Man Accused of Using Bogus Ads to Rob Newspapers and Readers

By: A California man is accused of using bogus newspaper ads to steal $560,000 from more than 100 newspapers and their readers.

Mark Allen Davis faces 30 years in prison and a one million dollar fine if convicted of mail fraud, wire fraud and identity theft.

Davis is charged with using bogus newspaper ads to raid the bank accounts of 998 people across the country. He placed eight in The Des Moines Register between September 2004 and January 2007.

Federal prosecutors say Davis used his Tiburon, California, home to run a scheme focused on the resale of foreclosed properties. Documents say people who called a toll-free telephone number in newspaper ads would be promised a list of government-foreclosed properties. Instead Davis allegedly used bank information provided by the callers to raid their accounts for between $126 to $189 per person.

A Davenport man is the only Iowa victim listed in court records.