2 suspects charged with stealing thousands in payment app scams in Nashville

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Metro police arrested two men accused of stealing thousands of dollars from victims in scams involving payment apps in Nashville.

Experts recently told a News 2 reporter these scams occur when someone approaches you in public, claiming to need your cell phone for various reasons. Once you hand over the phone, scammers quickly open payment apps like Venmo or Zelle to send themselves money.

According to the Metro Nashville Police Department, on Saturday, May 16, Dewaine Gordon, 19, and two juvenile teens approached a woman at the intersection of 12th Avenue South and Beechwood Avenue claiming they were seeking candy donations. Instead of accepting cash, Gordon allegedly asked for the woman’s cell phone, and sent himself $840 from her bank account.

MNPD said Gordon was involved in a similar incident that occurred early Wednesday, May 13, on lower Broadway, where he and two young men approached a tourist from Mississippi claiming to be local artists. Gordon allegedly asked the man for his cell phone, claiming he wanted to add him to their social media followers, and the man handed him the device. After they went their separate ways, the victim found that two separate transactions of $421 and $453 were made from his Apple Pay account. The victim was shown a photo lineup and positively identified Gordon.

Gordan was booked into Metro Jail on Saturday on five charges: felony robbery, two counts of misdemeanor credit card fraud, and two counts of misdemeanor contributing to the delinquency of a minor. His bond is set at $85,000.

At the time of his arrest, Gordon was reportedly free on a $10,000 bond after an incident in January where he was charged with credit card fraud, theft and identity theft.

Lakeel Horton, 19, was also arrested by Entertainment District officers early Saturday morning on misdemeanor fraud charges for joining Gordon in scamming the Mississippi tourist, MNPD said. At the time of his arrest, Horton was free on a $1,000 bond for charges stemming from a similar payment app scam that occurred outside a Hermitage grocery store in March. Horton allegedly asked for the victim’s phone to make a $5 candy donation, but instead stole $1,000 from him.

MNPD advised residents and tourists to hold onto their cell phones at all times, and not to let strangers handle them. Experts previously told News 2 if you become a victim of a payment app scam, lock your phone, contact your bank, and call police immediately