These FRAUDs near Sacramento don't have white skin like most Romanians but

[theking]

...SCAMMERs can come in all different colors  :

Three Men Arrested After Secretly Pouring Oil Into Cars to Lowball Sellers Across California

California sellers, take note: not everyone browsing your Facebook Marketplace listing is a serious buyer. Some of them might be carrying a bottle of oil and looking for the right moment to sabotage your car.

That is exactly what authorities in Placer County say three men were doing when they were taken into custody this week following an alleged vehicle scam that stretched across at least eight counties in the state. The suspects, identified as Gabi Tanase, 23, Marius Tanase, 28, and Ionut Tanase, 34, reportedly targeted private sellers by secretly tampering with their vehicles to make them appear mechanically compromised, then swooping in with a lowball offer.

The scheme came to a halt in Northern California when a Placer County resident got suspicious during a meeting with the trio and decided to walk away from the deal entirely. Rather than take the financial hit, the seller picked up the phone and called law enforcement, a decision that ultimately unraveled what investigators believe was a much wider operation. Shortly after, California Highway Patrol officers pulled over the men near Red Bluff.

What they found inside the vehicle was telling: roughly $11,000 in cash, a bottle of oil, and other items consistent with the alleged scam. A search warrant executed at a Sacramento County home turned up even more, including over $22,000 in cash, a stolen car that had not been reported, and a collection of vehicle titles. The case is still active, and investigators are asking anyone who believes they may have been a victim to contact their local law enforcement agency.

How the "Oil-in-the-Engine" Scam Actually Works
For anyone unfamiliar with this type of fraud, the mechanics of it are surprisingly simple and almost diabolically clever. According to the Placer County Sheriff's Office, the suspects would pose as buyers on platforms like Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist, targeting people looking to sell their personal vehicles.

Once they arranged a meeting, one suspect would distract the seller while another would quietly pour oil into the vehicle's coolant reservoir or tailpipe. During a test drive, that oil would burn off and produce visible smoke, giving the impression that the engine was failing or that there was a serious underlying problem.

At that point, the alleged buyers would shift gears and pressure the seller to accept a much lower price for what now appeared to be a damaged car. The seller, convinced their vehicle was on its last legs, would often take the deal. The suspects would then turn around and resell the vehicle at its actual market value, pocketing the difference.

According to authorities, elderly people were among the most frequently targeted victims in this type of scheme, and individual losses could reach into the thousands of dollars.

The arrest itself reads like a crime drama in miniature. A Placer County resident had listed their vehicle for sale and agreed to meet with potential buyers. During the encounter, the suspects reportedly attempted to manipulate the situation using their usual playbook. But this time, the seller picked up on something being off, declined the sale, and immediately contacted law enforcement.

That tip set things in motion. CHP officers located the men near Red Bluff, not far from Tehama County, and took them into custody. The cash, the oil, and the other evidence painted a fairly clear picture for investigators. A subsequent search of a Sacramento home linked to the suspects produced additional cash, a stolen vehicle, and a stack of vehicle titles suggesting this was not a small-time or one-off operation.

Investigators also identified victims from other parts of the state, including one in Los Angeles County who had been scammed just days before the trio was arrested. Charges filed include attempted theft by false pretenses, attempted elder fraud, vandalism, and conspiracy. Marius Tanase also had an outstanding warrant from a separate county.

The scope of this alleged operation is worth pausing on. The counties named in connection with the scam include Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Sacramento, Tehama, Napa, Contra Costa, Placer, and El Dorado. That is a geographical footprint stretching from Southern California all the way up into the foothills of the Sierra Nevada and the Bay Area.

Investigators have not yet released a full accounting of how many victims were targeted or how much money may have been taken in total across all counties, but the combination of over $33,000 in cash found across two locations and a collection of vehicle titles suggests the operation had been running for some time.

Authorities confirmed the investigation is ongoing and believe there may be additional victims who have not yet come forward.

What This Case Can Teach Private Sellers About Staying Safe
Stories like this one serve as a useful reminder that private vehicle sales, while convenient and often profitable, come with real risks. A few things stand out from this case that are worth keeping in mind.

First, trust your instincts. The Placer County seller did exactly the right thing by recognizing something felt wrong and walking away. There is no obligation to complete a sale, and backing out of a deal is always an option.

Second, be cautious about test drives. If a buyer insists on taking your car for a long drive alone, or creates situations where you are separated from your vehicle, that is worth paying attention to. It does not take long for someone to tamper with accessible areas under the hood or near the exhaust.

Third, know the common scam types. The oil-in-the-engine trick is not new, and a quick search online can surface a range of similar schemes targeting sellers on marketplace platforms. Being aware of how these scams work makes them much easier to spot.

Finally, report suspicious encounters. The seller in this case may have helped prevent dozens of additional victims from being defrauded by simply making a phone call. Law enforcement cannot investigate what they do not know about.

[Visualmon]

This is why I don't look for something from Facebook marketplace. I always knew something shady about that particular area.