{"id":5376,"date":"2026-04-16T04:48:02","date_gmt":"2026-04-16T04:48:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/?p=5376"},"modified":"2026-04-16T04:48:02","modified_gmt":"2026-04-16T04:48:02","slug":"newport-beach-man-scammed-by-fake-justin-bieber-staff-in-coachella-car-rental-scheme","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/?p=5376","title":{"rendered":"Newport Beach man scammed by fake Justin Bieber staff in Coachella car rental scheme"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <div style=\"display: grid; grid-template-columns: 300px 160px; gap: 2px; width: 460px; background: #eee; padding: 2px;\">\r\n\r\n  <!-- \u6574\u884c\u5bbd\u5e7f\u544a -->\r\n  <div style=\"grid-column: 1\/-1; width: 460px; height: 250px; background: #ccc; display: grid; place-items: center;\">\r\n  <script async type=\"application\/javascript\" src=\"https:\/\/a.magsrv.com\/ad-provider.js\"><\/script> \r\n <ins class=\"eas6a97888e2\" data-zoneid=\"5876674\"><\/ins> \r\n <script>(AdProvider = window.AdProvider || []).push({\"serve\": {}});<\/script>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n  <div style=\"grid-column: 1\/-1; width: 460px; height: 90px; background: #ccc; display: grid; place-items: center;\">\r\n  <script async type=\"application\/javascript\" src=\"https:\/\/a.magsrv.com\/ad-provider.js\"><\/script> \r\n <ins class=\"eas6a97888e2\" data-zoneid=\"5876676\"><\/ins> \r\n <script>(AdProvider = window.AdProvider || []).push({\"serve\": {}});<\/script>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n\r\n  <!-- \u5de6\u4fa7\u7ad6\u6392 -->\r\n  <div style=\"height: 250px; background: #ccc; display: grid; place-items: center;\">\r\n  <script async type=\"application\/javascript\" src=\"https:\/\/a.magsrv.com\/ad-provider.js\"><\/script> \r\n <ins class=\"eas6a97888e2\" data-zoneid=\"5876672\"><\/ins> \r\n <script>(AdProvider = window.AdProvider || []).push({\"serve\": {}});<\/script>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n  <div style=\"height: 500px; background: #ccc; display: grid; place-items: center;\">\r\n  <script async type=\"application\/javascript\" src=\"https:\/\/a.magsrv.com\/ad-provider.js\"><\/script> \r\n <ins class=\"eas6a97888e2\" data-zoneid=\"5876680\"><\/ins> \r\n <script>(AdProvider = window.AdProvider || []).push({\"serve\": {}});<\/script>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n\r\n  <!-- \u53f3\u4fa7\u6469\u5929\u697c\uff08\u548c\u5de6\u4fa7\u5b8c\u5168\u5bf9\u9f50\uff09 -->\r\n  <div style=\"grid-row: 3\/5; height: 750px; background: #ccc; display: grid; place-items: center;\">\r\n  <script async type=\"application\/javascript\" src=\"https:\/\/a.magsrv.com\/ad-provider.js\"><\/script> \r\n <ins class=\"eas6a97888e2\" data-zoneid=\"5876678\"><\/ins> \r\n <script>(AdProvider = window.AdProvider || []).push({\"serve\": {}});<\/script>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n  \r\n  <script async type=\"application\/javascript\" src=\"https:\/\/a.magsrv.com\/ad-provider.js\"><\/script> \r\n <ins class=\"eas6a97888e6\" data-zoneid=\"5876682\"><\/ins> \r\n <script>(AdProvider = window.AdProvider || []).push({\"serve\": {}});<\/script>\r\n<\/div><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p>A Newport Beach rental company says it has been left reeling after four of its compact Moke-style buggies, worth more than $200,000, allegedly vanished in what appears to be a carefully orchestrated scam tied to pop star Justin Bieber.<\/p>\n<p>Newport Beach Moke co-owner Chad Mara told The California Post the trouble began when a man identifying himself only as \u201cAlen\u201d came forward with a rushed, high-profile request: four vehicles for a 10-day rental, allegedly to shuttle pop star Justin Bieber around the Coachella festival grounds.<\/p>\n<p>At first, Mara said, everything seemed to check out.<\/p>\n<p>He was told the vehicles were needed by a group connected to Bieber\u2019s entourage, even referencing Bieber\u2019s young son. \u201cKids love Mokes,\u201d he said, explaining that this detail helped convince them the booking was real.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>A rrental company said four of its compact Moke-style buggies, worth more than $200,000, allegedly vanished. <span class=\"credit\">Obtained by Chad Marta<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>The compact buggies are said to be worth more than $200,000. <span class=\"credit\">Obtained by Chad Marta<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cYou think you\u2019re doing the right thing for someone and it ends up being a fraud,\u201d Mara said.<\/p>\n<aside class=\"single__inline-module aligncenter wp-block-nypost-editor-primary-tag\">\n<\/aside>\n<p>Despite the red flags and the last-minute nature of the request, the company moved forward and prepared the vehicles.<\/p>\n<p>According to Mara, a person claiming to be Alen\u2019s assistant later arrived to collect the keys, and the four Mokes were delivered to a Palm Desert address near the festival.<\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s when things started to fall apart.<\/p>\n<p>At one point, Mara\u2019s wife spoke by phone with the renter, who was reportedly intoxicated and surrounded by loud music.<\/p>\n<p>He insisted he was at Coachella and said everything, including the vehicles, was fine.<\/p>\n<p>Mara said he later contacted the California Highway Patrol as the vehicles continued moving, but was told officers would \u201cbe on the lookout.