'They’ve Gotten Into The Dispatch Info': Maryland Man Buys, Ships Car From California. Then A Thief Shows Up To Intercept It

A car buyer is issuing a warning after someone tried to steal his vehicle—before it had even been shipped to him. It turns out this kind of theft is more common than you might expect.

In a video with over 43,000 views, TikTok creator Jason Fox (@themortgagefox) explains how his car got stolen before it even reached his house.

According to Fox, he and his wife purchased a car in California, arranging for a shipping company to pick it up from the dealership and deliver it to their residence in Maryland.

While the shipping company was waiting for a driver to accept the offer, a man approached the dealership and said that he was there to pick up Fox’s car. This is where the scam began.

How Does This Scam Work?

In Fox’s telling, the scammer arrived at the dealership claiming that he was there to pick up the car. To bolster his case, he listed off a considerable amount of information about Fox’s family.

The dealership tested the scammer by asking him to list off personal information. He had answers for them all: name, phone number, address, and more.

“[The dealership is] like, ‘Did you call her? Can you get her on the phone and make sure that it's okay to bring this car over?’ Then he goes, ‘I tried to call a couple times. I didn't get an answer, so I'm just here to pick it up,’” Fox recounts.

Still not convinced, the dealership reached out to Fox’s wife to confirm the delivery. Fox then reached out to the shipping company, which confirmed that they had not yet found a driver. Following this, the couple called the dealership back and told them that the man was not authorized to collect their vehicle

“By the time they call the police, scammer has already rolled out,” Fox explains. “Somehow these scammers have gotten into the dispatch car info, and they know everything about the people getting cars shipped. They're going to the dealership, pretending to be this dispatch company, taking the cars and stealing them.”

“This world has lost its mind. So be careful out there, y'all,” Fox concludes. “There's some rough times. People are doing desperate things.”

Is This Scam Common?

The scenario Fox describes is a tactic that the Federal Bureau of Investigation calls “strategic cargo theft.” Unlike more straightforward forms of theft, this is when thieves use fraud to trick businesses into handing over cargo. Strategic cargo theft can employ simple tricks like social engineering or more complex methods, such as those detailed in Fox’s video.

Scams like these are a growing issue in the car industry, notes Greenwich Time. In a case detailed by writer Jesse Leavenworth, thieves attempted to steal a 2025 Audi RS 7, valued at around $150,000, using similar methods.

According to the warrant issued against the two alleged thieves, they attempted to pull this scam by establishing an account on a car carrier platform, then gathering information about future deliveries and pickups. From there, they would reportedly either obtain or forge documents rerouting the car’s delivery into their possession.

Commenters Say They’ve Seen It Before

As reported by CarScoops, thieves exploit gaps in verification and communication to steal vehicles. This can involve looking for public transport listings, figuring out which dealership is selling the car, then finding the buyer's information and attempting to take the car before the real carrier arrives.

In a comment, Fox said he suspects that this is what happened to him.

“They’re getting it from the company who’s shipping the car because they’re sending out information asking for drivers,” he wrote.

Other commenters affirmed that this issue was surprisingly common.

“Been happening to dealerships for last two years! Why I alway[s] need to see the bill of [lading] or shipping receipt and then confirm with customer name of the company before releasing any cars, even auction and lease returns!” wrote a user.

“Happened to my dealership. The customer sent transport. We released the car and the car was never found again,” added another. “180k 26 Cadillac Escalade V.”

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“I work in transportation. It’s sooo common,” stated a third.

We’ve reached out to Fox via email and Instagram direct message. We will update if he responds.

 

 

 

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