By Steven Symes 
Scammers sure can get creative when they want to separate you from your hard-earned money, like this fake dealer scam out of Oregon we’ve never seen before. Sure, we’ve seen people pose as dealers when they’re not. We’ve even seen people pretend to be a legitimate dealership, stealing images and more for online listings. But this is different.
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A couple spoke with local news station KATU about how they paid $45,000 for a heavy-duty GMC Sierra only to find out later the dealer wasn’t real and the truck was stolen. They went to the physical dealership, the VIN on the truck seemed fine, and they handed over the cash, getting the keys to the truck.
However, after not receiving the title in the mail, the husband went by the dealership to ask for it in person. That’s when he found the lot and office were completely empty. Then the couple learned the dealer wasn’t registered with the state and was an elaborate ruse.
Then the next hit came: the police contacted the couple and informed them the truck, which is valued at $80,000, was stolen in Texas. Those VIN tags were fake and the couple was left without a vehicle or their money.
When the reporter asked them if they thought the deal was too good to be true, because paying $45,000 for a truck that’s worth $80,000 sure is, they both hesitated to answer. Scammers love preying on people by offering an “incredible deal” they just can’t resist.
What we can’t believe is how the couple paid cash for the truck and didn’t get the title from the dealer on the spot. That still wouldn’t have been a guarantee since washed titles are a thing, but still.
It’s a great idea to research a dealer and make sure it’s legitimate before handing over any money. Your state’s DMV can help with that as can online reviews from former customers.
Image via KATU News/YouTube