Home Depot Targeted In Fake Cash Scam

Home Depot and Lowe’s were scammed out of thousands of dollars with bogus cash.

Woodstock police said at least 10 police agencies could build cases against a pair of suspects.

Police arrested Joseph Clavizzao and Javier Suarez.

Officials said their favorite victims were big home improvement stores, including the Home Depot.

Home Depot wasn’t the only store that was a victim of the counterfeit cash but it was the only ones who caught on and brought in police. Over time, Home Depot was probably tricked into trading thousands of real dollars for fakes.

Officials say at first, the suspects came into the Home Depot stores separately. One suspect would buy landscaping supplies and used tens and twenties to pay in cash. The second suspect would then come in and do the same. It was all caught on multiple security cameras.

"The two men then take the products and return to other Home Depot locations and return the items,” said Sgt. Paul Brown of the Woodstock Police Department.

It was only when a loss prevention specialist noticed the influx of counterfeit bills that Home Depot caught on to the scam.

Woodstock police, Sandy Springs police and the Treasury Department joined forces and arrested Suarez and Clavizzao when they picked up a 2001 Mercedes in Sandy Springs. Police said the car was purchased with laundered cash.