A Scioto County man walked into the Sheriff’s Office after discovering something alarming in his inbox: an email confirming a $5,090 loan he says he never applied for.
According to the report, the email came from a leasing company tied to a purchase he did make years ago. Back in 2022, the man used the company to finance tires from a local business and paid the loan off in full. He thought that was the end of it.
It wasn’t.
A Purchase in Another State
When he contacted the leasing company, he learned the loan had allegedly been used to buy tires — in Maryland, from a shop he’s never visited and never heard of. Even more troubling, the company believes someone may have gained access through the man’s old loan account, potentially using stored information to open the new loan.
Before the issue was caught, $237.38 had already been pulled from his bank account.
The leasing company told the man they would refund the money once a police report was filed, which is why he came to the Sheriff’s Office. Deputies took information for an identity theft report. At this time, the victim says he has no idea who may be responsible.
A Warning for Everyone
Cases like this are becoming more common, especially when old accounts, past loans, or stored payment information are involved. Even accounts you haven’t touched in years can become a doorway for fraud.
How to Protect Yourself Right Now
If this story makes you uneasy, experts say there are steps you can take immediately:
Freeze your credit with Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. It’s free and prevents new accounts from being opened in your name.
Check your bank statements and credit reports regularly for small or unfamiliar charges.
Close or fully remove old financing accounts you no longer use.
Use strong, unique passwords for financial accounts and enable two-factor authentication when available.
Act fast — many companies will only refund fraudulent charges if a report is filed quickly.
Identity theft doesn’t always start with a massive charge. Sometimes it begins with a single email — and a loan you never asked for.