Police Ask: Did This Man Sell You Phone, TV, Internet Service?

A 36-year-old Macomb Township man who police say posed as a phone, TV and internet salesman in multiple cities throughout Macomb and Oakland counties was charged Thursday with scamming people out of thousands of dollars.

According to Detective Ray White, Nameer Elias was arrested on Tuesday in Rochester Hills.

White said Elias approached several people in the city and offered them the services for one year for $1,000. He was not employed by any company that provided the services, White said.

After collecting the money, Elias sometimes arranged for the service — and even paid the customer's bill for one or two months to avoid or delay suspician, White said.

Then, Elias would offer those customers rebates and special deals if they would prepay for other customers, White said. Two victims gave Elias an additional $2,000 and $5,000 "in anticipation of collecting a future windfall," White said.

Elias has a prior conviction for embezzlement; he was on probation. He was arrested Tuesday when he reported to his probation officer for the embezzlement conviction.

He was charged with three counts of false pretenses over $1,000; each is a felony punishable by up to five years in prison. He is being held at the Oakland County Jail on a $10,000 cash bond.

White said Elias is being investigated for similar crimes in Macomb Township, Chesterfield Townshiop, Shelby Township, Clinton Township, Sterling Heights, Troy, West Bloomfield and Warren. He mostly targets people in Chaldean communities, White said.

If you believe you have been victimized by Elias, please contact the Macomb County Sheriff's Office at 586-469-5151 or call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-SPEAK UP.