Woman Turns Table On Alleged Disneyland Ticket Scam Artist
COSTA MESA (CBSLA.com) — Police in Costa Mesa say a quick-thinking woman helped nab a man she suspected was scamming her on discounted tickets for Disneyland.
The victim said she met the suspect via Craigslist.
After she made an in-person transaction with the suspect, she snapped a picture of his license plate.
The tickets sold to the victim were fake, police said.
Authorities have identified the suspect as Jonathan E. Olsen, 26.
Olsen, a parolee, was arrested at his home, according to Costa Mesa Police Lt. Greg Scott.
Officials said they found additional fake Disneyland tickets and drug paraphernalia in Olsen's home.
Olsen had reportedly placed an ad for the tickets at a price of $160 -- what would have been a savings of about $40.
The victim said she dealt with Olsen via text message. They eventually agreed to meet at a restaurant near Fairview Boulevard and Baker Street on December 6, police said.
Two days later, at Disneyland, the tickets were confirmed to be bogus, police said.
"Olsen reported he had originally stolen the inactivated tickets from a store prior to selling them on Craigslist," Scott said.
He was to be booked for suspicion of petty theft and suspicion of possession of drug paraphernalia. He was also held on a probation violation at the Costa Mesa Police Department Jail prior to transfer to the Orange County Jail, the police sergeant said.
Costa Mesa police detectives are asking anyone who might have also been victimized by the ticket scam to call them at (714) 754-5637.
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