Durham police yesterday said a male is facing charges after using an oil scam to fraudulently purchase a vehicle at a lower value from a seller.
On Monday, April 27, the victim arranged to meet with a suspect in Uxbridge after listing a vehicle for sale on Facebook Marketplace.
Following a test drive, the suspect poured engine oil onto the engine while a second suspect distracted the victim. The suspects then claimed the engine was blown and leaking oil, significantly reducing the value of the vehicle. As a result, the victim agreed to sell the vehicle for substantially less than the original asking price, police said.
On Friday, May 1, police became aware that the same vehicle had been listed on Facebook Marketplace at nearly its original price. The listing also showed an odometer reading approximately half of the vehicle’s legitimate mileage.
Later that day, investigators from the Financial Crimes Unit located and arrested the suspect without incident.
The accused is also wanted on multiple warrants by San Jose Police Department in California.
The suspect, age 38 from Romania, was charged and held for a bail hearing. Name, photo and further of the accused can be viewed at www.drps.ca.
Anyone with information about this or similar incidents is asked to contact D/Cst Kane of the Financial Crimes Unit at 1-888-579-1520 ext. 5371.
Editor’s Note: Durham Post does not name or identify the accused as:
1. Of this time, they are suspect[s] and not convicted by a court, and
2. Sometimes charges are amended or dropped.
You May Also Like To Read
Hydro One starts to upgrade transmission, rate hike to follow