Raleigh Police Say Suspected Scam Artist Uses Many Names

suspected scam artist

who is believed to be making his way across the country.

Police said that the man they are looking for uses several aliases, including Michael Banks, Robert Schorn, Edward Goldstein and Gregory Haddock.

The man is accused of defrauding his victims by using fake businesses, bogus bank accounts and through counterfeiting.

He is accused of taking a large sum of money from a local woman. Police believe there are more victims.

"He's very friendly. He's very charming. He's very intelligent," one of his victims said.

Michael Banks claimed to be a wealthy computer consultant, with a string of bad luck, and asked to borrow some money from the woman.

"His van was stolen, allegedly with most of his belongings, and so we were friends and he came to me and asked for help," the woman said.

After loaning Banks quite a bit of money, she became suspicious.

"I put a stop to it and said that was it, I couldn't do anything any longer and that's when he began stealing from me," she said.

The woman said that the man calling himself Banks took savings bonds, PIN numbers and blank checks. She said that he set up a bank account in her name.

When she finally noticed money leaving her account, he said an employee was stealing from him.

It turns out Michael Banks is the stolen identity of a 7-year-old Kentucky boy. Under thatname, police have charged the man with six felony counts ofobtaining property under false pretenses.

The scam artist was last seen working with a female accomplice and was growing a beard.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Raleigh Police Department at

(919) 890-3555

.