Salinas Police arrest Matricula Consular card fraud suspect

SALINAS, Calif. – UPDATE: 11/26/2018 6:16 p.m.

A Salinas man was arrested Monday morning for using a fraudulent ID card to cash a stolen check.

The man has been identified as 22-year-old Raul Marrufo Vargas. The Salinas Police Department says the crime happened on November 8 at Magañas Meat Market.

Magaños owner and SPD tells KION this kind of theft is fairly common. According to SPD many fake identification cards look very real.

“The quality of the fraudulent documents is almost making these ID’s appear to be real,” Public Information Officer for Salinas Police Department Miguel Cabrera said.

SPD confirms the fake Mexico Matricula Consular Card was made using the name of the victim of the stolen check.

SPD says the public helped them catch the suspect. Within 24 hours of posting to the Salinas Police Department Facebook page, SPD was able to identify and arrest Vargas.

“It was the community. It was the public that provided information and tips to help us identify and capture this individual,” Cabrera said.

The Salinas man was arrested on multiple felony charges including burglary and illegally using government documents to identify himself.

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The Salinas Police Department is looking for a man they say used a fraudulent ID card to cash a stolen check.

SPD reports the fake Mexico Matricula Consular Card was made using the name of the victim of the stolen check. The suspect used the card at a local business.

The suspect, who has several tattoos on his right forearm, left in a silver VW Rabbit with black rims and a black luggage rack on the roof

SPD asks that anyone with information call Officer T. Bailey at 831-775-4200, ext. 6483.