Sheriff’s Office detectives arrest suspects in auto scam
– This week, the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office announced that detectives arrested two suspects on April 3 on Highway 101 near Highway 166 in connection with an auto scam allegedly run by Romanian nationals operating throughout California, including in San Luis Obispo County.
Detectives conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle occupied by three individuals: 37-year-old Alexandru Florea of La Puente, a 17-year-old male, and an 11-year-old male. The suspects had earlier been seen at a home in Arroyo Grande attempting to purchase a car. A search of the vehicle revealed a nearly empty bottle of engine oil and a partially full gallon jug of engine oil.
The three are suspected of participating in what investigators call the “oil in the engine” scam. In this scheme, a scammer poses as a potential car buyer and arranges to meet a seller through online marketplaces such as Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist. During the meeting, the scammer is often accompanied by two or three individuals posing as friends or mechanics. While one person distracts the seller, another pours oil on the engine. When the car is test-driven, the engine begins to smoke, giving the impression of a mechanical issue. The scammer then offers a low purchase price in hopes that the seller, believing the car is damaged, will accept the offer.
Detectives have identified more than 20 reported cases of the scam within San Luis Obispo County between Nov. 21 and March 22. The total estimated financial loss is approximately $60,000.
Florea was arrested on charges of conspiracy to commit a crime, tampering with a vehicle, and obtaining money by false pretenses. The 17-year-old was taken to Juvenile Hall. The 11-year-old was released to Child Welfare Services.
The Sheriff’s Office thanked the public for its assistance in the case. A March 19 press release about the scam prompted more than 20 phone calls from individuals who provided information that contributed to the investigation.
