Two men have been nabbed for trying to cross into Mexico with a stolen car, part of a social media scam that's been duping hopeful gig workers across Southern California. These suspects, hailing from Tijuana, got bust while approaching the San Ysidro entry point, authorities from Irvine, California report.
The Irvine Police Department swung into action on March 20 after a victim, who took the bait on a Facebook Marketplace ad promising easy money for a simple delivery task, found themselves carless. The unsuspecting victim drove from Oxnard, only to see their vehicle vanish in Irvine. "When the suspect arrived, he told the victim he needed to borrow their car to pick up the cash," according to the statement from the city's press release. The supposed borrower was a no-show, prompting the victim to alert the cops.
Detectives, spotting a pattern, tipped off the California Highway Patrol (CHP) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), gambling that the carjackers might try to make a dash for the border with the pilfered ride. Their bet paid off as border agents interdicted the vehicle before the thieves could skedaddle over the line. Irvine's finest then swooped down to take Abel Cortes, 21, and Christopher Hernandez, 20 , into custody, booking them on possession of stolen property.
This racket isn't a one-off. Irvine's been the honey trap in a string of similar heists, with most marks being out-of-towners hooked by bogus job offers. Strikingly, the Spanish-speaking community appears to be the prime target. The cops have issued tips for gig seekers: do the legwork on those offering work, and if swindled, time is of the essence when it comes to getting police on the trail. "Provide the police with accurate information so they can help you," the Irvine announcement emphasizes, "These cases can be delayed, when false information is provided to the police."
Irvine may be noted for its safe streets and verdant swathes of parks, but it's clear that even here, in this slice of suburban sprawl where families flourish and businesses boom, the specter of the scammer lurks, preying on the trust of the unwary.