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He expressed frustration, saying the vehicles were traveling on open trails and were \u201ceasily spot-able.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"single__inline-module inline-module inline-module--newsletter aligncenter inline-module--nypostbusinessunit aligncenter wp-block-nypost-editor-newsletter\" data-source-unit=\"Inline Newsletter Module Cali - Morning Report\">\n<div class=\"inline-module__inner\">\n<div class=\"inline-module__title-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"inline-module__unsubmitted-title-wrapper\">\n<h3 class=\"inline-module__title headline headline--combo-sm-md\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSign up for the California Morning Report newsletter\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n<p class=\"inline-module__cta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCalifornia&#8217;s top news, sports and entertainment delivered to your inbox every day.\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><h3 class=\"inline-module__title headline headline--combo-sm-md\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tThanks for signing up!\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>In addition to a green and pink car, the Maras reported the theft of two white vehicles.<\/p>\n<p>Mara explained that although a $20,000 deposit was part of the booking, the payment was never received. The scammers claimed the wire transfer would arrive the following morning because the booking occurred late in the day.<\/p>\n<p>Then the situation took a darker turn.<\/p>\n<p>Tracking data later showed the vehicles traveling south toward the US-Mexico border before their GPS signals were disabled entirely.<\/p>\n<p>After that, the renter could not be reached.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThey\u2019ve destroyed any kind of GPS on the cars and they\u2019re now on the other side of the border,\u201d Mara said.<\/p>\n<p>He added that the vehicles are now in Mexico and may already have been altered.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m afraid we will never find these cars.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDo I believe we have been targeted? Yes,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>Co-owner Sadie Mara said the ordeal has left her family shaken and increasingly convinced they were targeted in a coordinated operation.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>The owner was told the vehicles were needed by a group connected to Bieber\u2019s entourage. <span class=\"credit\">Obtained by Chad Marta<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>The scammer even referened Bieber\u2019s young son, explaining that this detail helped convince them the booking was real. <span class=\"credit\">Obtained by Chad Marta<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cI just feel so violated,\u201d she told The California Post, adding, \u201cI\u2019m wondering if it\u2019s a car ring.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She said the family is now uneasy, noting, \u201cI don\u2019t know how long they\u2019ve been watching us.\u201d<br \/>Sadie described the scheme as highly sophisticated, calling it \u201ca very professional, well-thought out heist.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She also said the suspects appeared to be using a fake business website to make the operation seem legitimate, referencing https:\/\/deserthospitalitygroup.com\/.<\/p>\n<p>Sadie noted that when they searched for \u201cAlen,\u201d only older men appeared in online results, while the person they dealt with was a younger man.<\/p>\n<p>She also said a tow truck appeared to be staged and waiting for \u201cAlen,\u201d further reinforcing her belief that the operation was planned in advance.<\/p>\n<p>Sadie added that law enforcement advised them to stop actively pursuing the case themselves.<\/p>\n<p>She said officers also mentioned the possibility, unconfirmed, that the incident could be connected to \u201cthe Mexican cartel,\u201d though she emphasized this has not been verified.<\/p>\n<p>The Riverside County Sheriff\u2019s Department has confirmed it is investigating the incident.<\/p>\n<p>Authorities have not confirmed any connection to Bieber or any organized crime group, and the circumstances surrounding the alleged scam remain under investigation.<\/p>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters <\/strong><\/h2>\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<p><strong>California Post News<\/strong>: Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, YouTube, WhatsApp, LinkedIn<br \/><strong>California Post Sports<\/strong> Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, X<br \/><strong>California Post  <\/strong>Opinion <br \/><strong>California Post Newsletters<\/strong>: Sign up here!<br \/><strong>California Post App<\/strong>: Download here!<br \/><strong>Home delivery<\/strong>: Sign up here!<br \/><strong>Page Six Hollywood<\/strong>: Sign up here!<\/p>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><script async defer src=\"https:\/\/platform.instagram.com\/en_US\/embeds.js\"><\/script><br \/>\n<br \/><!-- \u603b\u5bb9\u5668\uff1a\u6700\u5927\u5bbd908px Grid\u7d27\u51d1\u5e03\u5c40 -->\r\n<div style=\"display: grid; 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