Craig’s List scammer arrested by DPS Detectives following an investigation

Following a two month investigation Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS) Detectives assigned to financial crimes arrested a Phoenix area man for selling fraudulent passes to unsuspecting buyers. The suspect advertised the tickets and passes on Craig’s List and would then meet the victims in person to sell groups of un-validated passes stolen from area retailers for hundreds of dollars. Many of the victims and their families made the trip to southern California only to find out that the passes were of no value. Angered and frustrated, victims contacted DPS detectives who began a thorough investigation which led to today’s arrest. The suspect will be booked into the Maricopa County 4^th Avenue Jail on charges of Fraudulent Schemes, a class two felony. (A.R.S. 13-2310)

We are withholding the suspect’s photo so that other potential victims can have the opportunity to identify him through a photo line up. Additionally, the suspect was not working alone. Victims were also sold passes from a female and others may be involved as well. We believe the suspect and his counterparts have been selling fraudulent passes for at least three months.

Potential victims with any information are encouraged to call the DPS Duty Office at (602) 223-2212, and ask to be forwarded to the Financial Crimes Unit. DPS would also like to alert citizens of frauds such as these and to check with a trusted retailer before purchasing items from an individual, or in other words “Buyer Beware”. If a deal appears too good to be true, then it probably is.

- End -

*photos of seized passes available at the photo link below*