LA scammers used fake death certificates, Costco card to steal identities and score millions

A crew of alleged con artists pulled off a brazen, multi-million-dollar scheme by turning elderly homeowners into unwitting pawns — stealing their identities and using them to milk lenders dry, federal prosecutors say.

According to a newly unsealed indictment, the group didn’t rely on smash-and-grab tactics.

Instead, they ran a meticulous, paper-heavy operation built on deception, forged documents, and impersonation — all designed to make bogus loan applications look airtight.

The playbook was chillingly simple: gain the trust of older victims, extract sensitive personal information, then weaponize it.

In one case, the suspects allegedly duped a victim into handing over a check and a photo of their driver’s license. That was all they needed.

From there, they spun up fake email accounts in the victim’s name and flooded lenders with phony paperwork — bank statements, utility bills, even business records.

When questions arose, they doubled down. Prosecutors say the crew fabricated a Costco card for one victim and even produced a fake death certificate for another to seal the deal.

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It worked. The scammers walked away with a $35,000 check.

In another instance, the group allegedly obtained a victim’s full identity profile — including Social Security and bank account numbers — and used forged passports and doctor’s letters to pose as legitimate representatives. That deception netted them a staggering $600,000 loan tied to the victim’s properties.

But their most audacious score came from an elaborate scheme involving multiple homes.

Using a stolen Colorado driver’s license, the suspects allegedly created fake rental agreements and tax returns to make it appear the victim was flush with income. They opened bank accounts in the victim’s name and applied for loans across four properties.

The payoff: more than $4.7 million in disbursements.

Authorities say the group relied on a mix of fake identities — sometimes blending real victim data with fictional details — to open accounts and funnel money through a maze of shell channels.

“The defendants didn’t just steal identities, they used those stolen identities to secure high value real estate loans, fabricate financial documents, and move millions of dollars through a maze of fraudulent businesses and funnel accounts,” said Tyler Hatcher, Special Agent in Charge, IRS-CI Los Angeles Field Office.

All told, the scheme racked up about $17.4 million in intended losses — with roughly $6 million actually stolen before the alleged operation was shut down.