Statewide oil-in-the-engine scam busted by Placer County officials

A statewide "oil-in-the-engine" scam has been revealed and three suspects are arrested, says the Placer County Sheriff's Office. On Monday, May 4, Placer County Sheriff's deputies arrested three men in connection to a sophisticated "oil-in-the-engine" scam targeting victims across the state who were trying to sell their cars. The suspects are 23-year-old Gabi Tanase, 34-year-old Ionut Tanase and 28-year-old Marius Tanase; they were taken into custody by the Placer County Sheriff's Office Property Crimes Unit. The investigation of the suspects began after a Placer County resident reported an attempted scam after meeting with potential buyers for their car. During the encounter, the suspects attempted to manipulate the situation and make it appear as if the car had a serious mechanical issue. The victim became suspicious instead of falling for it, walked away from the potential sale and contacted authorities. Thanks to that call, authorities uncovered a larger operation. Placer County Sheriff's officials said this scam works by suspects posing as potential buyers on platforms like Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist. While distracting the seller, they secretly tamper with the car by placing oil into places like the coolant reservoir or tailpipe. During a test drive, the oil burns and creates smoke, making it appear as if the car is failing. The scammers then pressure the seller to accept a much lower price. The victims, who have often been elderly, can lose thousands of dollars, say investigators. The suspects then turn around and sell the cars at full value. Detectives say the suspects have been traveling across multiple counties, from Placer, Sacramento, Napa, El Dorado, Contra Costa, Los Angeles, San Bernardino and Tehama, targeting unsuspecting victims. With the help of law enforcement partners including the CHP, deputies stopped the suspects near Red Bluff. Inside the suspects' car, investigators say they found about $11,000 in cash, evidence tied to the scam and a bottle of oil used to carry out the fraud. A search warrant at a Sacramento County residence led to the additional discovery of more vehicle titles, multiple mobile devices, an unreported stolen vehicle and more than $22,000 in cash. Detectives have already identified additional victims, including one in Los Angeles County who was scammed just days earlier. The suspects were arrested for attempted theft by false pretenses, attempted elder fraud, vandalism and conspiracy. Authorities say the investigation is ongoing and more victims may exist. If you believe you may have been targeted in Placer County, contact abliss@placer.ca.gov.