Police officers from the Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles have arrested a man in Las Vegas on suspicion of selling a stolen vehicle online. Chad Anthony Livingston-Cook, 23, was taken into custody without incident on August 26. He is accused of listing a 2015 Mercedes Benz C300 on OfferUp and selling it for $14,000 cash to an out-of-state buyer at a local casino.
The buyer discovered the car had a fake title upon returning to New Mexico and consulting with that state’s DMV. Investigators report that Livingston-Cook communicated with the victim through OfferUp and later via text message, enabling Nevada DMV officers to connect him to the transaction.
After weeks of investigation, officers allege that an accomplice of Livingston-Cook fraudulently obtained credit by impersonating another individual to purchase the vehicle at a dealership before it was listed on OfferUp. Investigators also linked Livingston-Cook’s phone number to the fraudulent credit application. However, he has not disclosed any co-conspirators.
This arrest marks the second in August by DMV officers targeting fraudulent online vehicle sales. Compliance Enforcement Division Chief J.D. Decker advised consumers to be cautious about such transactions: “Buyers should beware of individuals who are offering vehicles for discounted prices but demanding cash,” Decker said. “Private party sales are particularly risky for consumers.”
Decker noted that his division encounters up to ten cases monthly where victims lose money to scammers selling stolen or fraudulently obtained vehicles.
Livingston-Cook faces four felony charges and one gross misdemeanor charge, including unlawful transfer of interest in a motor vehicle. The public is encouraged to contact the DMV’s Compliance Enforcement Division if they suspect being victims of similar scams.
