A Corona man, Art Hernandez, is issuing a warning to others after falling victim to a scam while selling his car. Surveillance footage captured a group of men tampering with his vehicle, making it appear faulty to negotiate a lower price. Authorities suspect there may be more victims of this elaborate scheme.
Hernandez had listed his car for sale on Craigslist, attracting the interest of three men who came to his home to inspect the vehicle. According to Hernandez, while he was distracted at the back of the car, two of the men at the front began sabotaging the engine.
“I feel like an idiot. I feel truly scammed,” said Hernandez, expressing disbelief that he had been targeted in such a way. “I never thought this could happen to me.”
Surveillance footage clearly shows one of the suspects reaching into the engine compartment and disconnecting an electronic sensor, which triggered the car’s check engine light and caused it to run poorly. The men also poured oil on the engine, causing smoke to emerge.
“Within seconds, you can see oil dripping from the bottom of the car,” Hernandez explained. Feeling confused and pressured by the men, he eventually agreed to sell the car for $400, far below its value.
However, Hernandez’s suspicions grew, and after reviewing the surveillance footage, he realized that the men had intentionally damaged the car to manipulate the sale price. He reported the incident to local authorities, who classified the case as a felony.
After posting the car for sale across multiple counties, Hernandez began receiving calls from other individuals who claimed they had been scammed by the same group of men.
“My phone started ringing off the hook with people telling me the same thing happened to them,” Hernandez said. He now urges others to take precautions when selling their vehicles privately.
“Be careful. I thought I could do this on my own,” Hernandez advised. “Have someone with you when you’re selling a car.”
Authorities are continuing to investigate the scam, and Hernandez hopes that his warning will prevent others from falling victim to similar schemes.