Interesting Dealership artical

[Newbiewar]

CBS link

Anaheim Car Dealers Accused Of Credit Fraud

(CBS) ANAHEIM, Calif. Seven North County Toyota employees were arrested on suspicion of knowingly allowing buyers to use fraudulent Social Security numbers on credit applications.

Those arrested were: Reza Aklhaghi, 49, of Aliso Viejo; Apolinar Contreras, 43, of North Hollywood; Pablo Gabriel Garro, 26, of Hacienda Heights; Oscar Molina, 42, of Covina and Roberto Alvarez, 44, Adrianna Barros, 19, and Jose R. Medina, 42, all of Anaheim.

Anaheim police have been investigating the dealership, located at 1331 N. Euclid St. in Anaheim, since November. Police were told that dealers might be selling cars to customers who admitted the Social Security numbers they submitted on credit applications were fraudulent.

They were also told the same customers admitted they did not have driver’s licenses but were allowed to take test drives and drove the cars off the lot, Anaheim police Sgt. Rick Martinez said.

The investigation confirmed that there were three instances of such sales, Martinez said. Undercover officers were then sent in to pose as potential customers, whose only form of identification were check-cashing cards, Martinez said.

Each undercover officer used fake Social Security numbers and made it clear the number did not belong to them, Martinez said. In all the cases, the officers completed the transactions, buying a 2006 Toyota Scion, 2006 Toyota Corolla and a 2006 Toyota Tundra.

All seven have posted bail and were released from jail. An arrest warrant has been issued for an eighth suspect, the sergeant said.

Some of the employees had worked for the dealership for years, and one worked there only four weeks, according to news reports.

Martinez said the three private customers who bought the cars were illegal immigrants. They lost their down payments and any monthly payments that were made once the fraudulent use of the Social Security cards was discovered.

The three customers were reportedly reassured that their purchase would not get them in trouble, Capt. Carlie Chavez said.

"It seemed really easy the way the whole thing went down," Chavez said of the undercover purchases. "It seemed they got the system figured out."

Asked how far up the ladder police suspect the alleged conspiracy went, Chavez said, "We suspect it goes as far as maybe the sales manager."

Tim Robinett, an attorney for the dealership, said the company stands by its reputation.

"North County Toyota has provided years of high quality and ethical service to its customers and will continue to do so for years," Robinett said.

Here is what LA Times has to say

LA Times story

Auto Dealer Employees Held in Alleged Fraud

Seven employees of a car dealership have been arrested for fraud after allegedly preparing credit applications for three customers using false Social Security numbers, authorities said Friday.

The seven, who worked at North County Toyota in the 1300 block of North Euclid Street, were booked and released on $50,000 bail each. They are: Reza Akhlaghi, 49, of Aliso Viejo; Apolinar Contreras, 43, of North Hollywood; Pablo Gabriel Garro, 26, of Hacienda Heights; Oscar Molina, 42, of Covina; and Roberto Alvarez, 44, Adrianna Barros, 19, and Jose R. Medina, 42, all of Anaheim.

haha i just find this interesting...

[CARBIZ]

Yeah, something immediately jumps out when reading the names of the accused. In Ontario, our local watchdog, OMVIC, releases newsletters thoughout the year about the fraud charges they have laid and convictions they have gotten, and reading through the lists of names is quite an eye opener, too. As delicately as I can put, none of the names are Scottish.

[Nick]

And I'd venture to say those guys aren't Italian either

[GM Freak]

  As delicately as I can put, none of the names are Scottish.

News Flash!!

There is no delicate way to be a racist you bone head...

Here's thought ...get a clue! and stop posting intellectually limited crap!

[Newbiewar]

I could see no licence, but no social security number? How on earth did those loans ever get processed?

its called identity theft... it happens all the time... a good dealership like mine wont help you... i mean we've had people give us dead peoples socials... stollen socials... it all comes up on the beuro tho....