50+ car thefts believed to be part of scam targeting Southern California Latinos

A scam in which residents who were promised exorbitant sums of money in ads on Facebook Marketplace and other social media platforms were left stranded as thieves drive off with their cars has resulted in dozens of recent auto thefts, Orange County local law enforcement officials warned on Thursday.

A countywide auto theft task force is investigating more than 50 reports of an “elaborate scheme” that appears to be targeting members of Orange County’s Latino community, according to an Orange County District Attorney’s Office statement.

The victims responded to ads claiming to offer them the opportunity to transport money in their own vehicles, authorities said.

After meeting up in a public place, the thieves told the victims that they needed to take the victims’ vehicles to another location in order to load the money, but that the victims needed to wait behind. The victims were reportedly then left waiting on the street until they realized the thieves were not coming back with the vehicles.

“These criminals are preying on those who may be struggling financially through advertising get-rich-quick schemes,” Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes said. “The Sheriff’s Department and our regional law enforcement partners are working to educate our communities about these criminal enterprises and how to protect themselves. Do not fall prey to these scams.”

According to law enforcement, the communications leading up to the car thefts were mainly conducted in Spanish.

“Members of the Latino community are being specifically targeted by these thieves in the hopes that they are too afraid to come forward out of fear that they too may be implicated in a criminal enterprise or have deportation issues,” Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer said. “Many people have to rely on a single vehicle for transportation for their entire family to go to work and school and having that vehicle stolen is devastating. We will not allow these predators to continue to target vulnerable victims just to make a quick buck.”

Law enforcement officials urged victims to reach out to police.

“Through collaboration with our partnering Orange County law enforcement agencies, the Tustin Police Department has continuously worked to limit the impact of these crimes on our Latino community,” Tustin Police Chief Stu Greenberg said.

Authorities are asking any victims, or people who believe they were solicited regarding the scheme, to contact their local police agency, or submit anonymous tips to Orange County Crime Stoppers at 855-TIP-OCCS (855-847-6227) or occrimestoppers.org.