date,state,scam_type,announcement,summary,agency,source,source_url
2026-01-20,Missouri,"Fake, forged or washed titles",Charge,"A Kansas City man is charged with selling cars on Facebook Marketplace under an alias, with what appeared to be a valid title and bill of sale, then taking them back.",Jackson County Prosecutor,agency page,https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/m/newsflash/home/detail/1759
2026-02-04,Texas,Fake dealer websites,Warning,"Police investigate a website selling more than 40 high-end cars under the address of a shuttered Boerne dealership. Out-of-town buyers lost nearly $40,000.",Boerne Police Department,news report,"https://www.boernestar.com/article/12639,suspected-car-purchase-scam-probed-in-boerne"
2026-02-11,Minnesota,VIN cloning,Warning,"The State Patrol describes how stolen cars get a VIN copied from a similar make, model and year and are sold with forged documents.",Minnesota State Patrol,agency page,https://dps.mn.gov/news/msp/buyer-beware-how-vehicle-fraud-happens
2026-02-18,Pennsylvania,Fake listings and payment scams,Charge,"Police issue an arrest warrant for a man they say used fake websites, shell companies and AI-generated images to sell a 1969 Camaro. The buyer wired $34,000.",Lower Southampton Township Police Department,news report,https://6abc.com/post/international-car-sale-scam-tied-buck-county-used-fake-images-websites-police/18613359/
2026-02-27,New York,Fake listings and payment scams,Warning,The sheriff warns about online used car sales fraud after a car was sold with an active lien that was not disclosed.,Ontario County Sheriff's Office,news report,https://www.whec.com/local/ontario-county-sheriffs-office-warns-people-about-online-used-car-sales-fraud/
2026-03-03,Tennessee,Scams on sellers,Warning,"Facebook Marketplace sellers are warned about buyers who pay with a fake cashier's check or a wire that is later recalled, then keep the car.",Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance,agency page,https://www.tn.gov/commerce/news/2026/3/3/consumer-alert-be-on-alert-for-facebook-marketplace-auto-purchasing-scams.html
2026-03-12,Maine,Fake dealer websites,Warning,Police warn that an online classic car dealer using a Veazie warehouse address has no cars and no dealer license. At least one buyer paid.,Veazie Police Department,news report,https://www.bangordailynews.com/2026/03/12/bangor/bangor-police-courts/classic-car-dealer-scam-veazie/
2026-03-16,Pennsylvania,"Fake, forged or washed titles",Charge,An authorized tag agent in Philadelphia is charged with submitting falsified paperwork for 65 stolen vehicles worth more than $3.8 million.,Pennsylvania Attorney General; Pennsylvania State Police,agency page,https://www.attorneygeneral.gov/taking-action/ag-sunday-pa-state-police-charge-philadelphia-man-in-vehicle-title-washing-scheme-involving-3-8m-in-stolen-luxury-vehicles/
2026-03-18,Tennessee,Fake dealer websites,Warning,"The Attorney General warns of websites posing as classic car and heavy equipment dealers, with fake business licenses and very low prices.",Tennessee Attorney General,agency page,https://www.tn.gov/attorneygeneral/news/2026/3/18/pr26-12.html
2026-03-19,Washington,Odometer fraud,Sentence,"An Othello man convicted of odometer tampering in at least 21 cars, using odometers from wrecking yards, is sentenced to 15 months.","US Attorney, Eastern District of Washington",agency page,https://www.justice.gov/usao-edwa/pr/othello-man-sentenced-15-months-incarceration-odometer-tampering
2026-03-19,Louisiana,"Fake, forged or washed titles",Charge,Police seek a man on a warrant over stolen cars sold on Facebook Marketplace. Two buyers say they got a fictitious bill of sale and Texas title documents.,Shreveport Police Department,news report,https://www.ktalnews.com/news/crime/facebook-marketplace-stolen-car-scam/amp/
2026-03-24,Alaska,Dealer practices,Settlement,"Swickard dealerships agree to an $800,000 penalty over allegations of advertising unavailable cars and undisclosed add-ons. The court found missing condition statements on used cars bought from consumers.",Alaska Attorney General,agency page,https://law.alaska.gov/press/releases/2026/032426-Swickard.html
2026-03-25,North Carolina,VIN cloning,Sentence,Two men are sentenced over a ring that stole luxury vehicles and altered their VINs. One of them possessed or knew of at least 31 stolen vehicles worth more than $2 million.,"US Attorney, Western District of North Carolina",agency page,https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdnc/pr/two-sentenced-connection-luxury-vehicle-theft-ring-involving-millions-and-drug
