Statewide News

Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine is warning consumers about a scam that exploits his office's work as a collection agency for state departments.

DeWine says the scam is not new but his office has noticed an increase in such reports over the past few months.

DeWine says scammers posing as Attorney General's employees or state Bureau of Criminal Investigation agents try to trick consumers over the phone into providing personal information or payments for bogus debts. Scammers often demand that people pay the debt immediately using prepaid money cards or face arrest.

Gas prices are up slightly in Ohio as the new work week begins.

The average price for a gallon of regular gas in Ohio was about $3.73 in Monday's survey from auto club AAA, the Oil Price Information Service and Wright Express. That's about 3 cents higher than a week ago.

The lowest price in the state is about $3.66 in the Dayton-Springfield area.

The national average is $3.75, which is a few cents lower than a week ago. But the national average is 25 cents more than at the same time last month.

Authorities say a former Ohioan has pleaded guilty in a telemarketing fraud ring operated from Ohio and Florida that stole $2.8 million from people in 41 states.

Ohio's attorney general and Miami County's prosecutor in Troy say Theadore Thomas pleaded guilty Friday to a charge of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activities.  They say the alleged ringleader, formerly of Huber Heights, was one of 18 people indicted on charges stemming from United Property Sales, World Wide Land Marketing, and Nationwide Advertising and Marketing.