Ogden, UT – A woman from Sevier County is speaking out after discovering her recently sold car had been reposted online within hours—at a higher price and with misleading details. Lori Dunne, the original owner of the vehicle, said she was shocked to find that her Honda Civic, which she had listed at a lower price due to the need for a new hybrid battery, was resold under suspicious circumstances just after the transaction.
According to Dunne, the ordeal began when she received an inquiry from a potential buyer who expressed interest in purchasing her car. “They messaged me saying, ‘Please let me be the first to see it. I really would like to buy it from you,’” Dunne recalled. After meeting with the buyer and allowing them to inspect the vehicle, Dunne agreed to the sale. She had priced the car lower than market value due to its high mileage—over 270,000 miles—and the need for costly repairs, including a new hybrid battery.
However, things quickly took a turn. Within hours of the sale, Dunne discovered that her car had been reposted online with significantly altered details. The new listing, which appeared on a popular car sales site, claimed the car had only 173,000 miles on the odometer—nearly 100,000 miles less than the actual figure. To make matters worse, the car was listed for $2,900, a substantial markup from the price Dunne had originally sold it for.
Dunne expressed disbelief at the situation, suspecting that the car may have even had its mileage “rolled back” to make it more appealing to buyers. “It’s mean, it’s vicious, and I would hate for someone to buy that car and end up with the same problems I knew about when I sold it,” she said.
In response, Dunne took to the internet to warn others about the situation. “This is crazy. I reopened my account just to let people know they’re doing this,” she said. “If it seems too good to be true, it really is.”
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) offers advice for consumers to avoid falling victim to such scams, advising them to be cautious of misrepresentations regarding key information like mileage, price, and vehicle condition. The FTC encourages buyers to ask for maintenance records, inspect the car in person, and verify the vehicle’s history through a service like Carfax before committing to a purchase.
Dunne believes the fraudulent relisting may involve identity theft or the use of false names, though she has yet to uncover the identity of the individual behind the scheme. The car is now listed for sale in Orem, Utah, and the Orem Police Department has opened an investigation into the matter.
“They’re making a quick buck off of someone else’s misfortune,” Dunne said, adding that she is still trying to track down information about the car’s current whereabouts. “I just don’t want anyone else to get scammed like I did.”
As the investigation continues, Dunne hopes that raising awareness about this scam will help prevent others from falling victim to similar deceptive practices. “I don’t want people to get stuck with a car that needs major repairs after they’ve been told everything’s fine,” she said.
While the situation remains unresolved, Dunne’s case serves as a cautionary tale for anyone navigating the used car market, urging vigilance and due diligence in every transaction.