Edmonson County Sheriff's Office Searching For Gas Station Scammer

Video surveillance of scammer suspect.

Darren Doyle, story:
The Edmonson County Sheriff's Office is investigating and searching for a scammer that is making his way through the area selling potentially bogus products at convenience stores.

Sheriff Shane Doyle said he was contacted Tuesday night by Chalybeate Food Mart Owner Manish Patel, who said a man that had previously called and visited his store attempting to sell a radiator leak repair product returned and scammed a store employee out of cash.

"Mr. Patel said that the man had tried to sell him some sort of product called SSS Graphite that was supposed to stop radiator leaks but Patel didn't feel like the product was legit and he had a policy where he  did not purchase products from door-to-door salespersons," Sheriff Doyle said. "Mr. Patel told him that he wasn't interested, but this person called the store later and spoke to a store employee, asking for Patel."

Product that was sold by the scammer.

Light green Ford Flex driven by the suspect.

Some time later, the man came to the store and told an employee that he had already made a deal with Patel for the sale of the product and asked for cash payment, the Sheriff said.

"This man told the store employee that he'd already set everything up with the owner and that he needed a cash payment from the drawer," Doyle said. "The employee just took him at his word and paid him cash, but it was all made up."

A quick Google search of SSS Graphite resulted in similar stories from the same description of the suspect in Georgia, Arkansas, Alabama, and Tennessee.

The suspect is described as being in his 50s and driving a light green Ford Flex. Anyone with any information is asked to contact the Edmonson County Sheriff's Office at 270-597-2157.