EPD cautions public to avoid
convicted check scammer
Allen Reed pleaded guilty
to theft after he conned
two students into cashing
fraudulent checks for him
By Lisa Catto
News Reporter
i
The Eugene Police Department is
concerned that a convicted check
scammer who targets University stu
dents will continue to prey on the
campus community even though he
has been banned from campus
property.
Allen Tyrone
Reed, 32, a 6
foot-tall, 240
pound black
male, pleaded
guilty Feb. 26 to
theft in the sec
ond degree in
Eugene Munici
pal Court for
victimizing stu
dents, accord
ing to EPD.
EPD officer
Randy Ellis said
Reed uses a
scam to trick
students into
giving him money. Reed convinces
students to deposit a false check into
their accounts and has the students
immediately withdraw the majority
of the amount from their accounts to
give back to him. The student and the
bank do not realize the check is a fake
until later.
Allen
Tyrone Reed
Banned
from campus
"He could be victimizing more stu
dents in the future, that's the main
thing we want to avoid," Ellis said.
"Also what we want to avoid is some
one else being able to come on to the
campus and victimize students with
this same type of scam."
Ellis said the first incident on cam
pus occurred Jan. 30.
According to the incident report,
Reed, who claimed to be a student,
befriended sophomore David Seltzer
while playing video games in the
EMU and told Seltzer he could help
him get a job.
Reed went to get a job application
for a restaurant in the food court and
gave it to Seltzer, falsely claiming he
worked there and could put in a good
word with the boss, Ellis said.
I
Reed gave the application to Seltzer
and said he needed help depositing
his paycheck. Reed claimed he didn't
have identification with him, so he
couldn't deposit the check, Ellis said.
The incident report stated that Reed
asked Seltzer to deposit the $400
check, which was already sealed into
a deposit envelope, into his account.
He then told Seltzer to only withdraw
$350 and to keep the remaining $50
for his trouble.
"He could be
victimizing more
students in the
future, that's the
main thing we
want to avoid."
Randy Ellis
EPD Officer
Ellis said the incident occurred at
the U S. Bank at 810 E. 13th Ave.,
which is right across the street from
the West University police station.
Reed said he would meet Seltzer
later in the day at the Lillis Business
Complex to help him with the job ap
plication, Ellis said.
After depositing Reed's check,
Seltzer felt Reed's request was strange,
so he reported it to the bank, Ellis
said. The bank pulled out the deposit
ed envelope and found it contained
an old bus ticket in place of a check.
Ellis said Seltzer immediately went
to the police station to report what
had happened and to inform the offi
cers that he was planning to meet
Reed later in the day.
A couple of officers escorted Seltzer
to Lillis, Ellis said, and Reed eventual
ly showed up. He was arrested for
theft and later pleaded guilty to theft
in the second degree in Eugene Mu
nicipal Court on Feb. 26.
"We have had similar scams be
fore," Ellis said. "But they weren't
where somebody was trying to pass
themselves off as a student."
Reed also allegedly stole many
items from University football play
ers in the locker room at Autzen Sta
dium, including a player's credit
card, Ellis said.
On Feb. 23, Reed used the credit
card at the University Bookstore to
buy $285 worth of clothing, Ellis said.
The police tracked down Reed to
his hotel room and found several
items that football players reported
stolen, including clothing, textbooks,
a cell phone and a backpack, Ellis
said.
Reed was arrested but released one
day later due to jail overcrowding, El
lis said.
"Even though he (is not supposed
to come back on) University proper
ty, " Ellis said, "... I think he will con
tinue to do this."
He added that Reed's police
record shows he allegedly victimized
students at Portland State Universi
ty as well.
Ellis emphasized many people prey
on students in a similar manner,
adding that he hopes students will be
more careful about their belongings
and who they try to help.
So far, EPD believes Reed has com
mitted two check scams, stolen from
three football players and possibly
stolen a University identification card.
He added that Reed has also been
spotted several times in the residence
halls.
Director of Residence Life Sandy
Schoonover said a couple of thefts in
the H.P. Barnhart dining center have
been "potentially attributed to him."
She added that if staff members see
someone who looks suspicious in the
residence halls, the staff member
should immediately notify the De
partment of Public Safety.
"Don't let people you don't know
in the residence halls," Schoonover
said. "You don't know their back
grounds."
She said every student must be ac
tive about their own safety and the
safety of those around them.
Ellis echoed that concern, adding
that students shouldn't leave their
doors unlocked when going to the
bathroom or to eat.
"We're trying to alert you to the
problem with Mr. Reed," Ellis said.
"Also just in the way students can be
victimized in general without realiz
ing they even are (victimized)."
Contact the crime/health/
safety reporter
at lisacatto@dailyemerald.com.
1
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