Bucks County Woman Loses $45K In Dealership Scheme
A Bucks County woman, Adrianna Parsons, recently fell victim to a sophisticated dealership cloning scam, losing $45,000 in the process.
The ordeal began when Parsons and her husband discovered a 2021 Lexus SUV listed for sale on CARFAX, a platform renowned for its comprehensive vehicle history reports. The listing appeared to be from Specialty Auto, a dealership based in Lincoln, Nebraska. Despite initial reservations about purchasing a vehicle located 1,400 miles away, the couple proceeded after speaking with someone claiming to be the dealership’s owner, Jim Woods. To alleviate their concerns, they requested a “cold video” of the SUV, which the impersonator provided, further convincing them of the deal’s legitimacy. They agreed on a price of $45,000 and wired the funds in mid-November, expecting the vehicle to arrive within a week.
However, the SUV never arrived. Upon investigation, it was revealed that the real Jim Woods, an 80-year-old owner of Specialty Auto, had no online presence for marketing his vehicles and was unaware of the fraudulent activities. The scammers had cloned legitimate listings from reputable dealers, created convincing websites, and used platforms like CARFAX to market their fake listings.
Parsons’ experience underscores the growing threat of online vehicle scams and the importance of due diligence when purchasing vehicles remotely. Experts advise using reputable escrow services to hold funds until the vehicle is delivered and inspected, and to be wary of deals that seem too good to be true. The Central Bucks Regional Police Department is currently investigating the incident.
