Dec 23, 2024
An Oregon City, Oregon couple spent $45,000 on the truck of their dreams only to find out later that the dealer they purchased the vehicle from was fake and the truck was stolen. April and Jamie Correa paid for the vehicle with cash. Unfortunately, it was their entire savings.
April told KATV ABC News, “Everything we had we put into this vehicle and didn’t expect to be scammed the way that we were.” They had been looking for a truck to buy for some time before settling on a 2023 GMC advertised on Facebook Marketplace.
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After negotiating with the seller, they were asked to visit a local dealership to complete the sale. They signed paperwork and drove away from the lot with the vehicle, assuming all was well. But they later found out they had fallen victim to a scam.
How they lost $45K
The Correas say they didn’t notice any red flags while at the dealership.
“Everything seemed to check all the boxes, and it seemed like any dealership that we’ve ever been to,” April told reporters.
The couple completed paperwork and drove away from the lot, assuming all was well. But days later, when they needed the vehicle title, Jaime contacted the dealership. His calls went to voicemail and were not returned and when he showed up at the dealership, no one was there. They contacted the Oregon City police immediately.
The Correas were alerted to the fact that the vehicle identification number (VIN) printed on the truck was tied to a different truck. It turns out the truck they were in possession of was stolen near Dallas, Texas, months prior. The Correas had to turn the vehicle over to the police.
When they asked what would happen next, they received heartbreaking news. April asked the police officer, “Well, what does that mean for us? What does that mean? We’ve just paid $45,000 for this truck; what does that mean we're supposed to do at this point?” The officers told them that nothing else could be done — their money was gone.
The Oregon City police department continues to investigate. April says that she knows of at least nine other victims. Unfortunately, no suspect has yet to be caught, and the Correas are now without the $45,000 they originally had.
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“There's no happy ending. There’s no solution,” April said. “It’s a really tough place to be in.”
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Protect yourself from buying a stolen vehicle
Vehicles are expensive, and the last thing you need when shopping for one is to fall victim to a costly scam. If you’re considering buying a vehicle, it’s in your best interest to take extra precautions so you don’t lose your hard-earned money to a fraudster.
Here are some red flags to be alert to during your vehicle buying search:
Price too good to be true.: If the pricing feels too good to be true, it probably is. Beware of sellers with vehicle listings below MSRP. You can better protect yourself by only considering vehicles priced at or above market value.
Suspicious vehicle report. It’s a good idea to purchase a vehicle history report before buying a car. CARFAX is one company that provides this service. Vehicle history reports provide insight into the vehicle’s history based on the VIN. You can ask the seller for paperwork from past services and repairs. Their records should align with what is listed on the vehicle history report.
Altered VIN. While physically inspecting the car, check the VIN listed on the vehicle. You can usually find this on the dashboard or the inside of the driver’s side door. If the VIN looks altered, is scratched out, or doesn’t match the VIN on the registration documents, it’s likely stolen.
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Natasha is a personal finance writer with nearly a decade of experience. Her work has appeared in numerous publications, including NerdWallet, USA Today, Yahoo Finance, and Newsweek.
