Las Vegas (KLAS) — Authorities have arrested two individuals in Chicago related to an online job scam that defrauded Las Vegas residents out of hundreds of dollars. The arrests came after a large number of victims fell for a fraudulent Amazon delivery driver ad that promised job opportunities but resulted in financial loss.
On January 30, at around 7:30 a.m., Las Vegas Metropolitan Police officers responded to a disturbance on the 3100 block of East Sunset Road. The situation was sparked by individuals upset over the scam, which had already left many victims out of pocket.
The scam began on January 21, when an ad appeared online seeking third-party delivery drivers for Amazon. The ad led several Las Vegas residents to a business location on East Sunset Road, where they were asked to complete applications and pay a $200 application fee. Payments were made in various forms, including cash, credit card, and checks.
Lieutenant Erik Perkett of the LVMPD explained that victims were told to return for a follow-up interview at a later date. When they showed up on January 30, the business was found to be vacant, revealing the scam.
Detectives later identified Juan Vera, 41, and Fabiola Llanes, 39, as suspects in the case. On March 27, they were arrested by Chicago Police officers and are awaiting extradition to Las Vegas.
Court documents indicate the pair face serious charges, including setting up a financial forgery operation with intent to commit unlawful acts and theft involving sums between $5,000 and $25,000.
