Fraud suspect on the run

SAN JOSE, CA – A man described by Santa Clara County officials as a fraudulent tech inventor is currently evading authorities. The District Attorney’s Office has identified 67-year-old Dennis Fountaine, formerly associated with the Los Gatos area, as having swindled over $350,000 from investors.

Fountaine claimed to have developed a robot named HOMER H.A.M.M.E.R., which he advertised as a device designed to dispense medication to the elderly and disabled. Despite these claims, Fountaine was convicted in May on three felony counts of grand theft by fraud. His sentencing was scheduled for August 5, but he failed to appear in court.

Among the four victims defrauded by Fountaine is a disabled individual. Rather than targeting venture capitalists or seeking millions in a single scam, Fountaine’s approach involved defrauding multiple people for tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars. His tactics included creating fake websites, such as 100Inventors.com, which falsely claimed he had been nominated for awards.

The District Attorney’s Office is urging the public to be cautious and aware that Fountaine is a wanted fugitive. They hope to prevent others from falling victim to similar scams. Fraud-related crimes often involve a process akin to grooming, where perpetrators build trust and manipulate their victims emotionally.

According to the FBI, scams have been on the rise nationwide, with Americans losing $1.6 billion from January to May of 2024—an increase of nearly $300 million compared to the same period last year. James Barnicle of the FBI recently appeared on a morning show to discuss ways to protect oneself from fraud, advising people to remain calm and skeptical when approached by potential fraudsters.

Authorities are asking anyone with information on Fountaine’s whereabouts to contact the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office.