A Facebook Marketplace hustle involving stolen Honda CR-Vs took a sharp turn when a Georgia woman accidentally met up with undercover detectives instead of her usual unlucky buyer.

The investigation started last December when a Gwinnett County man took his newly purchased CR-V in for service

A mechanic noticed the vehicle’s VIN didn’t quite line up, triggering suspicions. Police quickly tied the SUV to a larger smuggling operation. Specifically, stolen Honda CR-V SUVs from New York were moved down to Georgia, where they were resold online using forged titles.

Officers set up a sting, posing as buyers on Facebook Marketplace

That led them to 31-year-old Mayreny Ciprian, who showed up (ironically) in another stolen CR-V. The VIN had been altered again. Detectives said she was arrested without a struggle and is now facing a whopping 40 criminal charges, WSB-TV shared.

But the story didn’t end with Ciprian. Earlier this week, police arrested another suspect, 30-year-old Karen Mendez. Investigators said she’s tied to the same scam and now faces 19 felony charges. Officers believe she helped sell stolen vehicles using fake documents.

This kind of scheme often ends in double losses for victims

They lose both the car and the money they paid, often thousands of dollars in cash.

Police are urging anyone who recently bought a used Honda CR-V on Facebook to check the VIN carefully. If something looks suspicious, they recommend contacting law enforcement. 

And for future purchases, they advise meeting in designated e-commerce zones. These are often located at police departments. Buyers can also verify the vehicle’s history and avoid becoming the next victim in a Facebook Marketplace scam.