2026-03-25,California,Dealer practices,Settlement,"CarMax's California dealerships pay $1.1 million to settle allegations that they missed the 30-day deadline to transfer used cars' registration and ownership, without admitting them.","Riverside, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Santa Clara, Sonoma and Ventura County District Attorneys",agency page,https://rivcoda.org/node/2356
2026-04-05,Washington,Scams on sellers,Arrest,"Three people are arrested after, the Sheriff's Office says, they were found running an oil in the engine scheme on Facebook Marketplace sellers. Deputies seized $57,000 in cash and more than 20 car titles.",Grays Harbor County Sheriff's Office,news report,https://www.kiro7.com/news/local/romanian-nationals-caught-operating-facebook-marketplace-scam-grays-harbor-county/OCRIFLKSC5EYDP3KDQ4QIIWXFA
2026-04-13,Pennsylvania,VIN cloning,Charge,"Nine people are charged over at least 50 stolen vehicles that, according to the criminal complaint, were given inactive VINs and falsified out-of-state titles and sold at low prices to buyers who did not know they were stolen.",Pennsylvania State Police (criminal complaint),news report,https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/pa-car-thieves-sell-stolen-vehicles-with-fake-titles-police-say/4384816/
2026-04-19,Missouri,"Fake, forged or washed titles",Sentence,The Kansas City Marketplace seller charged in January pleads guilty to six counts of tampering and eight of forgery and is sentenced to four years.,Jackson County court,news report,https://digital-release.fox4kc.com/?p=4252483
2026-04-22,District of Columbia,VIN cloning,Charge,"Six people are charged with stealing at least 20 cars by reprogramming key fobs, swapping plates and obscuring VINs, and selling them to buyers in the United States and Ghana. One is a fugitive.",US Attorney for the District of Columbia,agency page,https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/pr/international-car-theft-ring-busted
2026-05-05,California,Scams on sellers,Arrest,Three men are arrested on suspicion of an oil in the engine scheme against car sellers in eight California counties.,Placer County Sheriff's Office,news report,https://www.2news.com/news/california/three-arrested-in-placer-county-for-allegedly-scamming-car-sellers-across-california/article_3b8e85f1-16ac-4784-86c6-87f5eb0b3670.html
2026-05-05,Washington,Scams on sellers,Warning,Detectives warn sellers about buyers who secretly put oil on the engine and say they have identified at least 26 victims in the region.,Grays Harbor County Sheriff's Office; Puget Sound Auto Theft Task Force,news report,https://www.kiro7.com/news/local/scam-targeting-car-sellers-could-cost-you-thousands/DLSQG4YRKBHQPP4HNQS4YPPD6M/
2026-05-22,Texas,"Fake, forged or washed titles",Warning,"The sheriff warns online buyers of fraudulent titles, VIN tampering, title jumping and stolen vehicles sold on Facebook Marketplace and similar sites.",Lee County Sheriff's Office,news report,https://kwhi.com/2026/05/22/lee-county-sheriffs-office-warns-of-vehicle-purchasing-scam/
2026-05-29,Pennsylvania,VIN cloning,Arrest,"The man prosecutors identify as the ringleader of a crew charged over about 50 stolen vehicles, given VINs from decommissioned vehicles and resold, is captured. Ten people are charged.",Pennsylvania Attorney General,agency page,https://www.attorneygeneral.gov/taking-action/ringleader-of-se-pa-based-1-6m-title-washing-crew-captured-in-philadelphia-10-people-charged-in-thefts-resale-of-50-vehicles/
2026-06-03,Pennsylvania,Fake listings and payment scams,Sentence,A used car salesman is sentenced to 41 months for taking payment for more than 100 wheelchair-accessible vehicles he never delivered.,"US Attorney, Eastern District of Pennsylvania",agency page,https://www.justice.gov/usao-edpa/pr/used-car-salesman-sentenced-41-months-prison-defrauding-customers-seeking-wheelchair
2026-06-08,New York,VIN cloning,Charge,"Thirteen people are charged with selling about 100 cars stolen in New York City, with fake VINs, swapped labels and fraudulent titles, to unsuspecting buyers.","US Attorney, Southern District of New York",agency page,https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/13-charged-conspiracy-sell-over-100-stolen-cars
