Luxury Car Dealer Says, “My Own Employee Scammed Me Out of $80,000, He Sold a 2024 Ford F-150 Shelby For $20K Less Than What I Paid Before I Caught Him”

"My employee just scammed me out of $80,000. He's a mole, he's a scammer."

George Saliba (@ceklidgt01q), who owns a car dealership in Ewing, N.J., has been taken by a new employee for $80,000. The elaborate scheme by a brazen employee is an unbelievable story I found while researching the Ford F-150 Shelby truck. I found this incredible story in George Saliba's TikTok post. 

George says, "So, I have a mole, guys; I knew it. A few days ago, I asked my friends who worked for Dupont if they had ever had a mole working under them."

Imagine hiring a new employee to sell high-end vehicles wholesale to other dealers nationwide. You've worked hard to find rare trucks like the Ford F-150 Shelby, and your new salesman is out trying to sell it. He has no trouble selling it because he's selling it cheap. 

Your new salesman is a seasoned con artist. He takes you for $80,000 by selling luxury models under their wholesale value. George Saliba is in utter shock and disbelief as his employee, who he names Brett Holmes, is running a profitable scam deal as you have your customer on the phone. 

Here is George's unbelievable story and warning.

"I was talking to this guy for three weeks. He got a hold of me on Instagram looking for a job. Everything seemed like it was legit, and we FaceTimed multiple times." 

"Now I know it, he's a mole, a scammer. I have to call him out because we can't get any more of my customers scammed. His name is Brett Holmes."

George holds up a picture of Brett Holmes on his phone from his Instagram page

Brett is trying to sell a Ford F-150 Shelby 

"He has been trying to sell my 2024 Ford F-150 Shelby to another dealer, one of my customers, for $20,000 under what I am wholesaling it for. He's trying to get a wire money transfer from them." George says, "I called them, and they told me they knew it sounded too good to be true."

"So, now I'm calling everyone he has dealt with and following his leads. I'm texting him and asking him what's going on, and he says I'm working, and I'm staying plugged in." 

George Explains How It All Started

"I start getting calls from my customers at the dealerships who are buying my cars, and they are asking me, hey, we want to make sure that you are selling us these cars for this price." 

"They sent me the wholesale price, and they screenshot it to me, and I tell them this is not happening. He's selling my cars for $59,000 when it should have been $76,000 wholesale price to the dealer." 

"He (Brett Holmes) even had my customer pay for his Airbnb for two nights. I don't know how I feel right now; I feel sick." 

George Can't Believe the Deception

"I knew from the first week that something was going on. I told another employee, I think I have a mole. There is so much fraud going on; I don't know what to say right now; this is insane."

"I called a customer where Brett was trying to sell the Ford F-150 Shelby, and he told me he was just there in the office. After you talked to him, he entered my office, grabbed his backpack, and took off in an Uber."  

"My customer thought his story was legit and says he just believed him. This guy is smooth and nice. But he's a scammer. I'm putting this out on social media to ensure no one else gets hurt by this guy." 

George Gives Buyers a Good Tip and a Warning

George concludes, "I will give you a quick tip on this. If anyone is buying cars from a wholesaler or a broker and trying to give you an unbelievable deal, they may not even own the vehicle." 

"Check AccuTrade first because they will give you the vehicle's exact location and where it's currently listed. That's what you should check first before buying one."

Final Thoughts and Questions For Car Buyers

This advice empowers you to make informed decisions and avoid falling victim to such scams. There are plenty of con artists looking for an unsuspecting victim. What should George have done differently before hiring Brett Holmes?

Gross Mendelson says that before hiring someone, a small business owner should: 

• conduct thorough background checks 
• verify references 
• check employment history 
• check their social media online presence 
• review professional licenses if required
• carefully assess the candidate's qualifications and skills
• be wary of an overly enthusiastic candidate
• pay close attention to any red flags during the interview process to minimize the risk of being scammed

What Can Car Buyers Do To Prevent Being Scammed by an Auto Broker?

RollsAuto says, to prevent being scammed by an auto wholesaler or broker, car buyers should: 

1. thoroughly research the broker 
2. verify vehicle details independently 
3. get everything in writing 
4. be cautious of "too good to be true" deals 
5. check for licensing and reputation 
6. ask for references
7. never pay a large deposit upfront without seeing the car first 
8. if something feels off, walk away and consider using a reputable broker with a proven track record. 

It's Your Turn

Have you ever been scammed by an auto broker or auto wholesaler? If so, click the red Add New Comment link below and tell us about your experience.

Check out my Ford F-150 story titled; I Bought a 2024 Ford F-150 Platinum and Someone Stole My Taillights, It Cost Over $3,000 For the Pair, and I Was the 6th Guy Into the Dealer That Day

I am Denis Flierl, a Senior Torque News Reporter since 2012. My 30+ year tenure in the automotive industry, initially in a consulting role with every major car brand and later as a freelance journalist test-driving new vehicles, has equipped me with a wealth of knowledge. I specialize in reporting the latest automotive news and providing expert analysis on Subaru, which you'll find here, ensuring that you, as a reader, are always well-informed and up-to-date. Follow me on my X SubaruReport, All Subaru, WRXSTI, @DenisFlierl, Facebook, and Instagram.

Photo credit: Denis Flierl via George Saliba