A Draper resident lost a $400 computer to a serial scammer who paid with counterfeit currency through an online marketplace, according to an arrest statement reported by ABC4 Utah.

Eli Thomas Howarth, 41, of Provo, was arrested Monday, Aug. 17, on charges of theft by receiving, a third-degree felony, and criminal simulation defrauding $500 to $1,499, a Class A misdemeanor. He is being held without bail in the Utah County Jail.

Draper Police and Provo Police worked jointly on the investigation. Provo officers went to Howarth's residence on Aug. 17 to assist Draper Police after the department opened a fraudulent-transaction case involving counterfeit currency.

During questioning, Howarth allegedly admitted he bought the computer using fake gold and hid it under a bathroom sink, according to the arrest statement. Officers seized the device, whose serial numbers matched an entry in the stolen property database.

The Draper victim's account and Howarth's alleged admission differ on one detail: the victim reported that fake bills were used to complete the $400 sale, while Howarth claimed he paid with fake gold.

A pattern of marketplace fraud

The Draper case was not isolated. The day before, on Sunday, Aug. 16, a separate seller contacted the Orem Police Department to report that Howarth had tried to buy a drone and equipment worth $825 using fake gold ingots. When the seller broke an ingot in half and found silver-colored metal inside, he asked Howarth to pay cash instead. Howarth then allegedly produced an envelope of $100 bills that were "obvious theatrical prop money" marked "For Motion Picture Purposes," according to the arrest statement. That seller refused the sale, documented the exchange with photos and audio recordings, and called police.

"It's obvious he regularly or habitually defrauds people on online marketplaces," an arresting officer wrote in the statement.

Howarth's criminal history supports that assessment. He pleaded no contest in December 2025 to multiple charges of theft by deception after taking drones from two people under the pretense of repairing them, then shipping back boxes of junk and plastic cutlery. He also has theft convictions from 2024 and 2017, according to the arrest statement.

What Draper residents should know

The arrest statement does not name the online marketplace used in the Draper transaction. Draper Police have not released the name of the victim or additional case details.

Residents who encounter suspicious buyers can contact Draper Police at 801-840-4000.

All charges against Howarth are allegations. He is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.