Social media scam suspect arrested in Santa Monica
Davante Bell, 25 years old, of Santa Monica (Ventura County Sheriff's Department)
THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. - A Santa Monica man that used Instagram to scam several victims for money has been arrested.
The Ventura County Sheriff's Department says 25-year-old Davante Bell used his Instagram account to befriend teenage victims with the intent to obtain access to the victims' Instagram account.
"Once Bell took control of the victim's Instagram accounts, he posed as the account holder," said a news release from the Ventura County Sheriff's Department. "Bell used the victim’s Instagram account to communicate with the victims by sending direct messages asking for assistance with cashing a check. When the victim’s agreed to cash the check, Bell would ask for and obtain the victim’s cell phone number to communicate further."
The Sheriff's Department continued, "Bell told the victims that the account holder’s brother-in-law was going to meet them at their bank, with the checks. The brother-in-law was actually Bell. Bell provided the teenage victims with fraudulently obtained checks. Bell forged the checks and gave the checks to the unsuspecting teenage victims to cash at their bank. Once the victim’s cashed the checks, they gave the funds to Bell who then drove away."
Over the following days, the victims would learn the checks were fraudulent and suffered a financial loss because of it, according to investigators.
The investigation began after several teenage victims contacted authorities in August 2019.
In all, victims ranged from ages 16 to 21.
Bell was ultimately arrested on Sept. 19 at the Los Angeles County Probation Office in Santa Monica. Bell was booked in the East County Jail on several counts of identity theft, unauthorized computer access with fraud, and forgery. He remains in jail with bail set at $250,000.
Investigators believe there may be additional victims in this case and encourage all to come forward and call Detective Paul Ferruzza at 805-494-8231.