JACKSON – A Lawrence County man has been charged with communications fraud after authorities said he scammed potential job seekers out of $14,000. Christopher David Smith, 34, of New Hebron, was arrested last month by investigators with the Consumer Protection Division of the Attorney General’s Office and inspectors with the United States Postal Service.
Smith was indicted in Rankin County Circuit Court on five counts of felony communications fraud.
According to the indictment, Smith devised a scheme to collect funds via wire and mail methods from individuals seeking employment by creating a fictitious off-shore drilling company named Dynacore Drilling, and converting those funds for his own personal use.
During a joint investigation by the Consumer Protection Division and the United States Postal Service, the investigation revealed that Smith created a website, obtained e-mail accounts, a post office box and phone numbers to support his alleged scheme.
After soliciting employment in various methods, Smith told those seeking employment that Dynacore Drilling was a union-based company through the National Brotherhood of Oil Field Workers (NBOW), and required union dues.
From June 2009 thru August 2009, Smith collected over $14,000 and resumes from victims who were told they had been hired by Dynacore Drilling. However, when they arrived at the airports to receive an alleged pre-paid ticket to be flown to the alleged training site in Utah, as instructed by Smith, no tickets were waiting.
Hood said, “If anyone thinks they have been the victim of this scam or another like it, please contact our Consumer Protection division at 1-800-281-4418.”
Smith was taken to the Rankin County Jail.
If convicted, he faces a $10,000 fine and 25 years in jail.
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