2 Suspects Sought In Santa Monica Counterfeit Check Scheme
SANTA MONICA (CBSLA.com) — Police are asking for the public's help in identifying two suspects who have used a counterfeit check scheme to con several victims out of thousands of dollars.
Santa Monica police have been investigating four separate cases stemming from a Bank of America branch, located at 1301 4th Street, since September, officials said.
The suspects would contact victims as they exited the bank and convince them to deposit a counterfeit check into their own account.
"The victim then withdrawals cash, equal to the deposit and gives it to the suspects, who in turn give the victims a small sum of money for helping," Sgt. Richard Lewis said.
Within days, the checks would bounce and the victims would be out of the money given to the suspects, Lewis added.
In each case, the victims lost between $4,000 and $5,000.
One suspect was captured on bank surveillance video and was described as a black woman, between the ages of 25 and 30, with a medium, muscular build, officials said.
She has long dark hair with blond highlights, dark eyes and a tattoo of a "cherry or heart" on her right shoulder.
The second suspect was only described as a black female, police said.
Anyone with information about the suspects should call the Santa Monica Police Department at (310)458-8495.
