Police arrested two men in Corona in February who reportedly used fraudulent documents to sell a rental car through Craigslist and scammed a victim out of $23,000.
The victim told police they found a vehicle listing on Craigslist, messaged the seller and reviewed what they believed was legitimate DMV paperwork at a bank. They paid $23,000 for the vehicle before learning the registration documents were fake, police said.
Investigators learned that the seller reportedly rented the vehicle through the Turo app and forged the title he presented to the victim.
The victim also showed investigators a similar advertisement they found online, which police determined was likely created by the same suspects, and they arranged to meet with the seller.
Police detained Sebastian Flores, who was drove to the sale in another vehicle that he reportedly was trying to fraudulently sell. Through a records check, police found there was an active felony warrant for Flores’ arrest for reported conspiracy and auto theft, police said. Evidence police gathered confirmed that the paperwork for Flores’ vehicle was fraudulent, police said.
Investigators and detectives stopped another vehicle that they believed had arrived with Flores and learned the driver, Lasso Floris, had a felony warrant for reported trafficking of stolen vehicles. He was also detained and both Flores and Floris were taken to the Police Department, where they were booked on suspicion of felony counts including conspiracy, auto theft and fraud.
Flores and Floris live in Phoenix, Arizona but have ties to Southern California, police said.
Police said the men have a history of similar crimes and believe there are more victims who haven’t come forward. They ask anyone who believes they were victimized by either suspect to contact their local law enforcement agency.
Anyone buying a pre-owned vehicle should verify documentation with the DMV before completing their transaction, police said.
