SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY, Calif. (FOX26) — Two men have been arrested in connection with a sophisticated auto scam ring believed to be operated by Romanian nationals across California, according to the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office.
On April 3, detectives pulled over a vehicle with three occupants on Highway 101 near Highway 166. Inside the car were 37-year-old Alexandru Florea, a 17-year-old boy, and an 11-year-old boy. The group had earlier been seen at a home in Arroyo Grande, where they attempted to buy a vehicle under suspicious circumstances.
A search of their vehicle uncovered a nearly empty bottle of engine oil and a partially full gallon jug of engine oil, linking them to the “Oil in the Engine” scam — a deceptive tactic used to manipulate car sellers into accepting low offers.
The scam involves a fake buyer, often accompanied by others pretending to be friends or mechanics, meeting a seller via platforms like Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist. During the vehicle inspection or test drive, one accomplice distracts the seller while another secretly pours oil onto the engine. As the engine begins to smoke, it falsely suggests a mechanical failure. The buyer then offers a significantly reduced price, hoping the concerned seller will accept.
Authorities report over 20 incidents of this scam in San Luis Obispo County alone between November 2024 and March 2025, totaling more than $60,000 in losses.
The investigation is ongoing, and law enforcement officials are working to identify other members of the scam ring and locate additional victims.
Anyone who believes they may have been targeted or scammed is urged to contact the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office.
