Gwinnett County: 2 charged in email bank scam after 2-year investigation – On Common Ground News

GWINNETT COUNTY, GA—After a two-year investigation, the Gwinnett County Police Department (GCPD), in collaboration with the Gwinnett County District Attorney’s Office, has charged two individuals in connection with 19 counts of fraud and forgery. The scam involved a total loss of more than $400,000 among eight victims in multiple states who were tricked into updating or changing their payment information by a fraudulent service provider.

In August 2022, detectives assigned to the Electronic Financial Crimes Unit began investigating Winston Dougan as a possible suspect in a fraud case in which an Illinois victim was scammed into sending a $192,987 wire transfer through a business email compromise scheme. The victim in that case thought he was sending funds to a service provider, but instead, the funds ended up in a bank account belonging to Dougan. Through a number of investigative methods, detectives determined that Dougan converted the funds for his own use and sent Mikhail Roosevelt Keize a check for $133,000.

On October 7, 2022, Dougan attempted to cash a fraudulent check at a local bank using a fake ID. Officers assigned to the GCPD Central Precinct responded to the scene and arrested Dougan. During Dougan’s arrest, multiple counterfeit IDs and debit cards were discovered.

Detectives interviewed Dougan and seized his cell phone as evidence before he was booked into the Gwinnett County Jail.

Detectives then began an extensive investigation into Dougan’s background, which uncovered that he controlled more than six fraudulent bank accounts. Dougan’s pattern of illegal activity resulted in a loss of approximately $441,000 across eight different victims. The victims were located in multiple states, including CA, IO, TX, NJ, IL, and FL, from June 2022 through August 2022.

On July 17, 2024, the Gwinnett County District Attorney’s Office filed an 18-count indictment against Dougan: seven counts of theft by receiving stolen property over $25,000; six counts of identity fraud; four counts of forgery; and one count of forgery.

Mikhail Keize was charged with one count of theft by receiving stolen property worth more than $25,000.

Following the allegation, GCPD detectives are reminding the public to be wary of receiving emails from sellers or service providers asking you to change or update your payment information. Detectives are encouraging the public to contact the seller and confirm the authenticity of the request.

Photos via Gwinnett County Police Department

Post views: 185