Man arrested for scamming women he met online out of thousands of dollars

VAN NUYS, Calif. (FOX 11) - They say love hurts...and so can your wallet. Police arrested a 37-year-old man on Thursday accused of victimizing dozens of women he met online by committing identity theft, forgery, and grand theft auto, police say.

The Los Angeles Police Department says Wilson Edward Jackson targeted single women via social media and other websites seeking a dating relationship. After meeting his victims, Jackson would ask them for a loan, claiming he was having issues with his bank, or that his car was impounded with his wallet inside, according to investigators.

Jackson would promise to repay with cash but instead would give his victims checks written on closed bank accounts, police said.

"He convinces them that he is locked out of his many financial accounts him ask them for a loan and then he writes them a check to compensate them for the loan that they’ve given him,” LAPD Lt. Jeff Hollis said.

The former rap artist used the pseudonyms “Da Truth,” and “Syncere,” but his victims say he is anything but.

“I was so angry that somebody like that could do that and I know women out there feel embarrassed and ashamed or whatever," Acacia Oudinot said.

The Phoenix-area woman said she is one of at least 25 women conned by Jackson. 

Oudinot said she met Jackson through mutual friends in January 2018, then he flew her to Los Angeles for a date.

“He picked me up from the airport was a gentleman, opened the door we went to the movies, very sweet not aggressive... you would never suspect anything,” Oudinot said. 

She said she only stayed one day, but then, a few days later, she realized her bank account had been compromised.

"Fast forward 48 hours there was another four grand missing out of my account because he had taken checks from the center of my checkbook,” Oudinot said. 

Jackson would steal women's credit card information and checks from their checkbooks while they visited his apartment in Woodland Hills, authorities confirmed. They said Jackson would then use that stolen information to buy clothes for himself, pay personal bills, and make travel plans.

Jackson was arrested in Van Nuys on Thursday and faces multiple felony charges.

Investigators believe there may be more victims.

“He is very persuasive and although it is unfortunate we are asking potential victims to come forward because again it is not in any way difficult to see how someone could fall for a scheme like this one,” Lt. Hollis said. 

Anyone who thinks they may have been victimized by Jackson or anyone with information on this case is asked to call Detective Stephanie Krajchir at 818-374-9420. Anyone wishing to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.