2026-06-12,Wyoming,"Fake, forged or washed titles",Charge,A Utah dealer faces 15 felony counts. Investigators allege forged duplicate titles that removed the salvage brands from hail-damaged cars later sold in Utah.,Wyoming Department of Transportation investigators; Laramie County court,news report,https://cowboystatedaily.com/2026/06/12/car-dealer-faces-15-felonies-in-alleged-2-million-resale-of-hail-damaged-cars/
2026-07-09,North Carolina,VIN cloning,Sentence,"The leader of a ring that stole luxury cars from dealerships, replaced their VINs and sold them below market value is sentenced to more than eight years.","US Attorney, Western District of North Carolina",agency page,https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdnc/pr/leader-multi-state-auto-theft-ring-sentenced-more-eight-years-prison
2026-07-21,Texas,"Fake, forged or washed titles",Warning,"After a rental Camry was sold to a family with a forged title, the constable's office says fake titles are more common than people realize.",Harris County Constable Precinct 4,news report,https://www.click2houston.com/news/local/2026/07/21/houston-woman-recovers-stolen-rental-car-after-title-fraud-fake-id/
2026-07-27,Colorado,Fake listings and payment scams,Warning,"Police warn of fake Facebook Marketplace vehicle listings after a buyer lost more than $30,000 for a vehicle that never arrived.",Fruita Police Department,news report,https://www.kkco11news.com/2026/07/28/fruita-police-warn-facebook-marketplace-vehicle-scam-after-victim-loses-30k/
2026-08-13,National,Flood and salvage cars,Warning,"NICB warns that flood-damaged vehicles frequently return to the market after disasters, sometimes far from the flooding, and that dishonest sellers routinely hide that history.",National Insurance Crime Bureau,agency page,https://www.nicb.org/news/news-releases/nicb-warns-consumers-watch-flood-damaged-vehicles-during-peak-flood-season
2026-08-13,Texas,VIN cloning,Warning,"Two pickups stolen in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, given altered VINs and sold on Facebook Marketplace with counterfeit titles, are seized from San Angelo-area buyers.",Tom Green County Sheriff's Office,news report,https://ktxs.com/news/tom-green-county-sheriff-warns-of-vin-swapping-scams-after-stolen-trucks-recovered
2026-08-19,Connecticut,Dealer practices,Settlement,Manchester City Nissan agrees to pay $4 million in refunds to settle allegations that it double-charged for certified pre-owned used cars and added charges without consent.,Federal Trade Commission; Connecticut Attorney General,agency page,https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2026/08/ftc-connecticut-secure-4-million-settlement-manchester-city-nissan-over-deceptive-fees-allegations
2026-08-24,Florida,VIN cloning,Warning,Deputies seized a stolen SUV with a fraudulent VIN two years after a buyer bought it from a used car dealer. The Sheriff's Office says re-VINing has grown with online marketplaces.,Orange County Sheriff's Office,news report,https://www.clickorlando.com/news/investigators/2026/08/24/she-bought-a-car-2-years-later-orange-county-deputies-took-it-away/
2026-08-31,Minnesota,Dealer practices,Settlement,"A used car dealer and its owner agree to pay $100,000 to settle allegations that it sold used cars as certified when they were not and illegally added service contracts.",Minnesota Attorney General,agency page,https://ag.state.mn.us/Office/Communications/2026/08/31_MCS.asp
2026-09-01,National,Fake dealer websites,Warning,"The FTC warns of cloned dealership websites, often made with AI, that take payment up front for cars buyers never receive, sometimes using rare muscle cars and classics as bait.",Federal Trade Commission,agency page,https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2026/09/scammers-are-spoofing-car-dealership-websites-what-you-need-know
2026-09-05,Kansas,Dealer practices,Settlement,"Two buyers from a closed Wichita used car dealer get $20,600 back through the dealer's bond after a civil suit. One of them never received a title.",Sedgwick County District Attorney,news report,https://hutchpost.com/posts/3360b9de-ed1a-4b44-b31d-78e716f05516
2026-09-08,Georgia,Stolen car sold,Sentence,Two men who pleaded guilty to transporting a stolen vehicle from Texas are sentenced. They had tried to sell it through Facebook Marketplace to a buyer who was an undercover officer.,"US Attorney, Southern District of Georgia",agency page,https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdga/pr/defendants-sentenced-after-pleading-guilty-illegally-transporting-stolen-motor-vehicle