A fraudulent scheme that originated in Southern California in late 2023 appears to have extended its reach to the northern region of the state, as reported by a sheriff’s office in Northern California.
The scam initiates with an individual posing as a potential buyer for a vehicle, reaching out to sellers typically via platforms such as Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist, as stated by the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office on their social media channels.
Subsequently, the “buyer” will coordinate an arrangement for an “inspection and test drive” of the vehicle. Upon arriving for the test drive, they typically bring along one or two additional individuals, according to authorities.
“At some point, either during the test drive or inspection, the seller is distracted away from the vehicle while one of the persons in the buyer’s group is looking under the hood,” As per the officials.
They further added, “The buyer then tells the seller that they have detected a mechanical problem with the vehicle and shows the seller, who is often shocked by the discovery.”
During this phase of the scam, the individual accompanying the “potential buyer” typically interferes with the vehicle being offered for sale. The scammer, aiming to execute the scheme, then presents an exceptionally low offer for the supposedly “mechanically troubled” vehicle, obtaining a fully operational vehicle for thousands of dollars less than its actual value.
To prevent residents of California from falling prey to this scam in the future, the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office has provided the following tips:
- Arrange meetings with potential buyers in public areas, such as grocery store parking lots.
- Avoid going alone; bring a friend or family member to the meeting.
- Do not leave the potential buyer unattended with your vehicle, including during the test drive.
- If there are suspicions of a mechanical issue, resist the pressure to significantly reduce the price until the vehicle has been inspected by a trusted mechanic. Pause the transaction until the defect is confirmed, corrected, and mutually accepted by both parties.
- Exercise caution with substantial “lowball” offers.
- Ensure all necessary DMV paperwork is completed at the time of the transaction.
