Public Warned Over Possible Auto-Repair Scam

OCEANSIDE, Calif. -- Authorities warned the public Friday about an auto-repair scam that has victimized senior citizens in Oceanside over the last several weeks.

On three occasions since late last month, unidentified men who appear to be in their 30s have approached older drivers who are stopped at signal lights in the North County city and told them that their vehicles were smoking or on fire, according to police.

Offering to "assist" the victims, the crooks got them to open the hoods of their cars. The con men then disconnected equipment to create the illusion of a mechanical problem and convinced the motorists to pay them between $1,000 and $4,000 to make supposed repairs.

The swindlers, who sometimes were in the company of a slim young woman, were alternately driving a late-model tan Chevrolet station wagon, a small black vehicle of some type or a fairly new, full-sized white pickup truck.

Police asked anyone with information about the crimes to call Detective Roy Monge at 760-435-4931.