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SALT LAKE CITY -- A woman dubbed the "Hipster Grifter" is accused of being a scammer who cheated people from Salt Lake to New York out of thousands of dollars. She's now been caught and will soon be headed back to Utah.
The Hipster Grifter, better known as Kari Ferrell, has a story that really became an Internet hit. Salt Lake City police posted her most wanted profile on YouTube, and she posted somewhat of a public apology online. Those who knew her have been watching closely as all of this unfolds.
She's apologizing to people like Randall Warnas, who says his former friend cheated him out $1,600. "Friends are perfect people to scam, if you think about it," he said.
Ferrell fled from Utah to New York City last year. Wanted for forgery, bad checks and retail theft, Salt Lake City police posted her profile on YouTube. "Kari is wanted in over $60,000 in outstanding warrants," police said.
Soon, Ferrell built an East Coast reputation. The New York Observer labeled her the "Hipster Grifter" after numerous stories began to surface about how she made friends and lovers only to take their money.
"She's, she's good. I mean, she covers her bases," Warnas said.
Warnas has known Ferrell for about five years. He says she wrote him a check for $1,600 and asked him to cash it for her because her ex-boyfriend stole her card and her account had been frozen.
The check bounced, and it wasn't long before Warnas figured the whole thing out. "She has bank accounts with her name spelled 10 to 15 different ways in 10 to 15 different banks," he said.
Other friends were scammed too. Warnas says Ferrell told stories of illness, fake pregnancies, whatever it took. She eventually paid him back, but he can only guess how much money, and how many people, the "Hipster Grifter" scammed before she was caught.
"It's impossible to feel bad for somebody that digs their own grave," Warnas said.
Ferrell was arrested Sunday night in Philadelphia, and Salt Lake City police say she will have an extradition hearing on May 15.
E-mail: wjohnson@ksl.com
