Scam targets local auto-repair shops

LAKEWOOD – Con artists posing as disabled, stranded motorists are targeting local transmission and body shops, prompting a warning from the District Attorneys Office.

A number of auto repair shops in the area recently have been contacted through the TTY telephone service for the hearing impaired. Scammers using the service claim to be local residents stranded out of state after their car broke down, said Pam Russell, spokeswoman for the District Attorney’s Office.

Because the TTY service is internet-based, it is almost impossible to identify the origin of the calls, Russell said.

The “stranded motorist” leads the businesses to believe the vehicle requires expensive repairs, usually a transmission overhaul or other extensive work. The caller, who uses a legitimate TTY operator as a go-between, then claims a tow service is ready to haul the car back to Lakewood, Golden, etc., but cannot process the caller’s credit card.

With the promise of a large repair job comes a request that the local shop process a $2,000 – $3,000 credit card deposit, then forward most of it to the “towing service” via money order. The caller even offers a $100 premium to cover the cost of processing the credit card, which turns out to be bogus, Russell said.

The money order, instead of going to a tow service, is intercepted by the scammer and the local business loses big.

The scam is a persuasive confidence scheme that preys on the willingness of the victim to help out a disabled local resident, Russell said.

“Be wary when doing business over the telephone or through the TTY network,” said District Attorney Scott Storey. “Does the story sound feasible? Would someone pay thousands of dollars to have a vehicle towed to a repair facility in Colorado?”

Although the scam should raise red flags, Russell said the scammers don’t need to hit pay dirt on every call.

“All they need is one person who buys in on it and they have had a pretty good day,” Russell said.

One auto repair business owned by a Lakewood couple was contacted seven times in two weeks but they were too wary to be hoodwinked.

In that case, the caller said he and his new bride were on their honeymoon when their car broke down in North Carolina. The caller offered a $2,800 credit-card deposit in exchange for a $1,700 money order to be sent to a car-hauling service.

The offer was made, but the shop owners didn’t fall for it.

Instead, they contacted other auto-related businesses in the area to warn them about the scam. They also called the DA’s Office.

“It looks like they contacted everyone in the Yellow Pages under ‘Transmissions’. They worked their way down from A to Z,” the business owner told the Edge, asking that she not be identified.

Her alert handling of the call and her warnings to other shop owners may have staved off costly mistakes, but other local businesses may not fare so well.

“When in doubt, ask yourself if it sounds too good to be true. If it is, hang up the phone,” Story said.

Anyone who believes an offer is suspicious offer should call the District Attorney’s Economic Crimes Specialist at 303-271-6931.