PRESS RELEASE: Avoiding & Reporting Scams

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PRESS RELEASE: Avoiding & Reporting Scams

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Recently, the Investigations Bureau has seen an increase in reports of fraud to rather unprecedented levels, in addition to 911 calls about frauds that have taken place. Our detectives have been working hard to open cases and return defrauded money, but it can be a time-consuming process to prove fraud and even more so to extract the money from the perpetrators, who have tactics to conceal laundered money from authorities. The best way to keep your money safe is to avoid these situations altogether. Here’s how to prevent scams from happening to you.

Spotting Scammers
There are certain warning signs you can look out for before entering a deal with someone.
  • The scammer insists on you taking the first step in the deal: 100% of scams see the victim blindly trusting the scammer with the first move.
  • Too good to be true prices: Since the scammer doesn't plan on actually giving you anything, they can afford to draw you in with unusually low prices and stories about needing the money now.
  • False security: The scammer tricks you into trusting them by bringing you to a public place with cameras, and even making a contract with you. Cameras do little to nothing to protect you against scams, and a contract is of no use when the scammer holds onto it.
The LSPD advises that you avoid entering private deals wherever possible.

Avoiding Scams
It is always highly recommended to sell through the guaranteed services offered in the city, such as both used car dealers and realtor services for property sales. The amount of money you are risking is often not worth the savings of tax evasion. However, in situations where this is not possible, such as in trades and rent-to-own schemes, there are steps you can take to secure yourself.

Simply trusting your intuition and not entering a deal you feel uncomfortable with is the easiest thing to do. If you trust the person and have decided to make a deal with them, be sure to draft a contract specifying the exact details of the transaction (see the section below about reporting scams to the LSPD), and to gather both signatures. Finally, when exchanging documents, make sure that you see the title of their property or the cash they are about to pay you, and exchange them simultaneously, ideally in a place where they cannot conveniently escape.

Here are three common schemes to be aware of, and how you can avoid them:
  • Camera scam: the scammer demands you hand your money/vehicle over first, placing you in the false security of a CCTV area. Sometimes they even do a contract with you, but hold onto it. Once they have the money/title, they take off in their vehicle. This can happen with trades too; once the scammer holds the title and key, they can leave behind your vehicle and get it later.
    • Insist on selling through a dealer lot. You never know who you can trust, and cameras alone do nothing to help you. A contract is worthless if it is in the hands of the scammer, so make sure always to hold onto it.
  • Meeting half way: the scammer suggests you pay half the amount, they transfer the item, and you pay the rest, or vice versa. Once the scammer is in possession of the money, they fail to hand over the vehicle, or when they are in possession of the vehicle, they do not pay the rest.
    • Once again, insist on selling through a dealer lot. Do not be tricked by the false sense of security of only giving them half their money. Once they have that money, they can easily take off.
  • Payment plan: You pay an amount up front with promise of paying the rest later. The scammer hands you a key without handing over the title. They later change the locks.
    • Always have a clear contract with the terms of payment, signed by both parties, and insist on holding onto the original copy. You can make a copy for the seller, but it is important to hold onto the original. Unless otherwise specified, missing a payment does not entitle the seller to void the contract without returning your money.
Reporting Scams to the LSPD
The Investigations Bureau requires certain terms to be met when accepting a crime report about fraud. In your crime report, you must include:
  • Proof of the scammer's identity; a video recording of the entire scam in which the suspect shows their ID card
  • A scan of the original contract, with the possibility of turning in the original paper copy. The contract must include the following:
    • The terms of the sale and payment
    • Details about the item being sold (e.g. license plate, house address)
    • Details about the form and amount of payment
    • Signatures of all parties partaking in the sale
  • A crime report submitted with the correct format
The investigators must also find no wrongdoing or negligence on your part. This includes, but is not limited to:
  • Providing false information in the crime report (Misdemeanor, GM13)
  • Providing falsified evidence with the crime report (Felony, GF12 & GF16)
  • Attempting to avoid sales tax (Misdemeanor, GM21)
  • Making no attempt to avoid a scam
If your crime report meets all these terms, report the scam to the LSPD.
If your crime report does not meet any one of these terms, it can be impossible to solve. If you act carelessly with your money, there is nothing the LSPD can do to help you.
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Written by Police Detective II Belle Cavallera, Assistant Commanding Officer
Los Santos Police Department's Public Relations


Los Santos Police Department Media Relations
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