In just eight days, the suspect acquired models such as Corvette and BMW i8 using false data; scheme involved employees of concessionaires
An investigation conducted in Miami (USA) resulted in the arrest of a 28-year-old waitress, accused of leading a sophisticated automotive fraud scheme. In a span of just eight days, Dunia Sierra was able to finance and withdraw ten luxury vehicles and high-commute motorcycles, exploiting loopholes in the U.S. bank credit system.
The scam, classified by the authorities as “bust-out fraud“, was based on the speed of transactions: Sierra acquired the cars in quick succession, before the operations were processed and consolidated by the credit protection agencies. The list of acquisitions includes high-value models, such as a 2023 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray, a BMW i8 and a Mercedes-Benz S560, as well as utility vehicles such as the Hyundai Palisade Calligraphy and three Harley-Davidson motorcycles.
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To obtain approvals, the suspect falsified proof of income. Although she worked in the service sector, she claimed to be the owner of the restaurant where she worked, claiming a fictitious monthly income of US$ 180 thousand. The investigation points out that the scheme had the connivance of financial managers of dealerships, interested in the commissions generated by the sale of service packages and extended warranties paid in cash at the time of financing.
The ultimate goal of the operation was the rapid liquidation of assets. After the removal of the stores, the vehicles were passed on to the illegal market or exported to other countries before the first delays in the installments generated search alerts. South Florida has established itself as a hub for this type of financial crime, according to recent surveys by the local press.
Sierra was arrested on charges of organized fraud and aggravated larceny, with bail set at $26,000. The police are now seeking to identify brokers and store employees involved in facilitating the proposals, which aimed to ship the inventory abroad before the definitive detection of the fraud by financial institutions.
