Three people were arrested in Placer County on Monday, accused of participating in an “oil-in-the-engine” scam targeting victims across California.
23-year-old Gabi Tanase, 34-year-old Ionut Tanase, and 28-year-old Marius Tanase were taken into custody following an investigation led by our Property Crimes Unit. Marius Tanase also had an outstanding warrant from another county, according to a release from the Placer County Sheriff’s Office.
Last week, a Placer County resident reported an attempted scam after they met with potential buyers for their vehicle.
The suspects tried to make it look like the seller’s car had a serious mechanical issue. The person got suspicious and refused to sell the car, then reached out to law enforcement.
From that call, a larger operation was identified.
The scam works by suspects posing as buyers on platforms like Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist.
While distracting the seller, they secretly tamper with the vehicle by placing oil into areas like the coolant reservoir or tailpipe.
During a test drive, the oil burns and creates smoke, making it appear the vehicle is failing. They then pressure the seller to accept a much lower price.
Victims, often elderly, can lose thousands of dollars. The suspects then resell the vehicles at full value.
Detectives determined the suspects had been traveling across multiple counties, including Placer, Sacramento, Napa, El Dorado, Contra Costa, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, and Tehama, targeting victims.
With the help of regional partners and the California Highway Patrol, deputies stopped the suspects near Red Bluff.
Inside their carry investigators found around $11,000, evidence tied to the scam, and a bottle of oil used to carry out the fraud.
A search warrant at a Sacramento County home led to the discovery of additional vehicle titles, multiple mobile devices, an unreported stolen vehicle, and $22,000.
The suspects were arrested for attempted theft by false pretenses, attempted elder fraud, vandalism, and conspiracy.
The investigation is ongoing.
