HIRAM, Ga. — Hiram police are asking for the public's help to catch two men who they say have defrauded potential car buyers out of $10,000 in Hiram alone.
Hiram detective Sgt. Kenneth Oaks showed WSB-TV's Tom Regan surveillance video of one of the suspects cashing a $3,200 MoneyGram at Walmart in Hiram.
"The suspects will come up, get the MoneyGram, cash it and be gone." said Oaks.
Oaks said the men posted fake ads for cars and trucks on craigslist and claim to have set up a buyer protection plan through another legitimate website.
Police told Regan the suspects claim they must sell the vehicle at a low price because of an emergency and offer free shipping. Regan contacted one of the victims in Florida, Nicole Ross, over the phone. She wired a $3,200 MoneyGram for a Chevy Tahoe and never heard from the purported seller again.
"Were you ever suspicious? Sending all this money to someone you have never spoken to?" asked Regan.
"No," replied Ross. "That never really crossed my mind."
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Police told Regan the men have used the scam in Lithonia and Dallas in addition to Hiram. Victims have been identified in Louisiana, Florida and Arizona but law enforcement believes there are many more victims.
Oaks told Regan the suspects have cashed MoneyGrams at metro area Kroger stores, in addition to Walmart.
Oaks noted one simple rule online shoppers should follow, "If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is."
The investigation of the online car scam is expected to widen and include up to six other metro police agencies and possibly federal authorities.