Grand Theft Scam
updated: Sep 20, 2012, 9:21 AM

Source: Ventura Police Department

Incident: Grand Theft (Scam)

Location: 300 Block of W. Ramona St.

Date/Time Occurred: 09/19/12 @ 1400 hours

Officer(s) Involved: VPD Patrol

Victim(s): Withheld, 30 yrs, Ventura Resident

Suspect(s): BM, 20-30 yrs

Report #: 12-11166

Narrative:

The victim works as a boot vendor at the Ventura College swap meet. During the swap meet on Sunday, 09/16/12, the victim was approached by the suspect who was posing as a potential customer. The suspect told the victim he wanted to purchase approximately 100 pairs of boots, so he could in turn sell them to people in Africa. The suspect claimed to not have the money to purchase all of the boots, so he made arrangements with the victim to meet him later in the week to make the purchase and exchange the money for the boots.

Today, 09/19/12, the suspect agreed to meet at the victim's residence in Ventura to complete the purchase of the boots. Once at the residence, the suspect said he still did not have all of the money, but if the victim gave him $10,000, he would be able to double the amount by placing the money between two pieces of paper and spraying it with a special "chemical." The suspect demonstrated how this worked to the victim, so believing the suspect could double the money, he gave the suspect the full amount. Thinking he could produce money with the special "chemical", a relative of the victim's gave the suspect an additional $4000 in hopes of doubling his money as well. Taking the $14,000, the suspect gave the illusion that he wrapped the money in the pieces of paper. The suspect told the victim it would take some time for the "chemical" to dry and not to touch the papers for several hours. Two hours after the suspect left his residence, the victim realized there was no money inside of the wrapped pieces of paper. The victim attempted to call the suspect, but did not receive an answer

You can report scams online to the National Consumers League's Fraud Center at www.fraud.org. They maintain a national repository of information and will insure your information gets to the proper investigating authority. If you are the victim of a crime please report it immediately to the Ventura Police Department at 1425 Dowell Dr., Ventura, CA, or call 805-339-4400.

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