ORANGE : Man Arrested in Suspected Ad Scam
A 49-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of defrauding at least 15 area merchants of thousands of dollars for advertising that was never placed, Orange County sheriff’s investigators said Friday.
John Anderson Metcalf of Villa Park was arrested in Orange on Thursday after an investigation that lasted almost a year and involved dozens of business and publication owners, Sheriff’s Investigator Stan Interrante said.
The investigation began after several merchants told police that Metcalf contracted with them to place advertisements on the menus of national chain restaurants, Interrante said. Sometimes Metcalf also promised promotions on radio and television, local newspapers and Pennysaver publications, Interrante said. Depending on the services promised, merchants were charged an average of $728, he said.
“They would give him the money and get, in some cases, nothing in return,” he said. “They would try to call him back, and he wouldn’t return their calls.”
Metcalf tried to sell an advertising plan to an undercover police investigator posing as a partner of a legitimate South County business owner, Interrante said.
“The whole thing is just a big deception,” he said.
Metcalf is being held at Orange County Jail on suspicion of grand theft. His bail is set at $150,000.
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