Suspect Held in Craigslist Scam

A woman has been arrested on suspicion of grand theft after allegedly using a fake cashier's check to buy a camera from a West Hollywood man selling on Craigslist, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department reported.

Sheila Watson, 60, responded on Jan. 8 to a Craigslist ad placed by a West Hollywood man who was selling his camera, authorities said. Watson purchased the item using a cashier's check for $3,700, authorities said.

The man deposited the check, but was later told by his bank that the cashier’s check was fraudulent, according to a report by Sgt. Michael Caprioli.

When the victim posted a second ad on Craigslist, selling a different camera, Watson responded again, at which point the man contacted the sheriff's station, authorities said.

On Jan. 13, a meeting was arranged for Watson to purchase the second camera, while West Hollywood sheriff’s detectives conducted surveillance, Caprioli said.

After Watson arrived at the meeting, and allegedly presented another fraudulent check, she was identified by the victim and subsequently arrested on suspicion of felony grand theft and booked, he said. She was being held in lieu of $10,000 bail, he said.

Caprioli reported that Watson was also a person of interest in other, similar Craigslist scams.

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