Cops: Couple scammed Lincolnshire business

A Texas couple is charged in connection with an elaborate eBay scam that has raked in more than $100,000 since October 2009, Lincolnshire police said Wednesday.

Norbert K. Abasi, 31, and Teena M. Crawford, 27, both of the 3600 block of Huffines Boulevard, Carrollton Texas, are charged with theft over $10,000, computer fraud, and online sale of stolen property, police Investigator John-Erik Anderson said.

Abasi and Crawford would put items up for sale on eBay without ever owning the products, Anderson said. After the auction was completed, they would collect the funds for the item and important information from the bid winner.

The two would then contact a third company and order the item they purported was for sale on eBay, and send it directly to the online bid winner.

However, Anderson said, when the winning bidder received the product, they would also be charged for the product by the company that sent it.

"Basically, they would put an item like a printer up for auction, then after the auction is over, they would contact a printer company and send a printer to the winning bidder," Anderson said. "However, that printer would come with a bill for the winning bidder."

He said the two managed to steal more than $100,000 from multiple victims across the United States using the scheme, including a business in the 100 block of Schelter Drive in Lincolnshire.

Anderson said the investigation started when the Lincolnshire business owners filed a complaint. Other agencies from Texas also assisted in the capture of Abasi and Crawford.

"Now that it's out there, we expect other state or federal agencies will come forward for information and possibly run their own investigation," he said. "So, this investigation is going to continue for some time yet."

Anderson said police are trying to determine the number of victims and amount of money involved in the thefts.

Abasi and Crawford are held in lieu of $500,000 bond in Norbert Country jail in Texas, Anderson said. Abasi also faces probation violations for a similar scam in Texas, Anderson said.

If found guilty of the charges in court, the two could be locked behind bars for up to 15 years, he added.