A 42-year-old Bronx man says a Facebook Marketplace car deal cost him $25,000 in cash and left him with a stolen SUV instead of a bargain. The buyer told police he met a seller for a 2022 Toyota Highlander around 11 a.m. Wednesday on a secluded stretch of West 246th Street in Fieldston. After the handoff, someone pointed out that the vehicle identification number looked tampered with, and follow-up checks showed the Highlander had been reported stolen.
How The Sale Unfolded
Police told News 12 New York that the buyer met a stranger in front of 230 West 246th St, counted out the cash and drove away in the SUV. Only later did he learn that the VIN showed signs of being altered. According to News 12 New York, investigators confirmed the Highlander had already been listed as stolen, and there were no arrests or named suspects in the case as of their report.
Marketplace Meetups And Theft Scams
Crimes tied to online buy-and-sell apps have become a recurring headache in New York City. As FOX 5 NY has documented, suspects in some cases pose as buyers or sellers on Facebook Marketplace, then rob people or take off with vehicles, sometimes flashing weapons or waving around doctored paperwork. Those reports, along with other local coverage, have fueled repeated warnings about meeting strangers in out-of-the-way locations to close a deal.
Federal Cases Show How Fast It Can Escalate
Federal prosecutors have also gone after suspects accused of using Marketplace listings to lure victims into carjackings and violent robberies, turning what looks like a routine sale into a multi-jurisdiction criminal case. News 12 Hudson Valley reported that defendants in one such case face federal charges that could bring lengthy prison terms if they are convicted.
How To Protect Yourself When Buying A Car Online
Before handing over a dollar, experts recommend running the vehicle identification number through free tools such as NICB and checking the federal NMVTIS title database for a fuller history. The NMVTIS site explains how title brands and reporting can flag salvage or theft problems before you commit.
It is also smart to inspect the physical title, make sure the VIN on the car matches the paperwork, and arrange the meetup in a busy public place or at a police precinct. Bring another person with you, and be very cautious about all-cash deals, especially at secluded locations.
Legal Risks
Under New York law, altering or covering a VIN can be prosecuted as forgery, a class E felony, with selling a stolen vehicle opening the door to additional counts such as possession of stolen property. The statute on forgery involving a vehicle identification number is set out in NY Penal Law § 170.65.
Anyone with information about the Fieldston Highlander sale or who was approached about that vehicle is asked to contact the NYPD or call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS, as noted by FOX 5 NY. Quick VIN checks, careful document reviews and safer meetup spots can help keep the next online car deal from turning into a crime report.
