Cologne caper: ‘Eau de Fraud’ YouTuber probe uncovers $250,000 con job, sheriff says
Something just didn’t smell right to Nordstrom officials whose suspicions about posh perfume refunds led to an investigation and arrest, the Cook County Sheriff’s Office reported Friday.
The high-end department store chain contacted the sheriff’s Organized Retail Crime Unit in March after discovering that numerous luxury fragrances in boxes, which had been returned, actually contained modeling clay.
Sheriff’s police detectives launched a probe that resulted in charges of mail fraud being filed against Philip Carter of the 5200 block of West Hutchinson Street, Chicago, on Thursday.
The scam involved thousands of dollars worth of perfume, noted “Operation Eau de Fraud” investigators who scrutinized myriad financial, internet and shipping records.
“You could say this fraud case is scent-sational,” sheriff’s officials said in a statement.
Carter has a YouTube channel where he samples and reviews colognes.
“This is a very smart fragrance and of course this would complement a very smart outfit,” he noted in one video.
“(It’s) very versatile, you can wear this any season, any day. Very sartorial, very dapper, I absolutely love this.”
Carter allegedly ordered “thousands of dollars” of haute fragrances online at a time, and after receiving them, would call Nordstrom and say he needed to return them, police said.
The perfume boxes shipped back to the retailer were filled with modeling clay or used bottles. They were carefully resealed so it appeared they hadn’t been opened and refunds were issued.
Crime unit investigators executed a search warrant at Carter’s apartment Wednesday and took him into custody.
In their search officers found: 714 fragrances estimated to be worth $250,000; resealed boxes waiting to be shipped; packages containing modeling clay instead of perfume, modeling clay, a heat gun, glue, and packaging supplies.
Cook County prosecutors approved three counts of mail fraud against Carter and three misdemeanor counts of theft by deception.