Duo Arrested in Suspected Craigslist Scam

Two Sacramento area residents were arrested in a suspected Craigslist scam in which they paid with fake traveler’s checks for gift cards for sale on the website.

A Sacramento County woman placed two store gift cards up for sale on Craigslist and met with an interested buyer in Roseville, who gave her traveler’s checks in exchange for the gift cards. When the woman found out the traveler’s checks were fake, she contacted Roseville Police.

Roseville Police found that within 20 minutes of the Craigslist sale, the buyer had spent the gift cards at a store in Roseville. An officer identified and located the suspect and his suspected accomplice in Rocklin and recovered the items purchased with the woman’s gift cards.

Roseville Police also seized other items used in identity theft, including fake driver’s licenses and credit cards.

A 33-year-old man from Rocklin and a 32-year-old woman from Carmichael were arrested on suspicion of forgery, possession of stolen property, conspiracy, and other related charges.

Craigslist offers some tips for dealing with transactions:

• Never wire funds via Moneygram, Western Union or any other wire service - anyone who asks you to do so is likely a scammer.
• Fake cashiers checks and money orders are common, and banks will cash them and hold you responsible when the fake is discovered weeks later.

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