MARSHALL, MI (WTVB) – Michigan State Police’s Southwest Commercial Auto Recovery (SCAR) team is investigating multiple fraud cases involving suspects from the Chicagoland area who are targeting both private sellers and dealerships across the state.
In one common scheme, scammers purchase trailers and sometimes vehicles using what appear to be legitimate cashier’s checks. The checks later turn out to be fraudulent, and the items are quickly hauled out of Michigan, making recovery extremely difficult for victims.
In a separate tactic, suspects arrange vehicle purchases through online platforms such as Facebook Marketplace, with deals often finalized in parking lots. Some of the vehicles involved have cloned VINs — the identification number matches a legitimate car, but the vehicle itself is stolen. Authorities are urging both dealerships and private sellers to stay vigilant against these rapidly evolving scams.
To protect themselves, sellers should always verify payment methods thoroughly rather than trusting appearances, and whenever possible, complete transactions inside a financial institution. Additional precautions include being wary of out-of-state buyers or deals that feel rushed, carefully checking VINs against official records, and walking away if a deal seems too good to be true or simply feels wrong.
Anyone who suspects they have encountered these scams or has related information is encouraged to contact their local law enforcement agency immediately.
Comments