News

Three indicted in scheme to clear credit scores

By FRANCIS McCABE LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL

November 20, 2013 - 5:23 pm

Three men were indicted on forgery charges in a scheme to illegally clear up credit scores, Clark County prosecutors said Wednesday.

Rashid Salim, Arthur Bethae and James Kobernusz were charged with one count each of racketeering and establishing a forgery laboratory. Salim faces nine counts of forgery. Bethae and Kobernusz face three counts each of forgery.

Las Vegas police said the three men were part of a scam involving at least 10 people running a business that promised to clear credit scores for customers.

Investigators said the scheme involved sending forged police reports to Experian and Equifax, both consumer credit reporting agencies, through a company called Trade Line Pros.

The forged reports would indicate that the customers of Trade Line Pros were victims of identity theft and their credit ratings should be restored to a favorable rating, police said.

Arrest warrants were issued for the three men.

Contact reporter Francis McCabe at fmccabe@review journal.com or 702-380-1039.

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