Teen says he lost college savings in car scam, apparent DMV mistake that led to repossession in Southern California
LOS ANGELES -- After purchasing a vehicle he thought had a clear title, 17-year-old Arrod Berjis says he lost the money he had saved for college when that car got repossessed months later due to a scam combined with an apparent DMV mistake in Southern California.
Berjis, a high school senior who enjoys working on vehicles, bought a 2019 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG for $58,000 after finding it listed on Autotrader. He said the purchase appeared legitimate and offered an opportunity to repair the vehicle, enjoy it and eventually sell it for a profit.
"I get this car at under market value and I get to enjoy it while I also get to fix it and then I can sell it for a profit and add that to my college fund. So that was very, you know, it was a win-win," Berjis said.
After spending three months repairing the vehicle, Berjis said he had lined up a potential buyer willing to pay $75,000. But the night before the planned sale, the car disappeared. Believing it had been stolen, Berjis contacted the Los Angeles Police Department. He said he was then directed to a towing company, where he learned the vehicle had been repossessed.
"They basically told me that 'we were ordered to take this car by Carvana,'" Berjis said.
According to Berjis, there was no lien holder listed on the title he received from the Department of Motor Vehicles or on the Carfax report he obtained. He said he went to the DMV with the seller before handing over payment to verify that the title was legitimate.
Berjis said a DMV clerk told him multiple times that there was no lien on the vehicle and that everything was clear before he completed the purchase. Three months later, he said both the money and the car were gone.
He also said the original title was taken when he returned to the DMV seeking answers.
"He told me that sometimes when a title is transferred, the previous paperwork can be overlooked. And a lien can be released, and a DMV title can be issued to you, but it's void and invalid now because of that mistake. Mistake or potentially fraud," Berjis said.
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The DMV said it could not comment because the matter is an open investigation. Carvana had not responded to requests for comment.
The LAPD is investigating, but Berjis said the seller's identity and documents ultimately turned out to be fake, limiting what investigators can do. Berjis said his hope is that Carvana will either return the vehicle or compensate him for the $58,000 he lost.
Without that money, he fears his plans for higher education could be delayed.
"I feel like I've lost all hope. I've went down every avenue trying to solve this problem. And even though I did everything right and bought this car as you're told, go to the DMV and followed all the correct procedures, and I'm still a victim of this fraud, unfortunately," Berjis said.
He added that the money represented years of savings intended for college.
"It was a big amount of money that I had saved up over the last four years of high school, which was, you know, all meant to go to the goal of going to college and so that was the end game for it and it will definitely delay that and hold it back," Berjis said.
So how do you protect yourself? It is recommended that you get at least one history report to check the vehicle's record, more than one is even better, and go to the DMV to make sure that title has not been washed of any liens or salvage.
