Don't Get Scammed: Read This Before You Buy or Sell (NA003-23bc)

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Don't Get Scammed: Read This Before You Buy or Sell (NA003-23bc)

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mrdstamp
Los Santos Police Department
Los Santos, San Andreas

News Release

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NA003-23bc
May 5, 2023
Don't Get Scammed: Read This Before You Buy or Sell

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Los Santos: Selling your vehicle or other property privately comes with a great risk of theft through deception, otherwise known as fraud. Unfortunately, there is often little the police can do to get your property back if you fall victim to a scam, due to the fact that much of the evidence needed to prove that the crime has occurred requires taking precautions that would have prevented the crime from occurring in the first place. The LSPD will not investigate fraud reports in the following cases:
  • There is no contract, or it is not approved through the SAJB Contract Authenticity program
  • There is no way to prove the identity of the criminal
  • The victim has shown reckless disregard in failing to take common sense precautions
Due to volume we may deny cases where the value lost is below a certain threshold as well. Therefore, as crime reports and 911 calls reporting fraud during private sales of property continue to come in, we would like to remind you of what you can do to avoid becoming a victim of fraud.
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1. Sell Through Government Sanctioned Markets
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If you are buying or selling a car, do it through the government run High End and Low End car markets, and if you are buying or selling a house, do it through realtors at your door. If you follow this step and let the professionals handle it, you don't have to read the rest of this article.

Should you still choose to deal privately, be advised that the seller is required by law to pay the same 5% sales tax that is applied through official markets. Someone offering to pay a better price if the deal is done in private is an indication that they intend to avoid paying sales tax, which is a criminal act and a clear sign that you should not trust them with your money.
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2. Use a Contract Approved Through the SAJB Contract Authenticity program and Keep a Copy
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The San Andreas Justice Bureau oversees a program that authenticates contracts made within the state. If a contract is not validated by the Justice Bureau through this program, then we do not recognize it as legally binding, and if no such contract was written for the deal, we will not guarantee investigating the fraud.

A contract stating the terms and conditions of the deal is vital evidence. Always make sure that you have a validated contract signed by both you and the other party. Do not proceed with the sale before you have a signed contract, and make sure you have taken yours back from them after they sign it, before proceeding with the sale.
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3. Get Proof of Identification
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In your video, get a view of the other party's official ID card or drivers license, or at the very least take a picture of it. It should go without saying that proof of the other party's identification is vital to positively identifying a suspect in an investigation.
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4. Film the Entire Interaction
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Filming the interaction provides great proof in an investigation, but only if it shows the sale itself, and ideally the other party's face and clothing. CCTV cameras are not good enough, and will not save you! You can film easily and inconspicuously with a body camera, which can be purchased rather inexpensively from various stores.
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5. Be Suspicious
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If the other party won't deal on your terms, walk away. If someone won't identify themselves, remove their mask and gloves, or consent to being filmed, don't risk your money, even if you are getting a great deal. In situations like this, there's a good chance that the deal is only good because the other party has no intention of following through with it. Trust your gut; in many fraud cases reported to the LSPD, the suspect was acting in clearly suspicious ways.
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6. Take Precautions
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You likely rarely make deals with amounts of money this large, so when you do, take a few minutes to protect yourself as much as possible. Failing to take these precautions creates a huge risk of losing everything, while simultaneously making it very difficult for the Police to help you.
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69 Sinner Street • Los Santos • San Andreas • 90013
Emergency Hotline: 911 • Public Inquiries • Email: [email protected]
"to protect and to serve"

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mrdstamp
MEDIA RELATIONS DIVISION
Administrative Services Bureau
Los Santos Police Department — "To Protect and to Serve"

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