Bill Hedrick at 614-645-8874 or via email at brhedrick@columbus.gov.