Internet car fraud strikes in Marshalltown
By KEN BLACK, THE ASSOCIATED PRESSA case involving crimes in multiple states and defrauding people on the popular online auction site eBay was settled in U.S. District Court last week.
"It was originally our case," said Acting Assistant Police Chief Brian Batterson. "We had been informed that a local person had been victimized when trying to buy a car online. The money was paid but the car was never delivered."
Awad Fuad, 25, of Dearborn, Mich., was sentenced to four months of home confinement and three years of probation.
Fuad would advertise certain vehicles, including a 1996 Mitsubishi 3000GT VR4 Twin Turbo, for sale on eBay. As part of the operation, he would sometimes use aliases, but would often be selling the same model of car.
After the payment was made, Fuad would then respond to purchasers by using fake aliases and different e-mail accounts in order to drag out their inquiries as long as possible.
Fuad was ordered to pay more than $9,700 in restitution.
Batterson said the individual who was victimized in Marshalltown had already received money back. No word was given on how many other victims there may have been.
In addition to the Marshalltown Police Department, the U.S. Secret Service also participated in the investigation.
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Contact Ken Black at 641-753-6611 or kblack@timesrepublican.com
