Just found out the 2006 Hybrid I just bought was stolen?!?

[Quakerfriend]

Several weeks ago, my husband and I bought a used Highlander Hybrid from a Toyota dealership just outside of Phila. We called and found out that they had just gotten this car on the lot several hours before. So, we went over and ended up putting a deposit down on it that night. Then we paid for it the next day and drove it home.

Just last week we received the title in the mail. And, yesterday a private detective from a car dealership in Pittsburgh called us to tell us that the car was actually stolen. The previous owner had never made payments on it and so the car dealership was coming after him to re-possess the car. Somehow he sold it to the dealership near me first!?!

The detective reassured us by saying that "They would probably go after Toyota" for the $.

We suspect this guy must have passed off a fake title. Has anyone ever heard of such a scam??

[radwriter0555]

1. When I traded in my truck I didn't have the title with me. They didn't

care one bit. They didn't even want me to drop it off.... so perhaps there wasn't even a title with it.

Are they taking the vehicle back?

[Quakerfriend]

6. Interesting. It seems that this person knew exactly how long

it would take for the place they got it from to come after them!

[951-Riverside]

2. Thank Goodness you purchased it from a major dealership

Call or email Toyota headquarters and explain what happened also write down names, ID numbers, etc. From there let them contact the local dealer if you're not happy with the results contact the BBB and a local newspaper.

[lizziegrace]

3. Also contact your state Attorney General's office n/t

[Quakerfriend]

5. great idea! Thx!!

[Quakerfriend]

7. Yes, and thank goodness we paid for it up front.

btw, the #s on the title do match the vin#. So, that is good. Technically we own it now, right?

[pitohui]

8. no technically you do NOT own it

technically buying stolen property worth more than $1,000 is a serious felony

you won't be prosecuted but if the owners want their car back, you have to return it and you don't actually have any right to have your money refunded to you, the owners would not have to pay you anything

the dealership also committed an offense when they sold you the stolen property, so you should be able to go after them for a full refund

[Guava Jelly]

4. damn that bites ass

Hope you can get a refund