CLIENT'S CHALLENGE

Too many of the rental cars were simply “not coming back.”  It didn’t take long for the company’s local head of customer service to discern the pattern.  “They used credit cards we didn’t find out were stolen until much later,” he said.  “Then they figured out how to bypass the automatic shutoff switch – and, as long as they kept gas in the car and didn’t turn the key off, they could continue using it for free for as long as they wanted.”  Local police were unwilling to become involved because they viewed the incidents as civil matters involving contract violations and disagreements between private parties. 

As the scheme spread among local criminals and gangs, one of the vehicles even appeared in a rap video – making that particular make and model the “ride of choice” among those circles.  The fraudulent activities evolved to include other ways of fleecing victims.  In one case, for example, an illicit tow-truck operation leveraged quasi-legal loopholes to impound some of the cars until the owners paid exorbitant “fines,” which sometimes totaled thousands of dollars.

MATADOR’S SOLUTION

The rental car company’s Director of Security, a former DEA agent, engaged Matador’s armed, trained, and licensed teams of former law enforcement and military veterans to track down the missing vehicles, surveil the parties in possession and, recover the vehicles.  These personnel adhered to strict legal and safety protocols.  By law, for example, the team was prohibited from trying to take possession of any car if it was occupied.

IMPACT ON THE CLIENT

Over several months, Matador was directly responsible for the recovery of nearly 30 rental vehicles.  One tactic involved executing a simple “sting” operation including a “fake buy” scenario that ensnared a corrupt tow truck driver.  Whenever the team uncovered evidence or indications of criminal activity – which ranged from extortion, coercion, and usery to drug dealing and sex trafficking – Matador informed the appropriate federal, state, and law enforcement authorities.  The operation helped the client recover thousands in assets, build a relationship with local law enforcement, and reduce crime throughout the neighborhood.