Local couple arrested for allegedly defrauding two residents out of thousands of dollars

Jonathen Faircloth, 23, and his fiancé are in custody after allegedly defrauding two Whatcom County residents out of nearly $14,000. Faircloth impersonated a fraud department representative from a local credit union, convincing victims to share their login information. He successfully transferred $3,700 from one victim's account and nearly $10,000 into his fiancé's account. Bellingham Police arrested Faircloth on June 2 and charged him with fraud and separate theft charges. His fiancé was arrested after visiting him in jail on a subsequent Sunday.

The credit union has reimbursed both victims, underscoring the importance of consumer protection measures. This incident reflects a broader trend of financial scams that exploit vulnerable individuals. Authorities continue to warn residents about the risks of sharing personal information over text or phone.