(Getty)
The angry phone calls and visits from customers started coming into Ansonia's Kar Kingdom in 2023.
“I had three or four customers per day coming in for their equipment. That lasted for three or four months," owner Mildred Padilla recalled.
People had purchased used farm equipment and other heavy machinery from the owners online and hadn’t received their order. One customer took Padilla to court after he claimed he hadn't received a $65,000 excavator.
However, Kar Kingdom doesn’t sell used farm equipment nor heavy machinery. It sells cars. And, these consumers weren’t actually this Kar Kingdom’s customers. They’d bought the equipment from an impostor. The imposter used the same name and address as the real business on fake websites to con customers into wiring large amounts of money. Padilla says her name was even used on those sites, appearing as co-owner of the Kar Kingdom imposter. Customers say the imposter also demanded personal information, including their date of birth and social security number.
Padilla says because of the scam her business was removed from Google for a year and she was unable to make internet sales for 18 months.
“I was worried because a lot of people were posting about me as a scammer. It was a nightmare. It got to the point where we thought of closing it. I had to fight for this business,” she said.
Padilla reported to BBB's Scam Tracker and police that the business's website had been hacked. She also stated that these websites, karkingdomllc.com and karkingdom.com, were created as fakes. Once BBB began investigating, the scammer stopped responding and the websites were removed. Ansonia police told BBB they were unable to identify or locate the scammer, but their detectives were able to trace a phone number to a burner phone purchased in a convenience store. BBB’s investigation found that the websites’ domains may have originated off the coast of Africa.
A year later, BBB Serving CT received complaints about a legitimate but inactive auto parts business being used to perpetuate a scam. In this case, it was the business’s New Haven address that was being copied onto a fake website for a fake company called United Part Store. BBB received several complaints about merchandise ordered but never received including one consumer who lost over $2,000
BBB Tip: When doing business with a seller that is solely online, call the seller and ask for evidence about their business to ensure they are legitimate.
Since 2022, Better Business Bureau® has received over 200 reports of consumers attempting to purchase a vehicle or other heavy equipment online, only to run into a scammer impersonating a reputable seller. Additionally, BBB collected another 140 complaints reported directly to us, to attorneys general, tip lines and other sources.
When pooled together, the reports revealed a pattern of fraudulent websites, where scammers claim to sell all kinds of vehicles - sedans, trucks, SUVs, classic cars, boats, ATVs and even farm equipment - at attractive low prices.
BBB Tip: Whenever possible, ask to see a vehicles or equipment in person. Call nearby businesses or local governments if needed to confirm legitimacy.
BBB’s investigation revealed these “websites” are linked to organized groups operating across multiple locations. In one case, 30 fraudulent websites were traced to a server in Lithuania, while another 20 were found connected to a server in Iceland.
Those who are in the market for one of these vehicles need to be extra vigilant, as these supposed sellers always claim their vehicles and equipment must be shipped, not allowing buyers to check the legitimacy of the vehicle or equipment in person. And once money is handed over, the fraudsters disappear.
Know the red flags of vehicle and equipment seller scams:
- The price is significantly below market value
- Owner cites an overly personal reason they need to get rid of a vehicle
- A seller will not allow you to see the vehicle and insists upon vehicle delivery
- Money must be sent to a third-party recommended by seller
BBB tips to avoid vehicle and equipment seller scams:
- Be wary of too-good-to-be-true prices
- Pick up a vehicle yourself whenever possible
- Call a business and ask if you can see the car in person
- Resist high-pressure tactics urging quick action
- Use secondary sources to research a business’ legitimacy
- Avoid sharing personal information with unknown sources
Where to report:
- Better Business Bureau or BBB Scam Tracker
- Federal Trade Commission (FTC) or call 877-FTC-HELP
- Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)