Man Accused Samming Co-Worker With Autism Out of Thousands in Greensburg

WTAE ^ | Oct 22, 2025

[nickcarraway]

A man is accused of scamming his autistic coworker out of over $5,000. Scott Soles is charged with theft by deception, extortion, and unlawful taking.

“They’re just trying to get a friendship,” Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Steve Limani said. “They want to have friends. Somebody preyed upon that who worked with them.”

The victim, who remains unidentified, worked at Hillview Motors off Route 30 in Greensburg. He had worked there for years through his special needs school’s transition to work program.

“They’re doing what they can to provide and make the people feel worthy,” Limani said. “I think [Hillview Motors] should be applauded for taking on those individuals and helping them assimilate into life as best as they can.”

It was at the dealership where the autistic man met Soles. Police say in March, Soles started telling the victim that he’d introduce him to some new friends in exchange for cash.

“That’s the disgusting part of this case,” Limani said. “[Soles] was able to take advantage of somebody’s want for friendship. He was instructing the autistic gentleman to drop off the money into his vehicle so that other people wouldn’t see the hand-to-hand transaction of the money.”

Police say this went on for five months. Soles allegedly threatened the victim’s employment over text if the suspect wasn’t paid. By the time the victim’s family found out, the man had given away $5,370.

“[Soles] had him deleting text messages for months,” Limani said. “Our victim was doing it. He was doing that because he just wanted to make friends.

“They do it because they want to be accepted,” Dr. John Carosso, from the Autism Centers of Pittsburgh, said. “God bless them. This is so sad. Taking advantage of that want for social interaction is deplorable.”

Dr. Carosso has worked with people on the spectrum for three decades. He said this promise is one of the most vulnerable desires someone with autism can have.

“The vast majority, they really want to socialize,” Dr. Carosso said. “They want to have friends. They want to be engaged. They end up struggling socially, but not because they don’t want to. They oftentimes don’t pick up on social cues. They don’t pick up on nuisances.”

In July, the victim’s parents noticed texts from Soles on their son’s phone. That’s when they contacted the police, and an investigation was launched.

That led to Soles being taken into custody and charged earlier this week.

“The District Attorney’s Office is going to move forward with every possibility of getting this money back,” Limani said. “It’s a shame. It’s disgusting. I’m very disappointed that people would do something like that.”

“This [case] speaks to the importance of continuing that vigilance,” Dr. Carosso added. “You let your guard down, and these things can happen so easily.”

[Governor Dinwiddie]

There's a special circle in Hell for criminals like this.

[nickcarraway]

True. Plus, he was guaranteed to get caught. If you scam a coworker, the police know where to find you.

[airborne]

PA Ping!

[FirstFlaBn]

I bet that Sam guy in the headline is upset!

[HerrBlucher]

Most certainly, the level of premeditation involved embeds the sin deep in the persons soul. It is not like an outburst of anger or lust, It’s hate Thy Neighbor at its worst.

[Reddy]

“They oftentimes don’t pick up on social cues. They don’t pick up on nuisances.”

Nuisances?? Did they mean “nuances”??

[nickcarraway]

Ooops. Sam’s Club.

[Pollard]

make me a sammy

[Robert DeLong]

I can't verify that this is Scoot Soles, however, when you click on this picture, it does take you to the srticle that talks about this topic.

Scott Soles, a 48-year-old man from McKeesport, Pennsylvania, has been charged with multiple felony counts, including theft by unlawful taking, theft by extortion, theft by deception, and criminal use of a communication facility, following an investigation into allegations that he exploited an autistic co-worker at Hillview Motors in Hempfield Township, Pennsylvania.

A total scumbag. I hope he receives an outrageous sentence, of decades, and becomes someone's biotch while incarcerated.

[lightman]

Pennsylvania Ping!

Please ping me with articles of interest.

FReepmail me to be added to the list.

Greensburg is the County seat of Westmoreland...just east of Allegheny & Pittsburgh.

[Third Person]

Sam I Am

[Chad N. Freud]

And our first nominee for the least intelligible writing by someone who actually gets paid to be a journalist is:

“Soles allegedly threatened the victim’s employment over text if the suspect wasn’t paid.”

[cherry]

My adult dtr has aspergers..she has no friends..doesn’t social8ze but she likes to talk and wants to interact it’s just that she is awkward at it....these people need love and social contact as much as any of us.

[Coleus]

sad