HERRIMAN — Two men were charged Monday in connection with a car loan scam that may be connected to another recent arrest.
Yonder Jesus Reyes-Zabala, 25, and Jose Miguel Espinoza Araujo, 23, were each charged in 3rd District Court with communications fraud, a second-degree felony; and forgery and possession of a forged writing, third-degree felonies.
On Sept. 15, Herriman police were called to credit union to investigate a possible fraud in progress, according to charging documents. Officers arrived to find Reyes-Zabala and Espinoza sitting in the lobby. Espinoza had applied that morning for a title loan for $41,000 for the purchase of a 2025 Ford Explorer.
“Espinoza Araujo and Reyes-Zabala attempted to withdraw the entire amount of the loan, but the Herriman branch stated that they could only provide them with $15,000. Espinoza Araujo and Reyes-Zabala then went to the Riverton branch…
CLICK HERE to read the FULL 2 men charged in car loan fraud scheme | KSL.com article.
Insurance fraud involves making false or exaggerated claims to an insurance provider.
- Hard Fraud: Someone deliberately causes a loss (e.g., setting fire to a warehouse or staging a car accident) specifically to collect a payout.
- Soft Fraud: More common and often viewed as “victimless” by the perpetrator. It involves exaggerating a legitimate claim, such as overstating the value of stolen items in a home burglary to cover the deductible.