Newport Beach rental operator Chad Marta says what looked like a dream Coachella booking turned into a nightmare, after someone claiming to work for Justin Bieber rented four Moke electric vehicles that later vanished after being tracked across the border. Marta says the last-minute request and a deposit that never cleared have left his small fleet exposed to losses in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. Riverside County deputies have opened an investigation.
Marta told reporters a man who introduced himself as "Alen" asked to rent four Mokes for 10 days to move the artist around the festival. An assistant later picked up the keys, and the vehicles were delivered to an address in Palm Desert. Marta says he watched the trackers show the cars heading along the 10 West, then the 60, 215 and 15 before the signals went dark south of the border, and that the invoice listed a $20,000 deposit that never actually cleared. As reported by NBC Los Angeles, the four vehicles are worth more than $200,000 and Riverside County sheriff's investigators have launched an inquiry.
How the alleged scam unfolded
Marta says the back-and-forth with the renter felt off from the start, describing the caller as sounding inebriated with loud music blaring in the background, and says that once the cars were out the door, the supposed team members could no longer be reached. "It's a punch unfortunately, and it hurts," Marta told NBC Los Angeles. The station reported that it reached out to Bieber's team and to the rental company for comment.
Why Mokes matter to small rental shops
Moke America describes its vehicles as street-legal, open-air electric cars built for resort communities and short scenic drives, which makes them a natural fit for festival work. The Newport Beach Moke website lists a Newport Boulevard location and promotes event and weekend rentals, highlighting how dependent a small fleet can be on steady short-term bookings. Losing several vehicles at once can put serious pressure on both scheduling and cash flow for an independently run shop.
How vendors can reduce their risk
Scammers who pretend to be talent handlers or event staff often lean on urgency and social pressure to push vendors into releasing equipment before payments fully clear. As the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center notes, vendors should verify identities through secondary channels, insist that funds clear before handing over high-value gear, and contact their bank right away to try to recall any fraudulent transfer. Victims should also file a complaint with IC3. Photocopying IDs at pickup, confirming bookings through verified corporate contacts and keeping thorough logs can all help small operators defend themselves against similar schemes.
Marta says he is now scrambling to rebuild his fleet while cooperating with investigators, and that the disappearance of the Mokes has already hurt his business. No arrests have been announced in the case. The episode is a pointed reminder that even glossy, high-profile bookings can be used as the setup for elaborate frauds.
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