Driver issues warning as he nearly loses $8k selling Tacoma – dash cam video revealed buyer’s ‘water bottle’ trick
After nearly being defrauded of $8,000 while attempting to sell his vehicle, a driver received a severe warning.
Adam Herrera alleges that a smug buyer tampered with his Toyota Tacoma motor in an effort to obtain a lower price.
And his dash cam captured the action.
According to ABC affiliate KABC-TV, Herrera, of California, had placed the motor on the OfferUp platform and was seeking $13,000.
Before meeting at an In-N-Out restaurant in Hesperia, which is around 80 miles from Los Angeles, a prospective buyer expressed interest.
In the end, he met a toddler, a child, and two guys.
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One man was inspecting the back of the automobile while Herrera let the other peek at the hood.
However, the driver said the kid had tampered with his car.
He said that before he sealed the oil filler cap, he added water to it.
After Herrera disclosed that the vehicle had begun to smoke, he made the decision to look into the matter.
Then, he said, a man doused the motor with oil.
Herrera quickly turned down the $5,000 offer that was made to him.
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“I’m not selling nothing,” I said. He remembered, You did something to my car.
He still had to pay $1,500 for repairs, though.
Other merchants have received a warning from Herrera.
He stated you had to watch people like a hawk.
After being hauled to the dealership, the motor was fixed.
He also told the police about the alleged incident.
The Hesperia Police Department has been contacted by the U.S. Sun for comment.
According to California law, anyone found guilty of tampering with an automobile faces a fine of up to $5,000.
Additionally, lawyers from the Eisner Gorin legal firm warned that they might be imprisoned for up to a year.
Herrera’s luck has not been shared by other drivers.
According to the U.S. Sun, Dyle Frye spent $25,000 on an automobile that never showed up.
According to the ABC affiliate WLS-TV, Paul Boroughs believed he had gotten a great deal in 2023 when he purchased an Audi A6 automobile for only $10,000.
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Before being let down, he believed it had 66,000 miles on it.
The automobile had 185,000 miles on it, it turned out.
How to avoid car scams
To prevent used automobile scams, follow these steps:
- Use a mechanic: Independent mechanics can make sure the cars are in good shape and may identify over-used parts.
- Check the VIN: Vehicle identification numbers will reveal important parts of a car’s past, including accidents and oil changes.
- Take it for a spin: Drivers should still request a test drive before handing over cash for a car.
- Check the cloud: Newer cars – particularly EVs – use cloud-based technology to store vehicle data. Traceable cloud data is much harder to influence by a scam.
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