This Simple Scam Worked On Multiple Car Sellers

Read the full story on The Auto Wire

Sometimes it’s the simplest and dumbest scams which tend to work on people, which is what a team of three guys in Placer County, California put to work effectively. By teaming up, they were able to con car sellers out of a lot of money and all it took was a few bucks worth of oil.

Scammers are targeting car crash victims.

As described by a Placer County Sheriff’s official to KCRA, the three men would troll online car listings from private parties. Then they’d arrange a meetup and start looking at the vehicle.

While one would pop the hood to supposedly examine the engine, the other two would keep the seller distracted. Then the one guy would take out a hidden bottle of oil, pouring it over the engine block, then close the hood as if he was done doing his inspection.

That’s when the three men would go with the owner on a test drive. Of course, the engine would start smoking thanks to the oil poured over it. And the guys would convince the owner the car had problems, offering to buy it at a big discount.

While we doubt everyone fell for the trick, enough people did that these guys were able to pull the scam off in multiple counties in the area.

Authorities were on the lookout for the men when one was arrested for being drunk in public. While he was in custody, law enforcement ran across the warrant for his arrest in this case. But the other two men are still on the run.

This just goes to show, yet again, that selling your car private party means you need to keep your guard up. Don’t let people pressure or fast talk you into things you wouldn’t normally do. Stand your ground and if things don’t feel right, don’t fold and give in.

Image via KCRA 3/YouTube

Follow The Auto Wire on Google News.

Join our Newsletter, subscribe to our YouTube page, and follow us on Facebook.