If there’s a way to create a scam around something, there’s someone out there cheating people out of their hard-earned cash. Unfortunately, car buyers are frequent targets for scammers, as evidenced by a Hawaii man who wired nearly $300,000 to buy a custom Mercedes-Benz SUV, only to discover he had been scammed.

Now, 16 months after the fact, the heartbroken buyer got every “red cent” of his money back.

A Hawaii man wired $275,000 to a Hollywood, FL, dealer for a custom Mercedes-Benz G-Class, but the SUV never arrived

Alan Sue has wanted a Mercedes-Benz G-Class, often referred to as the “G-Wagon,” for a long time now. Last year, he thought he had found his opportunity for a desirable example: a custom 2023 Mercedes-Benz G-Class with a Brabus package.

The Brabus-tweaked G-Class was in Hollywood, but not the Hollywood littered with star-seeking tourists and celebrity maps. No, this luxury SUV was nearly 7,000 miles away from Sue’s Hawaii home at Dream Auto Collection in Hollywood, Florida.

Sue wired about $275,000 to Dream Auto, money he told Local 10 he had saved for his “granddaughter’s college tuition.” The realization left him anguished. “It’s a good thing I don’t own a gun,” he told an interviewer. “I might have blown my brains out.” 

An investigation revealed the truth and, better yet, justice

Fortunately for Sue, an investigation cut through the mystery and got results. “We called Dream Auto. We asked tough questions,” said Jeff Weinsier, a Local 10 investigator.

After the investigation, the Sunshine State revoked Dream Auto’s license, and law enforcement descended on the business. Federal agents even apprehended the business owner before he was able to board a flight to Russia.

But the custom Mercedes-Benz G-Class, which did exist, had already reached a new owner in Chicago, Illinois. Sue did, however, get some justice. 

“My bank shows the full wire transfer,” Sue said after discovering a return transfer of $275,000. “It came out of the blue. It’s like a gift from heaven.”

Don’t fall for car-buying scams

In Sue’s case, investigative journalism and law enforcement came through, recovering his substantial wire transfer. But that doesn’t always happen.

Car buyers have to operate with caution when shopping for vehicles. A Brabus-touched Mercedes-Benz G-Wagon, for instance, often sells for prices above $350,000, $400,000, or even $500,000. If it sounds too good to be true, it often is.

Also, do your research. Is the dealership legitimate? Can you get a salesperson on a video call with the car on short notice? If you’re not sure, don’t be afraid to walk away.