Graves County Sheriff’s Department warns “be cautious and don’t be a victim” after they’ve seen an increase in illegal car sales
GRAVES COUNTY, Ky. (KBSI) – The Graves County Sheriff’s Department writes in a Facebook post “We are getting so very frustrated to see those continuing to be victimized by these criminals” after they’ve seen an increase in illegal car sales.
According to their department they have had an increasing number of local reports of citizens’ purchasing vehicles from posts on Facebook Marketplace, where they travel to meet the usually out of state seller, transfer funds usually by cash or cashier’s check, obtain a bill of sale and title and return to Graves County to get vehicle transferred, only to find that the title is fake, and the vehicle is stolen.
When this happens, the vehicle must be seized, and the victim loses the money they spent on the vehicle and of course the vehicle.
The Graves County Sheriff’s Department says they have had this happen recently, with two vehicles purchased in Memphis (separate victims), one in Missouri, and one in Texas.
In Houston Texas alone, the police there are taking just over 100 reports of stolen vehicles per day according to information the Graves County Sheriff’s Department received.
Some of these vehicles being bought have also had Vin tags that have been tampered with and altered.
The Sheriff’s Office says if you are looking to purchase a vehicle out of state from someone you do not know, do some homework first.
In a Facebook post the sheriffs off says you can come to the Graves County Sheriff’s Office, and they will assist you in researching the Vin of the vehicle being sold or check it through systems such as CarFax.
Graves County Sheriff Jon Hayden reminds people of their “Internet Sales Parking Spot” located directly in front of the Graves County Sheriff’s Office that is under video surveillance for your protection and safety at no cost.
In addition to the Internet Sales Parking Space, the lobby located at the sheriff’s office is open during regular business hours and Sheriff Hayden says people are more than welcome to come in and utilize it.
If the seller hesitates from agreeing to meet you at a police station, or to your terms, run away from that deal as fast as you can.
A legitimate seller should have no problem agreeing to meet in the lobby of their local police station or sheriff’s office, wherever they may be, to perform the transaction.
Graves County Sheriff Jon Hayden also says “We have also had an instance of someone locally that purchased a vehicle sight unseen from a website that appeared to be legitimate, a car dealer in North Carolina. The seller sent multiple texts and emails from the (dealership)
to the buyer. The buyer wires the funds after being told that car would be shipped. When the car never arrived here locally, it was reported to us. Our investigation revealed that the website was fake, as well as the email accounts the correspondence was sent from.”
Be cautious and don’t be a victim.
